The exact inventor of the nunchaku is unclear, and its origin is surrounded by various legends and historical interpretations. One traditional explanation attributes the invention to Emperor Taizu of Song (China), who supposedly developed it as a weapon for war, originally called the Grand Ancestor Coiling Dragon Staff

. Another detailed legend says that the nunchaku evolved from an agricultural tool used for threshing wheat and rice in China. According to this story, Emperor Jiu Hong Jun of the Chinese Sung dynasty in the 10th century observed villagers using a flail made of two sticks connected by a rope. He adapted this tool into a weapon for his infantry to fight Mongolian cavalry, developing specific combat techniques with it. This weapon was called dai-so- dji ("great cleaners") and later evolved into the nunchaku known today

. There are also theories that the nunchaku originated in Okinawa, Japan, possibly derived from a horse bit or from wooden clappers used by night watchmen. Some experts argue that the nunchaku was never a rice flail and that its use as a weapon was developed in Okinawa, influenced by Chinese immigrants and martial arts

. In summary, the nunchaku likely originated from ancient Chinese agricultural tools adapted into weapons, with significant development and popularization in Okinawan martial arts. The invention is traditionally credited to Chinese historical figures like Emperor Taizu of Song or Emperor Jiu Hong Jun, but its exact origins remain uncertain and mixed with folklore