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Choose a weapon! Sword Manrikigusari Jutte Table Of Contents

The Japanese sword (nihonto) has been internationally known for its sharpness and beauty since feudal times. The sword used to be the distinguishing mark of the samurai. Since swords are extremely dangerous weapons, it is forbidden to possess one without a permit in Japan today. The Japanese sword, admired for its artistic value as well as for its practical merits, is often considered an emblem of the samurai's power and skill. It was venerated by the bushi, or warrior class, and was worn as a badge of a samurai's status. The sword was the "the soul of a samurai," and no self-respecting bushi would be seen outside his home without his daisho (pair of swords) prominently displayed. Back to weapons

The manrikigusari consisted of a short length of metal chain, about two to three feet long, with weights on each end. The chain could be used to parry a strike from sticks, swords, or other weapons. The weights were also swung to strike an opponent or to entangle a weapon. Once a weapon was trapped by the chain and weights, the samurai could easily disarm their opponent. Finally, the length of chain could also be used to temporarily restrain an attacker once he was subdued. The manrikigusari was allegedly developed by Dannoshin Toshimitsu Masaki, then head sentry at Edo Castle, sometime during the early 1700s. According to legend, Masaki was inspired to create this unique weapon to prevent unnecessary bloodshed while his guards defended the castle from intruders. The manrikigusari was later adopted by other constables and their assistants to disarm and capture criminals. Back to weapons

The jutte was an iron truncheon carried by feudal era police officers called doshin, as well as by their non-samurai assistants. The jutte evolved from a very strange battlefield weapon commonly believed to have been designed by Goro Nyudo Masamune, a renowned swordsmith. Hachiwari, literally "helmet splitters,” were curved, pointed metal bars with a hook near the base of the handle. Worn by the bushi like a dirk, hachiwari were probably used as a parrying weapon, held in the left hand while wielding a sword in the right, or used to pierce through body armor. Much like the hachiwari, a single hook or fork on the side near the handle allowed the jutte to be used for trapping or even breaking the blades of edged weapons, as well as for jabbing or striking. Thus, the jutte was used to disarm and arrest suspects without bloodshed. Eventually, the jutte became a symbol of a doshin's official status. Munisai Hirata, the father of Japan's most famous swordsman, Musashi Miyamoto, was considered a master of the iron truncheon and jutte-jutsu. Edo-period police officers and their assistants developed many weapons and techniques against criminal violators, who were usually armed and frequently desperate. The jutte was popular in feudal Japan because it could parry the slash of a razor-sharp sword and immobilize an assailant without injury. The jutte also probably influenced the development of the sai, a dual-forked metal weapon employed in Okinawan karate. Essentially a defensive or restraining weapon, the length of the jutte required the user to get very close to those being apprehended. Like the tessen, a jutte could be used in blocking (uke) and parrying (nagashi) techniques, as well as in striking (uchi), thrusting (tsuki), and holding (osae) techniques. Back to Weapons

The samurai’s daily life included studying with all kinds of weapons, training, and battle. For training, the samurai had to withhold lots of grueling practice, in which many times they would get hurt. But good samurai never complained, because this was what they loved. They looked forward to battles, but they were not afraid of dying because dying was an honorable task, and in fact a good samurai looked forward to dying on the battlefield. Back to TOC

Good Samurai were not very ambitious. Their only ambition was to die in battle, but not before chopping some heads off. They would rather die for their lord and the Emperor than to stay living. To be captured was so shameful for them, that most samurai would commit suicide rather than to fall into a different lord’s hands as his slave. No samurai would ever want to retreat. Back to TOC

Rules: answer all the questions to defeat the evil samurai army. If you get the question wrong you will be transported back to the beginning so you may try again. When you win, you will gain control of Rokisama, the evil army… GOOD LUCK!

Question ONE: What is said to be the official mark of the samurai? sword Manrikigusari Jutte

Question TWO: A good samurai would… Pray everyday Be not afraid to die in battle Carry a sword everywhere

QUESTION THREE: a good samurai would prefer to... Die in battle right away To chop off a few heads first Not to die at all

Question FOUR: True or false. A jutte is made of silver FALSE TRUE

Question FIVE:a Manrikigusari was how many feet long?

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