Naginata

[Baka Gaijin]

Inspired by a thread elsewhere regarding Naginata, here's two of my favourite depictions of women with Naginata:

 

http://5orb.net/ukiyoe2/ChiyodaOoku/cat4/39.html

 

http://5orb.net/ukiyoe2/ChiyodaOoku/cat3/36.html

 

They comes from the series Chiyoda no O-oku (popularly called the Ladies in Waiting of the Chiyoda Palace) by Chikanobu, they are quite late c.1896.

 

Here's the  real thing demonstrated at Nippon Budokan:

 

 

Pip Pip 

 

Cheerio

[Alex A]

Interesting Malcolm, must have been a huge risk arriving home drunk at 3am back then.  

[vajo]

Thats real "home defense"

[IanB]

Malcolm, Thank you for posting the video, it was an absolute treat. When you see what can be done with a relatively light weight wooden naginata, you appreciate what a devastating weapon it was. It must have been almost impossible for a sword to overcome the inertia of a heavy fighting nagainata travelling towards you. At best all you might achieve is to deflect  its trajectory and hope its destination wasn't on your person.

 

Cheers

Ian Bottomley

[Baka Gaijin]

Here's a few more woodblock illustrations of women weilding Naginata:

 

This one by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, depicts the pregnant wife of Kiheji defending herself from a hail of arrows, aided by the wolf Nokaze:

 

https://data.ukiyo-e.org/mfa/images/sc162792.jpg

 

Here's another by Kuniyoshi, this time, the wife of Oboshi Yoshio (Kabuki play name for Oishi Kuranosuke leader of the 47 Ronin).

 

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=588230001&objectId=3277584&partId=1

 

A more modern depiction stylistically by Suzuki Kinsen c.1910. Misleadingly titled "Lady with Long Sword"

 

https://data.ukiyo-e.org/artelino/images/47189g1.jpg

 

Another more modern depiction "Fighting Lesson" by Hirezaki Eiho again c.1910.

 

https://data.ukiyo-e.org/artelino/images/49480g1.jpg

 

Here's a clip showing the transition into the modern sport forms from the 1980's documentary "Budo No Chirashi" 

 

 

 

 

Pip Pip

 

Cheerio

[Greg F]

Malcolm thank you for sharing all this great stuff. I have more appreciation for Naginata and Brave Women that weilded them. The damage these things would be capable of in battle would be devastating.

If i get my Lady in a bad mood she is scary enough with a broom lol. All the best.

 

Greg

[Teimei]

Seems like a legit wedding gift to a young women ! Although the husband surely would prefer a blender...

 

[BIG]

Thanks both, int. lessons....

 

Best Regards

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi Guys.,

 

Here's something from NHK which gives a reasonable overview of the reality of the various approaches to Sporting Naginata in Japan: