Editing Naginata

{{Era|Weapons}}{{WP-REAL}}
{{Pre-release|[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]}}
[[File:ACFT - Naginata.png|thumb|200px|Shimazu Saito wielding a ''naginata'']]
The '''''naginata''''' (なぎなた, 薙刀) is a weapon originating from [[Japan]], wielded by [[samurai]] and, most famously, by the ''{{Wiki|onna-musha}}'', a type of female warrior belonging to the Japanese nobility. Although commonly mistaken for a [[sword]], the ''naginata'' is in fact a [[Long weapon|polearm]].<ref name="Wiki">{{WP|Naginata}}</ref>

==Description==
A ''naginata'' consists of a wooden or metal pole with a curved single-edged blade on the end; in this regard, it is similar to the Chinese [[guandao]] or the European {{Wiki|glaive}}.  Similar to the [[katana]], ''naginata'' often have a round handguard, called ''{{Wiki|tsuba}}'', between the blade and shaft, when mounted in a ''{{Wiki|koshirae}}''. A ''naginata''{{'}}s blade is 30 cm to 60 cm (11.8 inches to 23.6 inches) long and is forged in the same manner as traditional Japanese swords. The blade has a long tang, called ''nakago'', which is inserted in the shaft.<ref name="Wiki" />

The blade is removable and is secured by means of a wooden peg called ''mekugi'' (目釘) that passes through a hole (''mekugi-ana'') in both the tang and the shaft. The shaft ranges from 120 cm to 240 cm (47.2 inches to 94.5 inches) in length and is oval shaped. The area of the shaft where the tang sits is called the ''tachiuchi'' or ''tachiuke'', which can be reinforced with metal rings and wrapped with cord. The end of the shaft has a heavy metal end cap, the ''ishizuki'' or ''hirumaki''. When not in use, the blade is covered with a shaft.<ref name="Wiki" />

==History==
In the late 16th century, the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Japanese Assassin]] [[Fujibayashi Naoe]] and her ally, the samurai [[Yasuke]], came into possession of a number of ''naginata'' during their travels across Japan, which they wielded effectively in battle.<ref name="ACSH">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]''</ref>

In 1725, the [[Japanese Rite of the Templar Order|Japanese Templar]] and samurai [[Shimazu Saito]] carried a ''naginata'' during her mission to [[Macau]]. She made use of it during her encounters with the [[British Brotherhood of Assassins|British Assassin]] [[Edward Kenway]],<ref name="FT 11">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 11|Episode 11]]</ref><ref name="FT 33">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 33|Episode 33]]</ref> until the weapon was destroyed in a duel against the [[Chinese Brotherhood of Assassins|Chinese Assassin]] [[Liu Qing]], who broke the ''naginata'' with his guandao.<ref name="FT 36">''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 36|Episode 36]]</ref>

==Behind the scenes==
The ''naginata'' appears as a usable weapon in the 2025 video game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]''.

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{ACFT}}
{{ACSH}}
[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Long weapons]]
[[Category:16th century weapons]]
[[Category:18th century weapons]]