What Is a Gunbai? — Samurai War Fans: Gunbai, Saihai, and Tessen Compared

Japanese Military Leaders Did Not Fight With Swords Alone

The image of Sengoku warlords typically conjures "swords and armor," but in reality, the equipment of actual warlords was diverse. In particular, unique weapons that served the dual purpose of "command and self-defense" include the gunbai (軍配), tessen (鉄扇), and saihai (采配).

While these are not swords, they appear frequently in the context of sword collections and weapons research, embodying two functions of Japanese samurai culture: "swords and command."

What is the Gunbai — Meaning, Etymology, and Pronunciation

The gunbai (軍配) is a fan-shaped command tool that warlords used to direct armies and make strategic decisions. Formally, it is called "gunbai uchiwa (軍配団扇)." While it can be pronounced "gunpai," the standard dictionary entry is "gunbai."

The etymology comes directly from "distributing the army," meaning to direct the placement and movement of troops. Gunbai often feature depictions of the sun and moon, the Big Dipper, the twelve zodiac signs, and so on. These were not merely decorative, but also served as tools for the onmyodo (陰陽道) and gunbai techniques to divine the auspiciousness of dates and directions for battle. Military commanders with gunbai (gunbai-sha) in the Sengoku period took on the role of military strategists, reading the calendar, astronomy, and weather to advise on the timing of battle.

Gunbai — Symbol of a General's Wisdom

What is the Gunbai

The gunbai is a fan-shaped tool used by Sengoku warlords and daimyo for tactical command. It is the same type as the "gunbai uchiwa" that modern sumo referees hold, and was made of wood, metal, or horn.

Etymology: The term "gunbai (軍配)" derives from "to direct (distribute) the placement of armies."

Types and Materials of Gunbai

Practical Battlefield Functions of the Gunbai

The gunbai was not merely a "command stick" but had multiple practical battlefield functions:

1. Troop command: Used for signals such as advance, retreat, and lateral evasion, similar to flags and saihai
2. Arrow deflection: Iron gunbai functioned as defensive equipment to ward off incoming arrows and projectiles
3. Self-defense: Use as a striking weapon in close combat (the striking power of iron gunbai should not be underestimated)
4. Mystical function: Under the influence of onmyodo, the gunbai also had magical significance. There was a belief that "raising the gunbai brings victory"

Famous Gunbai Episodes

The Gunbai of Uesugi Kenshin: Uesugi Kenshin is known as the "God of War," and his gunbai is still housed in Uesugi Shrine.

The Battle of Kawanakajima (1561): In a direct confrontation between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin, legend has it that Kenshin struck at Shingen from horseback, and Shingen "received the blow with his gunbai." This anecdote demonstrates that the gunbai functioned as an actual weapon.

Tessen — The Hidden Weapon in One's Bosom

What is the Tessen

The tessen is a weapon with the same shape as an ordinary fan but with a frame (the skeletal structure of the fan) made of iron or steel. It has a structure true to its name, "iron fan" (tetsu-no-sen).

Types of Structure

Iron frame only: The fan's framework is iron, while the fan surface is ordinary paper or silk. Outwardly, it appears to be a normal fan. This "concealed type" is suited for self-defense and assassination.

All-metal construction: A complete weapon with the fan surface also made of metal plates. This is the most typical form of the "tessen."

Reinforced outer rib type: A practical form in which only the "outer ribs" (the two end pieces) of a normal fan are made of metal.

Practical Uses of the Tessen

The techniques for using the tessen are systematized as "fan sword techniques (sensu-jutsu)":

• Striking: Used as a staff when closed, delivering powerful blows with the weight of the metal
• Thrusting: Piercing with a tessen sharpened at the tip (the end of the outer rib)
• Blocking: Defensive technique using a "V-shaped block" (gripping with the two outer ribs) or blocking with the surface against a sword blade
• Blinding: Opening the fan quickly toward the opponent's face to obstruct their vision

Tessen and the "Status" of Samurai Portable Weapons

In the Edo period, weapons shorter than a wakizashi (short sword) could be carried even by those of lower social standing. In a situation where farmers, artisans, and merchants faced "no swords allowed, but fans OK," the tessen became popular as a "substitute self-defense weapon." Merchants, samurai women, and those associated with pleasure districts also carried tessens as self-defense tools.

Saihai — The White-Feathered Command Baton

What is the Saihai

The saihai is a command baton used by Sengoku warlords, with white paper, wood fibers, or bird feathers bundled at the end of the handle. Alongside the gunbai, it functioned as a "symbol of command and orders."

Etymology: The term "saihai (采配)" is said to derive from "sai (采)" (selecting various things) and "hai (配)" (placing), or from "saihainomoji (彩配)" (distributing colors).

"Shaking the Saihai" in Modern Japanese

The modern Japanese idiom "shaking the saihai" (to direct and command affairs) comes from this saihai.

Swords and Blades in Combination — The Warlord's "Complete Set"

Typical carried equipment of Sengoku warlords:

These items together, forming the "warlord's garb (equipment)," are depicted in detail in Sengoku picture scrolls and folding screens.

Possession in Modern Times — Legal Treatment

Gunbai and Saihai

Gunbai and saihai are not subject to regulation under the current Gun and Sword Control Law. They can be freely possessed and displayed as collections.

Tessen

The legal treatment of tessen can be subject to varying interpretations:

• Tessen as traditional crafts or artworks: Generally can be possessed
• Shapes that may be classified as blades (such as sharpened tips): May fall under the Gun and Sword Control Law's blade regulations (blade length 6 cm or more)
• "Carrying without legitimate reason" may violate the Minor Offenses Act

Practical advice: Keeping tessen at home for art and collection purposes is not problematic, but it is prudent to avoid carrying them in public places.

The Gunbai of Sumo Referees and the Origin of "Raising the Gunbai"

For modern people, the most familiar opportunity to see a gunbai is in professional sumo wrestling. The gunbai held by referees is a direct continuation of the samurai warlord's gunbai uchiwa as a ritual implement. In the process of organizing kanjin sumo in the Edo period, referees began using costumes and gunbai modeled after samurai customs.

The referee synchronizes the timing of both rikishi at the start, and when a bout is decided, points the gunbai toward the victorious wrestler. From this, the act of making a judgment on victory, defeat, or superiority came to be called "raising the gunbai" or "the gunbai is raised." Everyday expressions like "his claim received the gunbai" are idioms born from the combination of the historical practice of warlords giving orders with the gunbai and the referee's decisive gesture. When a referee's decision is challenged and overturned, it is called "sashichigae," a word also derived from the gunbai.

Summary — The World of Samurai Culture Beyond Swords

While swords are at the center of samurai culture, the gunbai, tessen, and saihai are important "supporting actors" that complemented the roles that swords could not fulfill—command, self-defense, and ritual.

In Japanese sword collections and weapons research, by paying attention to these accessory weapons, a more three-dimensional picture of samurai culture comes into view. For sword enthusiasts, the gunbai and tessen are adjacent fields worth knowing.