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			{{Short description\|Japanese knife}}
	{{Refimprove\|date=February 2011}}
			{{Italic title}}
	]		]}}]]
			A {{Nihongo\|\|]\|'''kaiken'''}} is a {{cvt\|20\|–\|25\|cm\|adj=on}} long, single or (very rarely) double-edged Japanese ]<ref name="Stone1999">{{cite book\|first=George Cameron \|last=Stone\|title=Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in All Times\|url={{google books \|plainurl=y \|id=J5PgapzD6FoC\|page=405}}\|year=1999\|publisher=Dover Publications\|isbn=978-0-486-40726-5\|pages=405–}}</ref> usually without ornamental fittings housed in a plain but lacquered mount.

			== Uses ==
			The {{transliteration\|ja\|kaiken}} was once carried by men and women of the ] class in ]. It was useful for self-defense in indoor spaces where the long-bladed ] and intermediate-length {{transliteration\|ja\|]}} were inconvenient. Women carried them in their ] either in a pocket-like space ({{transliteration\|ja\|futokoro}}) or in the sleeve pouch ({{transliteration\|ja\|tamoto}})<ref name="Sinclaire2004">{{cite book\|first=Clive \|last=Sinclaire\|title=Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior\|url={{google books \|plainurl=y \|id=IQ3FAZG94ZsC\|page=88}}\|date=1 November 2004\|publisher=Globe Pequot Press\|isbn=978-1-59228-720-8\|pages=88–}}</ref> for self-defense and for ] by slashing the veins in the left side of the neck.<ref name="TarassukBlairClaude1982">{{cite book\|first1=Leonis \|last1=Tarassuk\|last2=Blair \|first2=Claude\|title=The Complete encyclopedia of arms & weapons: the most comprehensive reference work ever published on arms and armour from prehistoric times to the present\|url={{google books \|plainurl=y \|id=GEGUZwEACAAJ \|page=306}}\|year=1982\|publisher=Simon & Schuster \|page=306}}</ref><ref name="AraiJoly1913">{{cite book\|first1=Hakuseki \|last1=Arai\|first2=Henri L. \|last2=Joly\|first3=Hogitarō \|last3=Inada\|title=The Sword Book in "Honchō Gunkikō"\|url={{google books \|plainurl=y \|id=2jQYnQEACAAJ \|page=42}}\|year=1913\|publisher=C. E. Tuttle \|page=42}}</ref> When a samurai woman married, she was expected to carry a {{transliteration\|ja\|kaiken}} with her when she moved in with her husband.<ref name="Mol2003">{{cite book\|first=Serge \|last=Mol\|title=Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts\|url={{google books \|plainurl=y \|id=ZzIXkFec0e8C\|page=27}}\|year=2003\|publisher=Kodansha International\|isbn=978-4-7700-2941-6\|pages=27–}}</ref>
			The {{transliteration\|ja\|kaiken}} was also carried concealed in its {{transliteration\|ja\|shirasaya}} by the lower classes who were not permitted to wear swords, in particular by criminals in the Edo period.

			In modern Japan, a {{transliteration\|ja\|kaiken}} is worn as a traditional accessory for the {{transliteration\|ja\|gyōji}} (referee) in ] matches for the highest ranks. However, a real blade is not used. No one legally wears or carries a {{transliteration\|ja\|kaiken}} today in Japan, as this is a violation of the Gun and Sword Law.{{clarify\|reason=Which Gun and Sword Law? When was it passed?\|date=March 2023}} They can be legally transported, however, provided they are carried together with their registration certificate.

			== Orthography ==

			Due to pronunciation changes over time, the blade's name has shifted from {{transliteration\|ja\|kwaiken}} to {{transliteration\|ja\|kaiken}}.<ref name="CannonWarren1996">{{cite book\|first1=Garland Hampton \|last1=Cannon\|first2=Nicholas W. \|last2=Warren\|title=The Japanese Contributions to the English Language: An Historical Dictionary\|url={{google books \|plainurl=y \|id=GiCTPPnBuHEC\|page=65}}\|year=1996\|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag\|isbn=978-3-447-03764-8\|pages=65–}}</ref> The {{transliteration\|ja\|kaiken}} is also referred to as a {{transliteration\|ja\|futokoro-gatana}}{{citation needed\|date=September 2018}} or a {{nihongo3\|{{gloss\|protection sword/blade}}\|守り刀\|mamori-gatana}}.

	A {{Nihongo\|'''''kaiken'''''\|懐剣\|\|extra=prior to modern orthographic reform ''kwaiken''; also ''futokoro-gatana''}} is a ] formerly carried by men and women of the ] class in ]. It was useful for self-defense indoors where the long '']'' and intermediate '']'' were inconvenient. Women carried them in the '']'' for self-defense and rarely for '']'' (suicide). A woman received a ''kaiken'' as part of her wedding gifts. Many of these daggers had black-lacquered handles and matching scabbards. They could be carried in a pouch of brocade with a drawstring for easy access.
	In modern times, kaiken have become part of the traditional Japanese marriage, being one of the items carried by a bride for good luck.
	==See also==		==See also==
	]		* ]
	]		* {{transliteration\|ja\|]}}

		⚫	==References==
			{{reflist\|30em}}

	==External links==		==External links==
			{{Commons category\|Kwaiken tanto}}
	{{Commonscat\|Nihonto}}
			* {{cite book\|last=Minoru \|first=Nishio\|title=Iwanami kokugo jiten\|url={{google books \|plainurl=y \|id=DxIhmwEACAAJ}}\|orig-year=1979\|editor=Nishio Minoru \|editor2=Iwabuchi Etsutarō \|editor3=Mizutani Shizuo \|edition=3rd \|year=1985 \|publisher=] \|location=Tokyo \|language=ja \|isbn=4-00-080003-5 \|pages=155 }}
	*		*
	*		*
	*		*
⚫	==References==
	{{cite book \|last= \|first= \|authorlink= \|coauthors= \|editor=Nishio Minoru, Iwabuchi Etsutarō, Mizutani Shizuo \|others= \|title=Iwanami Kokugo Jiten \|origdate= \|origyear= \|origmonth= \|url= \|format= \|accessdate= \|edition=3 \|series= \|volume= \|date= \|year=1985 \|month= \|publisher=] \|location=Tokyo \|language=Japanese \|isbn=4-00-080003-5 \|oclc= \|doi= \|id= \|pages=155 \|chapter= \|chapterurl= \|quote= }}

	{{Japanese ~~swords~~}}		{{Japanese (samurai) weapons, armour and equipment}}
			{{Knives}}
⚫	]

		⚫	]
	]		]
			]


			{{Knife-stub}}
	]
			{{Japan-hist-stub}}
	]
	]
	]

Latest revision as of 20:21, 19 March 2024

Japanese knife

A kaiken (懐剣) is a 20–25 cm (7.9–9.8 in) long, single or (very rarely) double-edged Japanese knife usually without ornamental fittings housed in a plain but lacquered mount.

Uses

The kaiken was once carried by men and women of the samurai class in Japan. It was useful for self-defense in indoor spaces where the long-bladed katana and intermediate-length wakizashi were inconvenient. Women carried them in their kimono either in a pocket-like space (futokoro) or in the sleeve pouch (tamoto) for self-defense and for ritual suicide by slashing the veins in the left side of the neck. When a samurai woman married, she was expected to carry a kaiken with her when she moved in with her husband. The kaiken was also carried concealed in its shirasaya by the lower classes who were not permitted to wear swords, in particular by criminals in the Edo period.

In modern Japan, a kaiken is worn as a traditional accessory for the gyōji (referee) in sumo matches for the highest ranks. However, a real blade is not used. No one legally wears or carries a kaiken today in Japan, as this is a violation of the Gun and Sword Law. They can be legally transported, however, provided they are carried together with their registration certificate.

Orthography

Due to pronunciation changes over time, the blade's name has shifted from kwaiken to kaiken. The kaiken is also referred to as a futokoro-gatana or a mamori-gatana (守り刀, 'protection sword/blade').

References

Stone, George Cameron (1999). Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in All Times. Dover Publications. pp. 405–. ISBN 978-0-486-40726-5.
Sinclaire, Clive (1 November 2004). Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior. Globe Pequot Press. pp. 88–. ISBN 978-1-59228-720-8.
Tarassuk, Leonis; Blair, Claude (1982). The Complete encyclopedia of arms & weapons: the most comprehensive reference work ever published on arms and armour from prehistoric times to the present. Simon & Schuster. p. 306.
Arai, Hakuseki; Joly, Henri L.; Inada, Hogitarō (1913). The Sword Book in "Honchō Gunkikō". C. E. Tuttle. p. 42.
Mol, Serge (2003). Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts. Kodansha International. pp. 27–. ISBN 978-4-7700-2941-6.
Cannon, Garland Hampton; Warren, Nicholas W. (1996). The Japanese Contributions to the English Language: An Historical Dictionary. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 65–. ISBN 978-3-447-03764-8.

External links

Minoru, Nishio (1985) . Nishio Minoru; Iwabuchi Etsutarō; Mizutani Shizuo (eds.). Iwanami kokugo jiten (in Japanese) (3rd ed.). Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten. p. 155. ISBN 4-00-080003-5.
Nihonto message board forum
Richard Stein's Japanese sword guide
Japan Arts Council e-book Mamori-gatana pp. 179–180

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Latest revision as of 20:21, 19 March 2024

Uses

Orthography

See also

References

External links