Naginata Types and History: Ko-naginata, Suriage, Women's Naginata, and Naginata-naoshi Classification

What Is a Naginata?

The naginata is a Japanese polearm with a curved blade mounted at the end of a long shaft. Unlike swords (ken/tachi), it uses the long handle for sweeping *nagisharau* attacks. It was the primary anti-cavalry weapon of the late Heian through Nanbokucho period, frequently depicted in battle scrolls of Kamakura-era warriors.

Ko-naginata Form

Ko-naginata (ancient naginata) made in the Heian through early Muromachi period have the following characteristics:

• Blade length: Relatively long at 60–90cm
• Curvature: Deep koshi-zori (curvature near the base)
• Tang: Long nakago for stable handle connection
• Point: Typically o-kissaki or chu-kissaki

Few intact ko-naginata survive; most were converted to tachi or katana through suriage (shortening).

Suriage and Its Significance

*Suriage* refers to the process of shortening a naginata from the tang to repurpose it as a tachi or katana. During prolonged warfare in the Nanbokucho through Muromachi period, "recycling" naginata blades as new weapons became widespread. Suriage typically removes the smith's signature along with the original tang, resulting in unsigned blades—though the jihada and hamon can sometimes identify them as converted naginata.

Edo-Period Women's Naginata and Warrior Women

By the Edo period, the naginata's role as a battlefield weapon was ended. It transformed into the *onna-naginata* (women's naginata)—a discipline for self-defense, etiquette, and training among warrior-class women. Modern naginata-do traces its roots to this Edo-period women's martial culture.

Naginata-naoshi

*Naginata-naoshi* is the technical term for a sword remounted from a naginata. Such pieces have distinctive proportions—unusual ratios of base width to tip width, and curvature patterns—that retain traces of the original naginata form. NBTHK shinsa evaluates naginata-naoshi as a distinct category in some cases.