Naginata
A Japanese polearm similar to the Glaive developed partly in response to the sue of spears by Mongol foot soldiers during the invasions of the Kamakura period. The Naginata had a curved blade much like a Japanese sword mounted on a pole 6-8 ft long. It was the preferred weapon of the Sohei or warrior monks since they normally fought on foot, it was also regarded a woman's weapon.
How to cite this article: Dugdale-Pointon, TDP. (28 July 2001), Naginata, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_naginata.html