Why Did the Naginata Become Known as a "Woman’s Weapon"? The Untold History of Japan’s Iconic but Minor Weapon, the Naginata

"A Weapon for Women"
The naginata is one of Japan’s most iconic long-handled weapons. Introduced during the Heian period, the image of monks like Benkei Musashibō wielding it remains strong even today.

However, while monks of the Heian era did use it, the majority of images from the subsequent Sengoku period suggest it was no longer in use. In fact, today, the naginata is commonly associated as a weapon used by women.
Why did the naginata fall out of use and become perceived as a weapon primarily for women in modern times? Let’s explore that history.

Structurally, the naginata features a long handle with a curved blade mounted at the tip. It is believed to have originated from a blade shape called “Shōbu-zō,” attached to a long shaft.

Initially, it was called “Chōtō” and read as “naganata,” but since this could be confused with short swords called “tantō,” the term “naginata” eventually became the standard name.

The name suggests a sword that can sweep and cut down opponents.

It was Popular Until the Nanboku-chō Period
There are multiple theories about its origin. For example, one suggests that it was developed to allow for greater distance (maai) in combat, which naturally resulted in a longer handle. Another theory states that it was a refined version of the “Tehoko,” a weapon used from the late Nara period to the Kamakura period.

Regardless of its origin, the naginata was widely used by warriors of all social classes—from samurai to foot soldiers—in close combat during the Kamakura era.

During the Kamakura period, the naginata was relatively short, with a handle about 4 shaku (approx. 120cm), a blade approximately 3 shaku (around 90cm), totaling about 7 shaku (roughly 210cm).

By the Nanboku-chō period, it had grown larger similar to tachi swords, with blades reaching 6 shaku 3 sun (about 190cm), handles roughly 5 shaku (about 150cm), and a total length of around 1 jō 1 shaku 3 sun (approximately 340cm).

Although swords, including tachi, nodachi, spears, and axes, were also used on horseback during this time, the naginata was more common than spears or axes.

Thanks to its long reach and its ability to be used to “strike,” “thrust,” and “slash,” it was highly valued and an important weapon for samurai in the Muromachi period. Notably, it is also one of the most frequently mentioned weapons in the “Taiheiki.”

Replaced by Spears…
However, the appearance of similar weapons, such as the spear, changed the situation.

With the advent of the Nagamaki (long sword) during the Muromachi period, the use of the naginata on the battlefield gradually declined from the Sengoku period onward.

One decisive reason for its decline was its length, which made it easy to accidentally injure allied soldiers during group combat. This difficulty in handling contributed to its replacement by the spear.

However, in the Edo period, naginata techniques were established as martial arts alongside spear and swordsmanship. Practice sessions were held in various domains, and notably, it was accepted as a form of education and self-defense for women in samurai families.

From this point onward, the image of the naginata as primarily a “weapon used by women” was born.

This perception further solidified through government policies from the Taishō era through the post-World War II period, promoting it as a martial art practiced by women.