Blue Dragon Sword

An old Chinese sword. (1) A long sword-like sword. The name appears in Chinese vernacular novels from the early modern period. In the first chapter of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it is written that during the Three Kingdoms period, the Shu general Guan Yu (?-219) had a "Blue Dragon Engetsudao" made for himself and named it "Lengyu Saw." In chapter 76 of the Water Margin, it is written that the sword is both "Blue Dragon Sword" and "Crescent Moon Sword." The name "Blue Dragon" is said to have been given to it because of the shape of the blade. (2) A name given by the Japanese to the large sword, which is similar to the foreign sword and cuts with its weight. It is probably a re-use of the name (1), and probably began around the end of the Edo period to the beginning of the Meiji period. The handle is ring-shaped and the blade is curved and wide at the tip, and it is carried on the back in a leather sheath.

[Tatsu Nakano]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国の古刀。(1)長刀(なぎなた)状の刀。その名は中国近世の白話小説のなかに散見する。『三国志演義』第1回には、三国時代、蜀(しょく)の武将、関羽(かんう)（？―219）が自分の刀として「青竜偃月(えんげつ)刀」をつくらせ、「冷豔鋸(れいえんきょ)」と名づけたとある。また、『水滸(すいこ)伝』第76回には、「青竜刀、偃月刀」と並記されている。青竜という称は、刃の形状からつけられたという。(2)重さで切る蕃刀(ばんとう)に似た大太刀(おおたち)に対し、日本人がつけた呼称。おそらく(1)の名称の転用で、始まりは江戸末期から明治初期にかけてのころであろう。柄頭(えがしら)は環で、刀身は反って先が広く、皮の鞘(さや)に入れて背負う。

［中野　達］

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