Shuriken

thumb|upright|Five types of shuriken

thumb|upright|[[Edo period shuriken in Odawara Castle Museum, Japan. Note the senbon darts.]]

A is a Japanese concealed weapon used by samurai or ninja or in martial arts as a hidden dagger or metsubushi to distract or misdirect.

History

The origins of the bo-shuriken in Japan are still unclear, despite continuing research.

This is partly because shurikenjutsu was a secret art and also due to the fact that throughout early Japanese history there were many independent exponents of the skill of throwing long, thin objects.

The earliest-known reference to a school teaching shurikenjutsu is Ganritsu Ryu, active during the 17th century.

This school utilized a long, thin implement with a bulbous head, thought to be derived from the arrow.

Surviving examples of blades used by this school appear to combine an arrow's shape with that of a needle traditionally used in Japanese leatherwork and armor manufacture.

Bo-shuriken were constructed from a wide variety of everyday items, and as such came in many shapes and sizes.

Some derived their names from the materials of which they were made, such as (nail form), (needle form) and (knife form); some were named after an object of similar appearance, such as (spear form), (pine-needle form); while others have names that are purely descriptive, such as (piercing tool form), (utility tool form), or (plate metal) and (pin).

Effective areas

Shuriken targets were primarily the more exposed parts of the body: the eyes, face, hands, or feet.

Shuriken, despite low mass, were capable of dealing lethal blows at short ranges. In some cases, shuriken were capable of partially disemboweling targets.

Shuriken, especially hira-shuriken, were also used in novel ways—they could be embedded in the ground, injuring those who stepped on them (similar to a caltrop), wrapped in a fuse to be ignited and thrown to cause fire, or wrapped in a cloth soaked in poison and lit to cover an area with a cloud of poisonous smoke.

They could also be used as a handheld weapon in close combat.

There are reports of shuriken being coated with poison, intended either as a throwing weapon or to be left in a conspicuous place for a victim to pick up. Germany, and the United Kingdom (manufacture, sale, distribution and import).

In the United States, they are prohibited in some states, such as California and New York. In some cases they may be allowed, but may still be subject to specific local legislation. Owners may be required to possess a certificate for possession.

History

Effective areas

Cultural legacy

See also

References

Further reading

External links