Dagger

Dagger

Fujiwara no Masakane
Japanese, 1866
Steel with lacquered wood scabbard

The object for this month is a small dagger also known as a kaiken.

The kaiken is a traditional Japanese sword with a small blade, around 8-10 inches long.

This kaiken dates back to 1866, which was in one of the last years of the Edo period (also known as the Tokugawa period) dating from 1603 - 1867 in Japan. The Edo period is considered to be the last years of traditional Japan. It was also during this period that a government was established in Edo (now known as Tokyo).

This particular kaiken was made just two years before the start of the Meiji period, with the Meiji restoration, when Japan opened up to Western culture. The Meiji period started when Emperor Meiji took over the throne at just 15 years old.

On the wooden scabbard and handle of this kaiken are a variety of insects that have been embedded into the wood, the largest of which is a white butterfly. In Japan the butterfly, specifically a white one, represents the human soul (slightly juxtaposing the use of the kaiken inside it). As well as the butterfly, there is also some berberis (Japanese barberry) which is native to Japan and Eastern Asia. Other insects on the scabbard, such as flies and beetles, finish the decoration as well as a carved pattern where the scabbard and handle meet. The insects and berries are made of inlaid shell, a common material used to decorate items in Japan.  

Mirror inlaid with shell, 1850, 1855, in the style of Japanese lacquer, V&A Museum Explore the Collections, accession number AP.95-1875

Because of the insect decoration on the scabbard, it is suspected that this kaiken belonged to a woman. Samurai swords and their scabbards were usually decorated with animals that had shells which would protect them (such as lobsters), so the more ‘vulnerable’ insects such as flies and butterflies were slightly less common. Due to the fact that the dagger likely belonged to a woman, these insects may show that women were perceived as more fragile. However, samurai women did learn how to use a dagger, such as a kaiken, in order to protect themselves from harm.

Both samurai men and women would use a Kaiken as a means to protect themselves. Women would keep it in the sleeves or pockets of their traditional clothing and were expected to carry one with them even after they had married. The samurai men would use a kaiken as a secondary weapon which they would also keep hidden like the women. In addition, they would carry a full-sized sword with them.

The kaiken is very similar to a different type of Japanese sword called the ‘tantō’. The differences between them are their blade length and their purpose. While the kaiken is used predominantly for self-defence and combat, the tantō is used for traditional martial arts. The tantō is also around 2 inches longer than the kaiken, with the blades measuring up to 12 inches.

Tanto, mid-19th century, made by Miyata Nobukiyo, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 91.2.75

Other swords such as the katana and the wakizashi were also commonly used by the samurai in the Edo period (1603 – 1868). The katana was one of the most important weapons of the samurai warrior in the Edo period. The blade of the katana was very long, around 23 – 25 inches. When there wasn’t room to use a katana, the wakizashi sword was used instead. The wakizashi’s blade was about 12-24 inches long, making it more practical to use in a more confined space.

Our Object of the Month for September was chosen, researched, and written by work experience student Jasmine Burke.

This object is just one of the many objects that form part of Denys Eyre Bower’s five impressive collections which include Ancient Egyptian, Japanese, Buddhist, Stuart and Jacobite, and Books. For more information on these objects, review our Object of the Month series, visit the Historic House and Collections or contact our Curator, Naomi Collick by email or by calling 01892 870347.