In feudal Japan, it was a crime punishable by death to bring a sword into the shōgun's palace. This law applied to almost everyone, including the palace guards. Due to this prohibition, several kinds of non-bladed weapons were carried by palace guards. The jitte proved particularly effective and evolved to become the symbol of a palace guard's exalted position.[3]
In Edo-period Japan, the jitte was a substitute for a badge, and it represented someone on official business. It was carried by all levels of police officers, including high-ranking samurai police officials and low-rank samurailaw enforcement officers (called okappiki[citation needed] or doshin).[4][5] Other high-ranking samurai officials carried a jitte as a badge of office,[6] including hotel, rice and grain inspectors (aratame).[7][8] The jitte is the subject of the Japanese martial art of jittejutsu.[9]
Description and technique
A tassled jutte with a hidden stiletto in the hilt.
Jitte may have a small pointed tip or blade attached to the handle (tsuka) and hidden in the shaft (boshin). Jitte could be highly decorated with all manner of inlays and designs or very plain and basic depending on the status of the owner and the jitte's intended use. Jitte could range in length from around 12 to over 24 in (30–61 cm).[10] The modern jitte is about 45 cm (18 in) long with no cutting edge and a one-pronged tine (kagi) about 5 cm (2.0 in) long starting just above the hilt and pointing toward the tip (sentan). A popular misconception is that the kagi is used to catch a sword. It could possibly be used for this purpose, but the hook's proximity to the hand would make it rather dangerous; a more likely use for the hook would be to capture and arrest the blade after blocking it with the boshin.[11] The kagi's more common use is to hook into clothing or parts of the body like the nose or mouth, or to push into joints or other weak points on the body. It also could be used to hook the thumb while holding the weapon backwards, to allow different techniques such as punches and blocks, very similarly to a sai. The jitte can also be used in much the same manner as other short sticks or batons, to strike large muscle groups and aid in joint manipulation.[11]
Boshin, the main shaft of the jitte which could be smooth or multi-sided. The boshin of most jitte were iron, but some were made from wood.[13]
Sentan, the tip or point of the jitte.
Kagi, the hook or guard protruding from the side of the jitte. Jitte may have more than one kagi, with some jitte having two or three kagi.[10]
Kikuza ("chrysanthemum seat"): if the kagi is attached to the boshin through a hole in the boshin, the protrusion on the opposite side is called a kikuza.
Tsuka, the handle of the jitte, which could be wrapped or covered with various materials, or left plain.
Tsukamaki, the wrapping on the handle (tsuka). Materials such as ray skin (same), leather, and cord were used.
Kan, the ring or loop at the pommel of the tsuka. A cord or tassel could be tied to the kan. Also note its 'skull cracker' design.
Tsuba, a hand guard present on some types of jitte.
Koshirae. Jitte can occasionally be found housed in a sword-type case hiding the jitte from view entirely. This type of jitte can have the same parts and fittings as a sword, including seppa, tsuba, menuki, koiguchi, kojiri, nakago, mekugi-ana and mei.
^ abSerge Mol, Classical weaponry of Japan: special weapons and tactics of the martial arts, Kodansha International, 2003; p.80
^Daniel C. Pauley, Samantha Pauley, Pauley's Guide: A Dictionary of Japanese Martial Arts and Culture, 2009, p.65
^Thomas Louis, Tommy Ito, Samurai: The Code of the Warrior, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2008; p.129
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jutte.
Samurai Weapons, Samurai Armors and the Samurai way of life.
Don Cunningham's web site, Edo period police weapons and tactics 2016-03-06 at the Wayback Machine
ROLES AND TECHNIQUES OF THE POLICE DURING THE EDO PERIOD (1603–1867)’ by Dr. Kacem Zoughari
May 06, 2023
jitte, jitte, jutte, 十手, hands, specialized, weapon, that, used, police, period, japan, 1603, 1868, jutte, with, sword, type, case, koshirae, contents, history, description, technique, parts, jitte, other, jitte, types, similar, weapons, gallery, references, e. A jitte or jutte 十手 ten hands is a specialized weapon that was used by police in Edo period Japan 1603 1868 1 2 A jutte with a sword type case koshirae Contents 1 History 2 Description and technique 3 Parts of the jitte 4 Other jitte types and similar weapons 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditIn feudal Japan it was a crime punishable by death to bring a sword into the shōgun s palace This law applied to almost everyone including the palace guards Due to this prohibition several kinds of non bladed weapons were carried by palace guards The jitte proved particularly effective and evolved to become the symbol of a palace guard s exalted position 3 In Edo period Japan the jitte was a substitute for a badge and it represented someone on official business It was carried by all levels of police officers including high ranking samurai police officials and low rank samurai law enforcement officers called okappiki citation needed or doshin 4 5 Other high ranking samurai officials carried a jitte as a badge of office 6 including hotel rice and grain inspectors aratame 7 8 The jitte is the subject of the Japanese martial art of jittejutsu 9 Description and technique Edit A tassled jutte with a hidden stiletto in the hilt Jitte may have a small pointed tip or blade attached to the handle tsuka and hidden in the shaft boshin Jitte could be highly decorated with all manner of inlays and designs or very plain and basic depending on the status of the owner and the jitte s intended use Jitte could range in length from around 12 to over 24 in 30 61 cm 10 The modern jitte is about 45 cm 18 in long with no cutting edge and a one pronged tine kagi about 5 cm 2 0 in long starting just above the hilt and pointing toward the tip sentan A popular misconception is that the kagi is used to catch a sword It could possibly be used for this purpose but the hook s proximity to the hand would make it rather dangerous a more likely use for the hook would be to capture and arrest the blade after blocking it with the boshin 11 The kagi s more common use is to hook into clothing or parts of the body like the nose or mouth or to push into joints or other weak points on the body It also could be used to hook the thumb while holding the weapon backwards to allow different techniques such as punches and blocks very similarly to a sai The jitte can also be used in much the same manner as other short sticks or batons to strike large muscle groups and aid in joint manipulation 11 Parts of the jitte Edit 10 12 Boshin the main shaft of the jitte which could be smooth or multi sided The boshin of most jitte were iron but some were made from wood 13 Sentan the tip or point of the jitte Kagi the hook or guard protruding from the side of the jitte Jitte may have more than one kagi with some jitte having two or three kagi 10 Kikuza chrysanthemum seat if the kagi is attached to the boshin through a hole in the boshin the protrusion on the opposite side is called a kikuza Tsuka the handle of the jitte which could be wrapped or covered with various materials or left plain Tsukamaki the wrapping on the handle tsuka Materials such as ray skin same leather and cord were used Kan the ring or loop at the pommel of the tsuka A cord or tassel could be tied to the kan Also note its skull cracker design Tsuba a hand guard present on some types of jitte Koshirae Jitte can occasionally be found housed in a sword type case hiding the jitte from view entirely This type of jitte can have the same parts and fittings as a sword including seppa tsuba menuki koiguchi kojiri nakago mekugi ana and mei Other jitte types and similar weapons EditKarakuri jitte 2 Marohoshi 2 Naeshi or nayashi jitte have no hook or kagi 9 Tekkan HachiwaraGallery Edit The sentan tip or point of a jitte with a hexagonboshin shaft The tsuka handle showing the ray skin same tsukamaki handle wrap The kan end loop The kagi hook Naesshi or nayashi jitte a hookless jitte A jutte with a wooden shaft An antique jitte with a hexagon boshin shaft A matched pair of iron jutte and two kagi hooks similar to a sai copper covered tsuka handle and iron kan end loop with tassel Karakuri jitteReferences Edit Draeger amp Smith 1969 Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts p 83 ISBN 978 0 87011 436 6 a b c Serge Mol Classical weaponry of Japan special weapons and tactics of the martial arts Kodansha International 2003 p 221 Jutte Ju Te The Power of Ten Hands Weapon Stephen Turnbull The Samurai Swordsman Master of War p 113 Don Cunningham Taiho Jutsu Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai Tuttle Publishing 2004 p 65 Serge Mol Classical weaponry of Japan special weapons and tactics of the martial arts pp 77 78 Cunningham p 72 William E Deal Handbook to life in medieval and early modern Japan pp 166 167 a b Serge Mol Classical weaponry of Japan special weapons and tactics of the martial arts Kodansha International 2003 a b c Cunningham p 66 a b Serge Mol Classical weaponry of Japan special weapons and tactics of the martial arts Kodansha International 2003 p 80 Daniel C Pauley Samantha Pauley Pauley s Guide A Dictionary of Japanese Martial Arts and Culture 2009 p 65 Thomas Louis Tommy Ito Samurai The Code of the Warrior Sterling Publishing Company Inc 2008 p 129External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jutte Samurai Weapons Samurai Armors and the Samurai way of life Don Cunningham s web site Edo period police weapons and tactics Archived 2016 03 06 at the Wayback Machine ROLES AND TECHNIQUES OF THE POLICE DURING THE EDO PERIOD 1603 1867 by Dr Kacem Zoughari Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jitte amp oldid 1149439046, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
