The Cunningham collection · H-1–H-2

Hachiwari

Worn like a dirk, hachiwari were used as a parrying weapon, held in the left hand while wielding a sword in the right. The hook could also be used to pry away sections of body armor while the heavy blade was used to pierce through vulnerable areas or openings in the armor. Copyright © 2009. Please do not use the photographs or the text on this site without permission. (Image use must include the statement: "Copyright © 2009. Photograph by Don Cunningham.")

— Don Cunningham, introduction to the catalogue pageSource A12

Tekkan, catalogue number H-1, view 1 of 5 from the Cunningham collection

Tekkan, catalogue number H-1, view 2 of 5 from the Cunningham collection

Tekkan, catalogue number H-1, view 3 of 5 from the Cunningham collection

Tekkan, catalogue number H-1, view 4 of 5 from the Cunningham collection

H-1

Tekkan

This is an Edo-period hachiwari (helmet splitter), sometimes also called a kabutowari, with dark green lacquered saya and tsuka. Several kanji characters are engraved on three sides of the curved square-shaped blade with a sharpened tip and a hook near the base of the handle. One side is signed Goro Nyodo Masamune, a renowned swordsmith and alleged designer of this unique weapon. The other side reads Oh-ko Kusunoki Masashige (Ordered by Kusunoki Masashige, an infamous Japanese general).Source A12

Archived catalogue page · Link to this object

H-2

Tekkan

This is a tekkan (iron sword) made in the shape of a hachiwari or kabutowari (helmet splitter). It is a late Edo-period or Meiji-era cast bronze replica of a tekkan, very popular with wealthy merchants and farmers previously denied by law from carrying or even possessing most types of edged weapons or swords during the Edo period.Source A12

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Sources for this page

A12Cunningham collection, “Hachiwari”. e-budokai.com/weapons/hachiwari.htm · © 2009 (capture 2012-10-22) · Original organizational material
D36Owner’s confirmation of permission to republish the organization’s and Dr. Cunningham’s texts, photographs and graphics. project record, docs/rights-and-attribution.md · 2026-11-03 · Owner-supplied file

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