Manjisai

Manjisai
Information
Weapon type:	Stabbing weapon
Designations:	Nuntesai, Matayoshi Sai
Use:	Weapon, traditional weapon
Working time:	til today
Region of origin / author:	Okinawa
Distribution:	Worldwide
Handle:	metal
Particularities:	The Sai are used today in the martial arts Kobudo , Wushu , Silat and Kalarippayat .
Lists on the subject

The Manjisai [ man.dʑi.sai ] (卍 釵, Japanese ) is an Okinawan Kobudō weapon. Other names are Nuntesai (抜 手 釵) and Matayoshi Sai . It is a variant of the Sai .

Appearance

In contrast to the normal sai ( trident ), one of the prongs of the Manjisai is bent in the other direction (towards the handle). In addition to the tips of the three prongs, the two outer ones are often ground to a cutting edge on the outer and inner edge.

history

The design of this weapon is attributed on the one hand to Taira Shinken . He is said to have been inspired by a visit to a Buddhist temple, where he saw a swastika (swastika, Japanese manji ), the Buddhist and Hindu symbol of rebirth, to make a weapon shaped according to this model. On the other hand, Shinko Matayoshi, which she had copied based on a model he saw in Shanghai.

It is more likely, however, that the Manjisai is also a traditional Okinawan weapon that may have been widespread in China and from there found its way to Okinawa, the home of the Kobudo.

Kata

The following kata use this weapon:

• Jigen no sai or Manji no sai (both names denote the same kata, since 卍 can be pronounced Jigen or Manji ); the kata is traced back to taira shinken
• Shinbaru no Sai or Matayoshi no Sai (Kata of Matayoshi-Kobudo)

Other uses

Mounted on a Bō , the Manjisai is used as a spear-like weapon, the Nuntebō , which looks a little reminiscent of a halberd .

literature

• Werner Lind : Lexicon of the 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 ).