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A is a Japanese tool thought to be originally derived from the
A is a Japanese tool thought to be originally derived from the masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units, which are often laid in and bound together by mortar; the term ''masonry'' can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are bricks, building ...
trowel. The two widely recognized variations of the kunai are short kunai (小苦無 shō-''kunai'') and the big ''kunai'' (大苦無 ''dai-kunai''). Although a basic tool, in the hands of a martial arts expert, the ''kunai'' could be used as a multi-functional weapon. The ''kunai'' is commonly associated with the ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of a ninja included reconnaissance, espionage, infiltration, deception, ambush, bodyguarding and their fighting skills in martial arts, including ninjutsu.Kawakami, pp ...
, who used it to gouge holes in walls.
Design
A ''Kunai'' normally had a leaf-shaped wrought blade in lengths ranging from 20 cm to 30 cm and a handle with a ring on the pommel for attaching a rope. The attached rope allowed the ''kunais handle to be wrapped to function as a grip, or to be strapped to a stick as a makeshiftspear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fasten ...
; to be tied to the body for concealment; to be used as an anchor or piton
A piton (; also called ''pin'' or ''peg'') in climbing is a metal spike (usually steel) that is driven into a crack or seam in the climbing surface using a climbing hammer, and which acts as an anchor for protecting the climber against the ...
, and sometimes to be used as the Chinese rope dart. Contrary to popular belief, ''kunai'' were not designed to be used primarily as throwing weapons. Instead, ''kunai'' were primarily tools and, when used as weapons, were stabbing and thrusting implements.
Varieties of ''kunai'' include short, long, narrow-bladed, saw-toothed, and wide-bladed. In some cases, the ''kunai'' and the ''Nishikori'', a wide-bladed saw with a dagger-type handle, are difficult to distinguish.
Uses
The ''kunai'' was originally used by peasants as a multi-purpose gardening tool and by workers of stone andmasonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units, which are often laid in and bound together by mortar; the term ''masonry'' can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are bricks, building ...
. The blade is made of soft iron and is left unsharpened because the edges are used to smash relatively soft materials such as plaster and wood, for digging holes, and for prying. Normally, only the tip is sharpened.
Weapon
Manyninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of a ninja included reconnaissance, espionage, infiltration, deception, ambush, bodyguarding and their fighting skills in martial arts, including ninjutsu.Kawakami, pp ...
weapons were adapted from farming tools, not unlike those used by Shaolin monks in China. Since ''kunai'' were cheaply produced farming tools of proper size and weight and could be easily sharpened, they were readily available to be converted into simple weapons. As a weapon, the ''kunai'' is larger and heavier than a shuriken
A ''shuriken'' ( ja, 手裏剣; literally: "hidden hand blade") is a Japanese concealed weapon that was used as a hidden dagger or metsubushi to distract or misdirect.
They are also known as throwing stars, or ninja stars, although they we ...
and with the grip could also be used in hand-to-hand combat
Hand-to-hand combat (sometimes abbreviated as HTH or H2H) is a physical confrontation between two or more persons at short range ( grappling distance or within the physical reach of a handheld weapon) that does not involve the use of weapons.Hu ...
more readily than a shuriken.
As with ninjutsu
, sometimes used interchangeably with the modern term , is the martial art strategy and tactics of unconventional warfare, guerrilla warfare and espionage purportedly practised by the ninja. ''Ninjutsu'' was a separate discipline in some trad ...
, the exaggeration persistent in ninja myths played a large role in creating the popular culture
Popular culture (also called mass culture or pop culture) is generally recognized by members of a society as a set of practices, beliefs, artistic output (also known as, popular art or mass art) and objects that are dominant or prevalent in ...
image of ''kunai''. In fictional depictions of ninjas, the ''kunai'' is commonly portrayed as a steel knife that is used for stabbing or particularly throwing, sometimes confusing it with the shuriken
A ''shuriken'' ( ja, 手裏剣; literally: "hidden hand blade") is a Japanese concealed weapon that was used as a hidden dagger or metsubushi to distract or misdirect.
They are also known as throwing stars, or ninja stars, although they we ...
.
Masonry
The ''kunai'' was used in masonry to shape stonework.See also
*Dart (missile)
Darts are airborne ranged weapons. They are designed to fly such that a sharp, often weighted point will strike first. They can be distinguished from Javelin (weapon), javelins by the presence of fletching (feathers on the tail) and a shaft th ...
* Entrenching tool
An entrenching tool (U.K.), intrenching tool (U.S.), E-tool, or trenching tool is a digging tool used by military forces for a variety of military purposes. Survivalists, campers, hikers and other outdoors groups have found it to be indispensabl ...
* Flechette
A flechette ( ) is a pointed steel projectile with a vaned tail for stable flight. The name comes from French , "little arrow" or "dart", and sometimes retains the acute accent in English: fléchette. They have been used as ballistic weapons sinc ...
* Hori hori
* Shuriken
A ''shuriken'' ( ja, 手裏剣; literally: "hidden hand blade") is a Japanese concealed weapon that was used as a hidden dagger or metsubushi to distract or misdirect.
They are also known as throwing stars, or ninja stars, although they we ...
* Tantō
A is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords ( ''nihonto'') that were worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The tantō dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ...
* Tent peg
* Throwing knife
A throwing knife is a knife that is specially designed and weighted so that it can be thrown effectively. They are a distinct category from ordinary knives.
Throwing knives are used by many cultures around the world, and as such different tac ...
* Trowel
References
Sources
Further reading
* * {{Knives Gardening tools Japanese martial arts terminology Ninjutsu artefacts Mechanical hand tools Throwing weapons Weapons of Japan