Aikuchi
| Aikuchi | |
|---|---|
|
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| Information | |
| Weapon type: | knife |
| Designations: | Aikuchi, Kusungobu |
| Use: | weapon |
| Region of origin / author: |
Japan , samurai, armourers |
| Distribution: | Japan |
| Blade length: | about 22 cm to 30.3 cm, (Japanese 1 Shaku ) |
| Handle: | Wood, metal, leather, fish skin, lacquer |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Aikuchi ( Japanese 合口 , 匕首 ) is a short tantō ( knife or combat knife ) that was worn by the samurai especially in the 15th century.
description
The Aikuchi has a straight or slightly curved, single-edged blade. The blade becomes slightly narrower from the handle to the location . The back of the blade is different in strength and straight. The cutting edge is mostly straight for most of its length and then runs in a slight curve at the tip towards the back of the blade. The handle does not have a parrying element (Japanese tsuba ), but mostly a special metal fitting (interlocking) in an often artistic design. It can be varnished and decorated with Japanese varnish ( Urushi ). The handle is usually covered with same-gawa, the skin of the Pacific pearl skate, and has no silk wrapping (tsuka-ito). The typical handle ornaments (Menuki) are firmly glued on. The sheaths ( Saya ) are made of magnolia wood and are lacquered. Saya decorations with ornaments made of thin non-ferrous metal are known in various forms, as are completely metal-plated sheaths (often these were mountings for tourists, hammamono). The classic Aikuchi has a rather simple Saya. On the outside of the saya there is an eyelet (kurigata) for attaching a woven silk ribbon (sageo) to secure it to the belt ( obi ). The same steel was used for the blades as for the katana swords. The Aikuchi was worn by samurai who had completed their military service and were thus of retirement age and were honored with denominations such as Hoin , Hokyo or Hogen . Until the late Tokugawa era, also known as the Edo period (1603 to 1868), it was not worn by notables. The knives were worn in everyday life and were intended to express that the wearer was not “belligerent” but was always ready to defend himself. It was also used as a weapon in ritual suicides ( seppuku or hara-kiri). If they were used for this purpose, the blades were often not mounted in elaborate fittings ( koshirae ), but in simple, wooden handles and sheaths, similar to the shirasaya . During the fight the Aikuchi u. a. used to give the final blow to an opponent after they have been thrown to the ground, or to cut open armor.
Individual evidence
- ↑ George Cameron Stone , Donald J. LaRocca: A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: in All Countries and in All Times. Courier Dover Publications, 1999, ISBN 978-0-486-40726-5 (Reprint), p. 5 f.
literature
- Werner Lind : The dictionary of martial arts. China, Japan, Okinawa, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, India, Mongolia, Philippines, Taiwan, etc. Sportverlag, Berlin 1999, ISBN 3-328-00838-1 , ( Edition BSK ).
- Serge Mol: Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts . Kodansha International (JPN), ISBN 978-4-7700-2941-6 ( limited preview in Google Book Search [accessed September 9, 2010]).