Tessen

The tessen (iron fan) was also considered a symbol of authority in Japan as well as a common self-defense weapon when otherwise unarmed or in extraordinary situations. While tessen were basically folding fans with iron ribs, solid tessen, forged from iron to look like a closed fan, were more durable and less expensive to make. The solid tessen was also considered more effective in combat than the folding style, making it quite popular. Cast in iron, the tenarashi-gata could be quite heavy. Carved from hard wood such as oak, the motsu-shaku and was lighter and therefore easier to wear or carry.

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.")

   

This is a solid non-folding tessen cast of iron in the shape of a closed fan. This Edo-period tenarashi-gata tessen is made in the style of gunsen-gata or military-style fan. A dragon and two tigers on opposite sides represent the mythical guardians and beneficial forces of nature. It has a leather-wrapped tsuka.

  

This is a solid non-folding tessen cast of iron in the shape of a closed fan. This Edo-period tenarashi-gata tessen is made in the style of sensu-gata. A dragon and two tigers on opposite sides represent the mythical guardians and beneficial forces of nature. It has a cord-wrapped tsuka.

This is a solid non-folding tessen cast of iron in the shape of a closed fan. This Edo-period tenarashi-gata tessen is made in the style of a very convincing maiohgi-gata, a fan used in traditional Japanese dancing. Each outer rib has the moon and the sun, signifying in and yo (Japanese for yin and yang), cut out to display the underlying gold washed copper leaves underneath and between the bolstered pieces of russet iron.

This is a folding tessen called a menhari-gata. The outer ribs are made of iron while the inner ribs are made of bamboo. This sixteenth-century tessen is made in the shape of maiohgi-gata, a fan used in traditional Japanese dancing. It dates to the Sengoku period.

This is a solid non-folding tessen of forged iron in the shape of a closed fan. This Edo-period tenarashi-gata tessen is made in the style of a maiohgi-gata and was part of a collection from Kanazawa in Ishikawa prefecture. It is made of heavy square section iron and is 13-3/4 inches long. A typical Edo-period torinawa (arresting rope) or torihimo (arresting cord), hand-woven dark green rope, was originally secured to and wrapped around the handle.

This is an Edo-period shikomi-sensu, a dagger hidden in a mounting made to appear as a closed fan. The shikomi-sensu was the favorite weapon of assassins, gamblers, and other criminals.

This is a solid non-folding tessen cast of iron in the shape of a closed fan. This Edo-period tenarashi-gata tessen is made in the style of a maiohgi-gata. The basic form and crude workmanship indicates the tessen was made by a low-ranking craftsman.