View source for Kanabō

{{Short description|Japanese weapon (war club)}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Japanese words and phrases]]}}
[[File:Nanhoku-cho period samurai from "Military Costumes in Old Japan", 1893.jpg|thumb|Samurai holding a ''kanabō'']]

The {{nihongo|'''''kanabō'''''|金砕棒|kanasaibō}}, {{lit|metal stick}} or 'metal club') is a spiked or studded two-handed [[Club (weapon)|war club]] used in [[feudal Japan]] by [[samurai]]. Other related weapons of this type are the '''''nyoibō''''', '''''konsaibō''''',<ref>Kogan, Daniel, and Sun-Jin Kim (1996). ''Tuttle dictionary of the martial arts of Korea, China & Japan''. p. 168.</ref><ref>Pauley, Daniel C. (2009). ''Pauley's Guide: A Dictionary of Japanese Martial Arts and Culture''. p. 90.</ref> {{nihongo|'''''tetsubō'''''|鉄棒|}}, and '''''ararebō'''''.<ref name=mol-91>Mol, Serge (2003). ''Classical weaponry of Japan: special weapons and tactics of the martial arts''. Kodansha International. p. 91.</ref> Related solid iron weapons with no spikes or studs are the [[Commons:Category:Kanamuchi (kanemuchi)|'''''kanemuchi''''']] (or '''''kanamuchi''''') and the [[Commons:Category:Aribo (gojo kirikobo)|'''''aribo''''']] (also known as a '''''gojo''''' or '''''kirikobo''''').<ref>Serge Mol (2003). ''Classical weaponry of Japan: special weapons and tactics of the martial arts''. Kodansha International. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZzIXkFec0e8C&pg=PA106 p. 106].</ref>

==Description==
''Kanabō'' and other related club-like weapons were constructed out of heavy [[wood]] or made entirely from [[iron]], with iron spikes or studs on one end. For wooden ''kanabō'', one or both ends could be covered with iron caps. ''Kanabō''-type weapons came in a wide variety of shapes and sizes; though the largest ones were as tall as a man, on average they measured roughly 140 cm in length. The ''kanabō'' was typically intended for two-handed use, though one-handed versions exist which are more usually referred to as tetsubō and ararebō.  

Their shape could be similar to that of a medieval club or bludgeon, with a thicker outer end tapering towards a slender handle with a pommel, or, after the manner of a [[jō]], they could be straight all the way from the handle to the end. The shaft cross-section could be round (as in a baseball bat) or [[polygon]]al; that is, multi-faceted with flat surfaces arrayed around the central axis.<ref>''Secrets of the samurai: a survey of the martial arts of feudal Japan''. By Oscar Ratti, Adele Westbrook. p. 305</ref><ref name=mol-91/><ref>''Heroes of the Grand Pacification: Kuniyoshi's Taiheiki eiyū den'', p. 184</ref>

==Mythology==
The ''kanabō'' was also a [[mythical weapon]], often used in tales by ''[[oni]]'', who reputedly possessed [[superhuman strength]].<ref>Trimnell, Edward. ''Tigers, Devils, and Fools: A Guide to Japanese Proverbs''. p. 115.</ref><ref>Ishibashi, Tanzan. ''The Oriental Economist'', Volume 43. p. 45.</ref> This is alluded to by the Japanese [[saying]] "like giving a ''kanabō'' to an ''oni''{{-"}}—meaning to give an extra advantage to someone who already has the advantage (i.e. the strong made stronger).<ref>''The netsuke handbook''. Reikichi Ueda. p. 175.</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200" heights="200">
File:Oni no kanabo.JPG|A ''kanabō''
File:Oni.jpg|A [[statue]] of an [[Oni (folklore)|oni]] armed with a ''kanabō''
File:Kanabo-tetsubo 2.JPG|A close-up of the iron spikes of a ''tetsubō''
File:Kanabo with handle.jpg|A Japanese ''kanabō''
File:Kanabo tetsubo.jpg|A small antique Japanese wooden club with iron-covered ends and iron studs (''ararebō'')<ref name=mol-91/>
File:Kanabo tetsubo 2.JPG|An old Japanese wood club with iron spikes (a ''kanabō'' or ''tetsubō''), 4′ 9″ long and {{Convert|4|lb|kg|abbr=unit}} in weight
File:Small tetsubo.JPG|A small ''tetsubō''
File:Kanabo-tetsubo 3.JPG|A close-up of the iron studs on an antique Japanese ''ararebō'', a small version of the ''kanabō''
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Bō]]
* [[Hanbō]]
* [[Jō]]
* [[Tanbō]]
* [[List of martial arts weapons]]
* [[Mace (bludgeon)]]
* [[Macuahuitl]]
* [[Morning star (weapon)]]
* [[War hammer]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Kanabo}}

{{Japanese (samurai) weapons, armour and equipment}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanabo}}
[[Category:Clubs and truncheons of Japan]]
[[Category:Samurai clubs and truncheons]]