A Bisen-to is a kind of Japanese pole weapon (adopted from China, the mighty Kwan-do/Guan dao, from Kwan Gung/Guan Gong, the Chinese God of War) which greatly resembles a naginata. It consists of a thick curved blade mounted atop a long wooden pole. Much heavier than the naginata in construction, there is some accounts of it being used as a training weapon to improve one's naginatajutsu. The history of the weapon is a little obscure; the claim of the Kukishinden Ryu is that the weapon was introduced from China during the 5th century. This would make the weapon the most likely precursor to the naginata. Used in warfare as an anti-cavalry weapon, it would used against both horse and rider. The bisento is essentially the Chinese Kwan dao. A pole weapon or polearm is a close combat weapon with the main fighting part of the weapon placed on the end of a long shaft, typically of wood. ... A statue of Guan Yu with a Guan Dao in his hand. ... Guan Yu (關羽)(160–219) was a military general under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. ... Naginata of the Edo era A samurai wielding a naginata Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀) is a pole weapon traditionally used by Japanese samurai. ... Naginatajutsu (なぎなた術, 長刀術 or 薙刀術) is the Japanese Martial art of wielding the naginata, a weapon resembling the medieval European glaive. ... Kukishin Ryu is a samurai school of jujutsu, Yoroi Kumiuchi (Grappling in Samurai armour), kenjutsu, bojutsu, sojutsu, naginatajutsu, juttejutsu, Bo-ryaku (Strategy), and Sui Ren in Ka Ren (Use of water and fire), bajutsu. ... // Overview Events Romulus Augustus, Last Western Roman Emperor 410: Rome sacked by Visigoths 452: Pope Leo I allegedly meets personally with Attila the Hun and convinces him not to sack Rome 439: Vandals conquer Carthage At some point after 440, the Anglo-Saxons settle in Britain. ... Naginata of the Edo era A samurai wielding a naginata Naginata (なぎなた, 長刀 or 薙刀) is a pole weapon traditionally used by Japanese samurai. ... A statue of Guan Yu with a Guan Dao in his hand. ...

Famous Fictional users

• Guan Yu
• Zhang Liao

Guan Yu (關羽)(160–219) was a military general under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period in ancient China. ... Zhang Liao (169 – 222) was a military general under the powerful warlord Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China. ... Image File history File links Bisento. ...

Reference

• Hatsumi, Masaaki. Ninjutsu: History and Tradition.