Sōhei Monks #2 (Test of Honour) (Ronin)

Hello!

Second part and third Sohei monk today!

I wrote more about the monk themselves HERE and today about the weapons that warrior figures are equipped with.

The naginata (Japanese 長刀 or 薙刀) is a Japanese pole weapon used in the naginata-dō martial art.

The traditional naginata consists of a shaft about 180 cm long and a flexibly mounted iron about 40 cm long and shaped similar to the blade of a Japanese edged weapon - katana or tachi, thanks to which it could be used both for stabbing and cutting.
The length of the shaft given above is only an average length, because over the centuries of use it ranged from 60 cm to about 3 meters.
It is similar with the iron - its length ranged from 15 cm to about 60 cm, the width of the blade and the degree of curvature were also different.

The naginata was initially used as the primary weapon of the poorer samurai and those who aspired to such a title. The art of using the naginata (naginata-dō) developed then, which was based on the use of the flexibility of the iron attachment.
Around 1400 C.E. its use was relegated to the role of a spear used in the ranks of infantry (use similar to the Macedonian phalanx).
During the shogunate, the naginata was taught to samurai women.

For exercises, a wooden naginata with a bamboo iron is used.