A shuriken (Japanese: 手裏剣, lit. 'hand-hidden blade') is a Japanese concealed weapon used by samurai or ninja or in martial arts as a hidden dagger or metsubushi to distract or misdirect.[1][2]
Shuriken are also known as throwing stars, or ninja stars, although they were originally constructed in many different shapes. The major varieties of shuriken are the bō shuriken (棒手裏剣, stick shuriken) and the hira shuriken (平手裏剣, flat shuriken) or shaken (車剣, wheel shuriken, also read as kurumaken).
Shuriken functioned as supplementary weapons to the sword or to other weapons in a samurai's arsenal, although they often had an important tactical effect in battle.[3][4][5][better source needed] The art of wielding the shuriken is known as shurikenjutsu[5] and was taught as a minor part of the martial-arts curriculum of many famous schools, such as Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū, Ittō-ryū, Kukishin-ryū, and Togakure-ryū.[2][6]
- ^ Fletcher, Daniel (21 August 2012). Japanese Throwing Weapons: Mastering Shuriken Throwing Techniques (Downloadable Media Included). Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0985-8.
- ^ a b Mol, Serge (2003). Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts. Kodansha International. ISBN 978-4-7700-2941-6.
- ^ Malmstrom, Bud (1984). "How To Make a Throwing Star". Black Belt. 22 (10). Active Interest Media: 61–64.
- ^ Gruzanski, Charles (17 January 2012). Ninja Weapons: Chain and Shuriken. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0322-1.
- ^ a b Toda, Katsumi (1984). The Ninja Star: Art of Shuriken Jutsu. Dragon Books. ISBN 978-0-946062-10-2.
- ^ Musashi, Miyamoto; Seiko, Fujita (September 2020). Miyamoto Musashi & Shuriken. Eric Michael Shahan. ISBN 978-1-950959-29-7.
- ^ Seiko, Fujita (July 2020). Shuriken. Amazon Digital Services LLC - KDP Print US. ISBN 978-1-950959-22-8.