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

What is the Naginata?

The naginata is a curved-blade polearm unique to Japan, with a curved blade attached to the end of a long shaft. Unlike the straight sword (ken) or tachi, it primarily employs a sweeping motion (nagihirau) made possible by the long shaft. It was the most widely used anti-cavalry weapon during the late Heian and Nanboku-Cho periods, and appears frequently in battle scrolls depicting Kamakura samurai.

The naginata is believed to have appeared in Japanese military history in the late Heian period, initially used primarily by temple monks (sohei) at major temples such as Enryaku-ji and Kofuku-ji. These warrior-monks carried naginata during their armed protests (goso) against the imperial court and shogunate, and its effectiveness and ease of handling became widely recognized. It subsequently spread to the samurai class, and tactics were established for striking down mounted cavalry from the ground using the long-shafted naginata.

The Form of the Ko-naginata

Ko-naginata was manufactured during the Heian to early Muromachi periods and possessed the following characteristics:

• Blade length (hachō): A relatively long blade of approximately 60-90cm
• Curve (sori): Characterized by a deep curve at the base
• Tang (nakago): Long tang (naganakago) providing stable attachment to the handle
• Point (kissaki): Typically large or medium acute angle

Surviving ko-naginata are rare, with most having been reshaped in later periods through suriage (discussed below) and surviving today as tachi or katana.

Tomoe-gata and Shizuka-gata Naginata: A Comparison of Two Major Forms

There are broadly two types of naginata blade shapes.

Tomoe-gata naginata: A form with a broad blade width and deep curve. The width increases toward the tip, with the center of gravity positioned forward. It possesses characteristics that make it easy to handle and cut, and is also called the "women's naginata (onna-naginata)". One theory holds that the name derives from Tomoe Gozen, a female warrior who played an active role in the Genpei War.

Shizuka-gata naginata: A form with narrower blade width and less curve, closer to a straight sword. Designed for practical combat with quick handling, it is also called the "men's naginata (otoko-naginata)". One theory holds that the name derives from Shizuka Gozen.

These two forms correspond to the school divisions of naginata arts established in the Edo period, known as "Tomoe-ryu" and "Shizuka-ryu," with each school prescribing the shape of the naginata used in its practice.

Suriage and Its Significance

Suriage originally referred to the process of shortening a long naginata from the tang and repurposing it as a tachi or katana. During the prolonged conflicts of the Nanboku-Cho to Muromachi periods, extensive "recycling" took place, reusing the blades of old naginata as new weapons. When suriage was performed, the signature (smith's name) was often removed along with the tang, resulting in an unsigned blade; however, the converted naginata can sometimes be identified through examination of the blade's ground structure and hamon.

Naginata-naoshi

Naginata-naoshi is a technical term referring to a naginata that has been remounted and remade as a katana. It is characterized by proportions of curve, base width, and point width that differ from standard tachi or katana, and displays a distinctive form retaining characteristics from its naginata period. In NBTHK assessments, it may be evaluated as an independent category called "naginata-naoshi."

Iwatoshi: The Legend of Benkei and the Naginata

A famous legend concerning the naginata involves the prized naginata of Musashibo Benkei called Iwatoshi. It is said to have boasted a sharpness capable of "cutting even stone," and is spoken of as the legendary weapon through which Benkei seized 1,000 swords. However, it should be noted that in the extant war chronicle Gikeiki, it is recorded as "a sword called Iwatoshi" rather than being explicitly identified as a naginata.

At Oyamazumi Shrine in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, a large naginata said to have been offered by Benkei is preserved and housed, and is designated as an Important Cultural Property. The shrine is also a treasure trove of weapons and armor, housing approximately 40% of the nation's designated National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. It is also known that the Date family possessed a naginata of blade length 2 shaku 6 sun 1 bu (approximately 79.1cm) bearing a red-lacquered signature reading "Formerly possessed by Musashibo Benkei."

Women's Naginata in the Edo Period and Samurai Women

With the Edo period, the naginata ceased to function as a practical weapon and transformed into a "women's naginata (onna-naginata)" used for self-defense, etiquette, and training among samurai women. The origins of modern naginata-do trace back to this Edo-period women's martial arts culture. After the Muromachi period, the spear replaced the naginata as the primary infantry weapon, prompting the naginata to undergo unique development as a specialized women's martial art.

Schools of Naginata Arts: Tomoe-ryu and Shizuka-ryu

The two major schools of naginata arts established in the Edo period, Tomoe-ryu and Shizuka-ryu, each possess training systems closely connected to their respective tomoe-gata and shizuka-gata blade forms. Each school differs in stance, striking angles, and distance management, with the shape of the naginata used corresponding to its techniques.

Modern naginata-do is administered by the All Japan Naginata Federation with both competitive and kata components, and is adopted as an optional martial arts subject in junior and senior high schools. In competition, shina-naginata (practice naginata) are used for safety, while wooden or bamboo naginata are employed in kata training.

Naginata and Women's Martial Arts

The establishment of the naginata as a martial art for samurai women reflects the practical advantage of the long shaft in "easily compensating for differences in physique." The sweeping motion performed while maintaining distance using the long shaft proved effective even against opponents of superior strength, making it appropriate for samurai women prioritizing self-defense. Edo-period samurai etiquette texts contain the passage "women's martial arts take the naginata as their foundation," demonstrating that the naginata was positioned as the foremost accomplishment and refinement for samurai women.