Tessenjutsu

A solid iron tessen fan on display in Iwakuni Castle, Japan

Tessenjutsu (Japanese: 鉄扇術, lit. 'iron fan technique') is the martial art of the Japanese war fan (tessen). It is based on the use of the solid iron fan or the folding iron fan, which usually had eight or ten wood or iron ribs.

The use of the war fan in combat is mentioned in early Japanese legends. For example, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, a hero of Japanese legend, is said to have defeated an opponent named Benkei by parrying the blows of his opponent's spear with an iron fan. This use of the iron fan was said to have been taught to him by a mythological creature, a tengu, who had also instructed him in the art of swordsmanship.

The practitioners of tessenjutsu could acquire a high level of skill. Some became so skilled, in fact, that they were able to defend themselves against an attacker wielding a sword, and even kill an opponent with a single blow. Like so many other Japanese arts of combat during this era, tessenjutsu reached a high level of sophistication. For example, in the late 16th century:

• Sasaki Kojirō was able to defeat several enemies with an iron fan
• Takeda Shingen held off a mounted sword attack by Uesugi Kenshin who had burst into his command tent during the Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima.

Apart from using it in duels against enemies armed with swords and spears, the skilled wielder could also use it to fence and fend off knives and poisoned darts thrown at him. Like a sword, the tessen could be dual-wielded to parry with one hand and attack with the other.

Tessenjutsu is still practiced by a few experts in Japan to this day.

Popular culture

• The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise features tessenjutsu used by Hisomi in the 2003 version and April O'Neil in the 2012 version.
• Avatar: The Last Airbender features tessenjutsu used by Avatar Kyoshi and the Kyoshi Warriors including Suki.
• The MCU version of Doctor Strange features tessenjutsu being used by The Ancient One, mentor of the title character.
• Tessenjutsu was among the fighting styles used by Vandal Savage in the Arrowverse.
• Tessenjutsu inspired the fighting style with the Jungle Fans and the Bat Spirit in Power Rangers Jungle Fury.
• Tessenjutsu was used by Mako Shiraishi, Shinken Pink in Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, along with her Power Rangers Samurai counterpart Mia Watanabe, the Pink Ranger.
• Temari from the manga series Naruto uses tessenjutsu.
• Doma from the manga series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba uses tessenjutsu.
• Anji Mito from the fighting game series Guilty Gear uses tessenjutsu.
• Yukiko Amagi from the game Persona 4 uses tessenjutsu.
• Kitana from the video game series Mortal Kombat uses tessenjutsu.
• Shogun Yoshimune in the Japanese TV series Abarenbou Shogun (The Unfettered Shogun) regularly uses tessenjutsu to surprise or disarm his opponents. His tessen fan features the kanji symbol for "justice".
• The Scout class from the game Team Fortress 2 is able to use the "Fan O'War", a gunbai war fan.

• Keladry of Mindelan, Lady Yuki, and Princess Shinkokami in the Protector of the Small series written by Tamora Pierce regularly use steel-bladed fans called the shukusen, modelled after tessenjutsu, as weapons and in games.

References

• Ratti, Oscar; Westbrook, Adele (1999). Secrets of the Samurai. Edison: Castle Books. ISBN 0-7858-1073-0.