Zanbatō

A zanbatō (斬馬刀, lit. "horse-slaying sword" or "horse-chopping saber"), also spelled zanbatou or zambatou, is an especially large type of Japanese sword used by some fictional characters in anime and video games, most notably Sagara Sanosuke from the anime Rurouni Kenshin. The weapon consists of a large, wide blade attached to a pole that the wielder holds.

Chinese zhǎn mǎ dāo

There was, however, a Chinese anti-cavalry weapon of the Song Dynasty also written as 斬馬刀 (zhǎn mǎ dāo, "horse cutting blade" , zhanmadao) or zanmato which could have been the inspiration for the zanbatō, although it differs somewhat in form. Surviving examples include a sword that might resemble a nagamaki in construction; it had a wrapped handle 37 cm long making it easy to grip with two hands. The blade was 114 cm long and very straight with a slight curve in the last half. This made it greatly resemble the zanbatō, which, if it existed, was probably its Japanese derivative.

Fictional appearances

• The zanbatō is claimed in Rurouni Kenshin to be a historical weapon from the Sengoku Period in Japan, where it was supposedly designed to be used against cavalry, its large size being useful for killing horses and their riders in a single blow. However, there is no historical evidence that the Japanese ever had such a weapon. It is also unlikely that a blade as large as that shown in the anime would be usable by a real person, so if it did exist, its form would almost certainly have been different. Some websites such as [1] offer "zanbatō" for sale that resemble nodachi or ōdachi much more than the anime weapon. The character of Sanosuke is said to have been based on Harada Sanosuke, one of the leaders of the Shinsengumi, who carried a "large spear."
• The Super Robot Grungust Reishiki from the Super Robot Wars video game series uses a massive double-edged sword named a zankantou (斬艦刀 lit. Ship-cutting Sword). True to its name, the zankantou is effective in dispatching large battleships, but is also invaluable in fighting bosses and robots. Alternately, Grungust Sanshiki wields a giant katana that enlarges into a zankantou when needed.
• Ogami Ittō from the Lone Wolf and Cub manga uses Suyoryu's technique called Suyo Zanbato to attack horsemen.
• In the Game Boy Advance Fire Emblem games, the Zanbato is a sword that is especially effective against calvalry.
• In the RPG Final Fantasy VII, Cloud Strife's weapon, the buster sword, bears a distinct resemblance to the Zanbato.
• The Aeon Yojimbo in Final Fantasy X uses "Zanmato" if he's paid enough money. The attack kills every enemy in the battle.
• In the Soul Calibur series of video games, the zanbatou is said to be the weapon of choice for Seong Mi-na, though she uses a polearm which more resembles a Naginata. Also, in Soul Edge, the character of Siegfried Schtauffen has the zanbatou as a weapon choice.
• Auron's swords in Final Fantasy X are sizeable enough to be considered zanbatō.
• In Final Fantasy Tactics Advance a ninja or assassin can wield a katana called Zanmato, a sword from which assassins can learn Ultima Masher. Described as a "giant sword engraved with words of destruction", it is the outlaw "Killer Rayne"'s trademark weapon.
• Nelo Angelo (or Nero Angelo) from Devil May Cry wields a huge zanbatou as his weapon.
• Guts from the Manga Berserk uses a huge-ass sword too

In the melee game series based on the Three Kingdoms period of China, Guan Ping son of Guan Yu and brother to Guan Suo and Guan Xing weilds what could be called a zanbatou.

External links

• Illustrations of Qing regulation swords - includes pictures & descriptions of the Chinese zhǎn mǎ dāo