Shuriken - Shuriken

A short, thin sword used in Edo period weapons to kill or injure an opponent by throwing it. Its original form was likely a small knife or similar weapon, thrown like the hand-thrown arrows seen in "Taiheiki." Initially, the term referred to a small handle attached to a small knife, and also referred to the action of throwing a small knife as a weapon on demand, as seen in "Osaka Gunki" and "Jozan Kidan." In the early modern period, small handle shapes that were easy to hold in the palm of one's hand and throw were devised, and even special cross-shaped ones were made, and shurikenjutsu was also practiced as a martial art.

[Shinichi Saito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸時代の武具で、相手に投げ付けて殺傷する短く細い刀剣。『太平記』にみえる投げ付け用の手突き矢のように、小刀などを投げ付けたのがその祖形であろう。初め、小刀に添えた小柄(こづか)の類を称し、また臨機に小刀を投げて武器とする動作をもさし、『大阪軍記』『常山紀談』にみえる。近世以降、掌中に握って投げやすい小柄状の形が案出され、特殊な、十字形のものまでもつくられ、武芸としての手裏剣術も行われた。

［齋藤愼一］

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