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The sword at all times was the weapon of the nobility. The knights treated their blades as comrades in arms, and, having lost his sword in battle, the warrior covered himself with indelible shame. Among glorious representatives This type of cold weapon has its own "know" - the famous blades, which, according to legend, have magical properties, for example, to make enemies flee and protect their master. There is a grain of truth in such tales - an artifact sword by its very appearance could inspire the companions of its owner. Here are some of the world's most deadly relics in Japanese history.
Kusanagi no tsurugi
Having carefully studied the sword, experts came to the conclusion that, most likely, this is the same legendary artifact, since the estimated time of its creation coincides with the events described in Nihon shoki, in addition, it also mentions the Isonokami-jingu shrine, so the relic just lay there. there for more than 1.5 thousand years, until they found it. © Dmitry Zykov
Samurai were warriors in ancient japan and at the same time mastered the local martial arts. Often such battles could be accompanied by the presence of special weapons. Main feature battles became that the battles took place in most cases within the country. In other words, the Japanese were at enmity with each other on this land.
Therefore, the soldiers had to improve the technique of controlling their bodies and military weapons. Naturally, over time, individual methods of the art in question began to appear.
Varieties of ancient Japanese weapons
The bow was used for fights and ceremoniesHistorians identify three eras of Japan's martial past. They are associated with certain types of weapons.
The first was the bow, which received a place not only among military weapons. It was also used during Shinto ceremonies. It should be emphasized that this type of protection differs from similar products of other peoples. unusual shape... So, top part Japanese onions are significantly longer compared to the lower half. If you put them together, you get a product about two meters.
Japanese bow consists of two different materials. The inside is bamboo raw material, while the outside looks like a wooden bow. For this reason, the arrow cannot move strictly horizontally. Learning the art in question is not easy at all. It takes many years of study to become a skilled marksman.
After the era of the bow, a period came when the samurai began to use the spear as a combat weapon. The fact is that Japan is still in XVI century the musketeers arrived from Portugal. These European warriors brought with them the fashion for the use of the spear. This type of weapon was convenient to use to knock the rider off the horse.
The spear was brought to Japan from Europe However, the spear demanded from the soldiers:
- great strength;
- endurance.
The dimensions of this weapon depended on a particular Japanese clan.
The most popular Japanese weapon
After the era of the spear to the Japanese martial arts began to be treated quite differently. Thus, the victory became not main goal in the life of the samurai who learned to wield the sword. People were eager to change into better side internally, competing not only with the enemy. There are already reflections on the soul of the samurai.
The sword itself underwent special processing, which consisted in sharpening the edge convex outward... At the same time, the other side was considered a real shield. Usually, in order to manufacture this type of weapon, it takes a lot of time and effort. As a result, the cost of the sword is considered high.
What if it comes about an ancient weapon of this type, which was made by an eminent professional, such a samurai sword was sold for a fabulous sum. It was not for nothing that this item was passed on from grandfather to grandson or another closest relative.
Samurai swords are divided into certain types, among which they are distinguished:
- cirugi;
- tanto;
- wakizashi;
- katana.
The above tools could only be used by wealthy people. And the commoners had access only to the bokken or a simple knife. So they protected themselves from various intruders.
The jitte was used by the police There was also a special iron jitte weapon, which in its shape resembled a fork with two teeth. It was used by the Japanese police to take the sword from a drunken samurai.
The samurai had two different swords, but only one was used when needed. Every self-respecting warrior had a good command of the long katanna gun. But the real master was considered the samurai who could defeat the enemy with one quick blow.
Types of Japanese weapons video
Popular Japanese weapons and their descriptions can be seen in the video.
We talked so often about samurai and ninja, but we completely forgot about their main weapon for attack and defense - the Sword. Ask anyone: "What is the name of a samurai's weapon?" And he will answer: "Katana". But few people know that, in fact, this is a common name for all types of Japanese edged weapons. And if you understand, it turns out that the names of all subspecies are many, and even each part of the sword has its own terminology. If you want to know more about this, then this material, obviously, will be for you.
In Japan there is a real cult of the sword and he went from the long past of the country. In general, to be honest, any weapon has always been an excellent symbol of its people. In Egypt, it was a copper hatchet and a whip, in Macedonia - Sarisa (long spear), in Rome - a gladius, in Russia - an ax and a sickle, but the Japanese singled out the katana. And like all peoples, there is a mythical explanation for this fact. Should I tell it? Certainly.
The Japanese singled out the "Three Sacred Treasures": Jasper Necklace, Sacred Mirror and Sword. Let's leave the story about the first two subjects until better times. handbag and let's talk about a purely masculine thing, if you are not a schoolgirl heroine from an anime.
The blade is associated with a very conventional concepts: soul, valor, honor and courage. Samurai dynasties passed him down from father to eldest son. There was also a practical solution, because in the Middle Ages there was not so much metal and it was not so easy to buy a sword http://bsmith.ru/catalog/.
Shintoists also refer to the samurai sword as their symbol and it has flowed from more ancient religions and beliefs. According to the Japanese, it is the sword that should be the symbol of the deity, which carries purity and value. According to other sources, the first sword was created and presented by the sun goddess to her grandson. The same with the help of this instrument on earth was supposed to administer justice and government. In my opinion, this is a strange weapon for justice.
The Legend of the Amakuni Blacksmith
Another legend relates directly to the appearance of the katana. According to legend, once upon a time, namely around 700, the blacksmith Amakuni lived in the Yamato province, and with him his family. Standing outside his workshop, instead of working in it, he watched the soldiers of the imperial army.
And then the brightest passed them, but for some reason he did not say a word in favor of the weapons created by the blacksmiths. Then Amakuni drew attention to the weapon of the warriors. It turned out that many swords could not withstand the heat of the battle and were broken. After that, it became clear why the emperor did not want to talk to the blacksmith. However, he, apparently, was very humane, because for such a blacksmith could say goodbye to his head.
As a true master, Amakuni decided to mend himself and make a weapon that would be very difficult to break. First of all, he took those blades that had survived after the battle, and began to carefully examine them. He found out that many of the whole swords were of high quality material and tempering. After all this, he and his son prayed to the Shinto gods for seven days.
But only then they changed their minds and decided to work. And now, after 15 days of persistent trial and error, the blacksmiths appeared with strange swords with a curved shape and a sharp edge on one side. Then everyone thought that Amakuni had gone mad. But spring came, and with it and another war... And so the emperor, when returning from the battle, exclaimed in the direction of the blacksmith: “Amakuni, you are a real master in the manufacture of swords. Not a single sword of yours has broken in this battle. "
It is this legend that blacksmiths from the Yamato province will tell you. Probably, every prefecture will tell this legend, but in their version Amakuni will live with them.
Features of a real samurai sword
You cannot buy a real samurai sword in the nearest weapon store, although, of course, there are good combat models there, but they are very far from the true samurai weapons. Moreover, you cannot buy them in souvenir shops that actively like to sell stylized Chinese consumer goods. AND the main problem in the material situation of each of us, and not at all in the geography of the production of blades. Just one blade can cost as much as a pair of full-fledged A-class Mercedes, provided that you bargain with a master.
There are four traits that set the samurai sword apart from all others:
- Steel is always used for the blade, other metals are contraindicated.
- Only one side is sharpened.
- Slight V-curve bend.
- Legendary metal hardening and sharpening.
And now we come to the concept of the classification of samurai swords. On the one hand, it is light, but on the other, it is not so simple. Easy, because there are few complex formulas in them and it will be understandable to anyone. It is difficult, because there are several of them and sometimes they can contradict each other. Therefore, dear reader, do not be surprised at inconsistencies.
Classification of Japanese swords by length
The longest swords are called Daito... In this specimen, the length of only one blade is slightly more than half a meter. But the length can be much longer, if you can remember the Seferot from Final Fantasy 7, then his sword fits into the category of Daito. In reality, the limitations in length were only in the physical data of the swordsman and his mental health.
The middle sword is named Wakazashi... Its length will be from 30 to 60 centimeters, or if we switch to the Japanese measure of length: 1-2 shaku. It is curious that this sword was the favorite weapon not only of the samurai, but also ordinary people... The fact is that the samurai always carried two weapons with him. Usually it was Daito and Wakazashi. The second was an auxiliary weapon and was used extremely rarely. Everyone else was not allowed to carry two blades with them, and also could not take Daito in their hands. So it turns out that the Wakazashi were used by everyone else.
The smallest sword is Tanto... Its length is no more than 30 centimeters or one shaku. There are two main misconceptions surrounding this blade. The first is mainly for foreigners: Tanto is a knife. In fact, he is a full-fledged cold weapon. Second: Tanto is a sword for hara-kiri. It is also a fundamentally incorrect statement, there is a special knife for this procession. This misconception went because in the field it usually rarely came to ceremonial and the soldier committed ritual suicide with the most convenient weapon.
Tanto was used mainly by women and merchants. It was convenient in that it was easy to hide and did not weigh very much.
Components of a samurai sword
This is where the simplest ends, now we move on to the more complex. Therefore, if you can’t even visually imagine what a samurai sword looks like, then you’d better not read further. And the rest, we proceed to the classification according to the component parts of the blade.
Simply put, a samurai sword can be divided into two parts: a blade and a handle with an external finish. In this case, it is the blade that will be the most difficult in the manufacture and examination of the weapon. It is the blade that does not change in the family blades, and the handle changes much more often than it is shown in the movies.
The edge of the sword is called Kissaki. It is perhaps one of the most important parts of a weapon, especially when fighting an enemy. It is with this element of the blade that there have always been great difficulties in work. By this japanese sword and differs from most other weapons created in the Middle Ages. In those days, rarely any sword or ax in Europe could be considered sharp. Rather, they were stupid, and the enemy did not die from wounds and bleeding, but from fractures. With the same success, any of us could take the armature and consider it a melee weapon.
At the same time, a Japanese samurai sword appears, sharp as a straight razor blade. It was in him that all the complexity in forging and grinding the blade rallied. Surprisingly, when creating the shape and pattern of hardening, the tip can be significantly different from the rest of the blade. In addition, the shape of the blade itself can be of various shapes.
If we divide the types of the edge of the sword into possible types, then there are only two of them: Fukura-Kurrero and Fukuru-Tsuku. The first is a straight blade, and the second is an already curved edge. Both of these variants can be found on swords of all sizes, regardless of their original purpose. However, using a straight point makes the tip more brittle. But you need to understand that a common person unlikely to break even him in ten years.
In addition, the tip can be conditionally divided into size and shape. In this case, we will be dealing with 4 kinds of sword ends. The small tip is usually at the narrow-bladed blade and is called the Ko-Kissaki. Medium - Chi-Kissaki. In general, the ending of Kissaki will be in all titles. Therefore, the long one will be O-Kissaki. And when the Japanese first saw that the tip can be not only very long, but also curved, they exclaimed - Ikari-O-Kissaki.
But all this is small compared to how many types of hardening lines at the tip of the sword tip exist in Japan. You need to understand that any sword is always different from another; you cannot make two identical cold weapons. However, if we take into account Europe in the Middle Ages, then the technology and the line of the blade (can you call it that?) Was approximately the same, with rare exceptions. It's different in Japan. Here we have in stock following lines hardening, in Japanese Boshi terminology:
- If you see a line that looks like a large arc, then it is O-Maru.
- In the case when the line is also an arc, but less, it will be called Ko-Maru.
- Classic form, which can be most often observed, is called Jiro.
- You can often still observe a small overlap along the line, but if the sword is without it, then you have a Yaki-zoom in front of you.
- The first of the most beautiful patterns, for me, is the wavy Midari-Komi.
- The second will be called Kaei.
- When the hardening line is difficult to see, then Ichi-Mai is in front of you.
- And then they go different types overlaps in the pattern, when it is straight, then Kaeri-Tsuyushi.
- Big - Kaeri-fukashi.
- Small - Kaeri-asashi.
In fact, I don't really have much to say about the standard edge, which should separate the tip from the main part of the blade. I’ll just tell you what it’s called in Japanese - Ekote.
Any blade that is sharpened has a dividing line along the entire blade. It separates the cutting blade from the more massive and blunt part of the blade. This line has a name - Shinogi. True, if the sword has a wedge-shaped section, then Shinogi may not be found.
Actually, Shinogi is divided into two types, according to where this line is located. If the cutting part is very deep in the blade, then this is Shinogi-takashi. Well, if not, then - Shinogi-hikushi.
As for the non-cutting side base of the sword, it bears the main aesthetic load. Japanese masters call him Shinogi-ji. There are no unspoken laws that somehow regulate its appearance. Everything depended and depends on the personal preferences of the swordsman, as well as the sharpening angle that the master used. At the same time, almost always, a bloodstream, ornament, pattern or inscription on Kanji and Bonji was applied to Shinogi-ji.
Among all types of decoration, only the bloodstream had practical use in battle. The warriors themselves loved and still love them, because after piercing the enemy with a sword, blood begins to drain along this groove, which is located along the entire length of the blade, and the blade does not get very dirty. But their given use is very doubtful, but let's leave it on the conscience of the samurai. But the blacksmiths actually lightened the sword with the help of a blood drain and gave additional strength to the structure.
There is also a main hardening line for the rest of the blade, not just the edge. I will not list their types here, since there are more than 30 types of them. In addition, to describe what, for example, Jyuka-choji (aka a double clover flower) looks like, I definitely do not understand. Therefore, we will cost more general information about Yaki-ba, good and there is a lot of it.
An amazing feature of the Japanese blade is that the blade is tempered in different places... If we consider a sword, then due to this method of working with metal, the color will be heterogeneous, from lighter at the handle itself, to darker towards the point, and precisely because it is hardened and polished below it much more. Of course, this is due to the nature and manner of one-on-one battle. There really, the main load was on lower part blades and the smallest crack could decide the fate of a swordsman.
When grinding metal, a unique blade pattern always emerges. But do not confuse this drawing, which is obtained only through high-quality hardening, with imitation on modern swords. Do not forget that it is the hardening line that gives that very unique beauty to the Japanese blade. And the quality of the Yaki-ba will be decisive in the consistency of the Japanese sword.
If you take such a blade in your hands (and you need to take it very carefully, you don't want to lose your fingers?) And look at it at an angle to sunlight, you will most likely see a slight foggy between the cutting edge and Shinogi-ji. white line... It even has its own term Nioi and must always match the hardening line. At the same time, if the master is a true virtuoso of his craft, then Nioi will be very difficult to find, but she is (like a gopher).
If we consider the pattern of the hardening line in general, it turns out that any pattern can be assigned to one of two groups: straight and wavy. As I wrote above, it is almost impossible to describe all the types that swords have in Japan, especially given how often masters mixed several patterns in one weapon at once.
And one misconception must be dispelled. Many people think that the drawing always belongs to the symbol of the blacksmith, in fact it is not so and no "family" technologies in the creation of the drawing exist in reality.
Do not forget that any Japanese sword always has a characteristic bend. In this case, the curvature can be small or large, however, the difference between the angle of the bend of the blade will not differ much. Most often, the upper bend point is located exactly in the middle of the blade. It is them that are most often observed by viewers of films about samurai, and they are called Torii. It is curious that exactly the same name is given to the gate in front of the entrance to the Shinto shrine. There are also old schools for forging weapons, for example, Old school Bizen, here the bend of the sword is much closer to the hilt. If you have such a blade in front of you, then it is koshi-dawns or bizen-dawns.
Now let's move on to the most beautiful and to what ordinary viewers, like me, or most of the readers pay attention to most of all. The main parts of the sword, which can be attributed to the external decoration: guard, handle, scabbard.
Often, even among wealthy families, the sword was not expensively decorated with silver and gold; more convenient and durable materials were preferred. Therefore, it is only by outward appearance will not always be the right decision. The exception was the Shogun and the closest nobles.
Let's start with a sword scabbard. Each of us knows that the scabbard is the object of the war's protection from its own weapons. They perfectly protect the legs, lower abdomen and back from deep cuts during movement. If you find or see a samurai sword in a scabbard made of metal, then you should know that in front of you is a weapon at the best of the 19th century. Until that time, the scabbard was always made of wood.
But do not be fooled by the outwardly light design of the scabbard. The interior was made from very durable wood species, while in other cases it was lined with a bull's horn. The outer shell was made of decorative tree, then varnished. If the samurai was more wealthy, then he was also decorated precious metal or stones.
Not only the sword itself, but also auxiliary tools were often placed in the scabbard. For example, in the additional cavity of the scabbard, they placed Kozuku (a small auxiliary knife), a thick knitting needle - Kogami or Vari-bashi chopsticks (this is the cutest one). This wooden cavity was located between Habaki and Kurigata, where a strong thread was passed.
Now let's move on to the most favorite thing of most collectors - the guard. The Japanese usually call her Tsuba. This is an item to protect the hand so that it does not slip onto the blade if the swordsman sticks the sword into something solid, with force and speed. Here it was most often made of metal. Decorating it was a question of the swordsman himself, but no one would look askance at a warrior if they saw an ordinary Tsubu, only with the stigma of a master. The only thing you need to know about jewelry is that the back has always been less decorated than the front.
But the blade was not simply inserted into the tsuba and the handle; there were always habaki in front of the guard. It is a metal plate with a hole specifically for the blade and a rough surface. The blade was in it, which is why it did not fall out when used. To keep the habaki well in the tsuba, and the tsuba with a handle, small round metal plates - Seppa - were inserted between them.
We now turn to the handle itself, another name for which is Tsuka. Usually a wooden handle was put on the base of the blade. Of course, no tree could withstand the load for a long time, and metal rings were used to prevent it from crumbling into chips. They were put on a wooden base and they were always close to the size of the handle. After that, the structure was covered with stingray or shark skin, and then there was a braid made of silk, leather or fabric. A ring was put on the back of the handle, it is called kashira. This item was often decorated with patterns or decorated with metal and stones. They also love to collect.
Curiously, sometimes Tanto (short sword) may not have a sheath on the handle. This type is called Hari-menuki or Uki-menuki. But considering that it is used extremely rarely and more often for self-defense, this is not surprising.
The handle itself probably did not have such a value, if not for its ornament - Menuki. Very often, different sides are depicted on both sides. mythical creatures, animals or patterns. There can be many variations and they can be made from various materials... Those who purposefully collect swords are shown up to several thousand different images. At the same time, the scabbard is also a continuation of this drawing, and therefore some weapons become a real work of art.
In this article, I tried to talk as briefly as possible about the samurai sword. There are many more details and nuances, but all of them are simply impossible to fit into one article. I hope that if you liked the information provided and are interested, then you yourself will begin to learn more and more new things about the culture of medieval Japan on your own.,
The name "samurai" can be considered conditional. It is familiar to a European who understands this type of sword in the first place, but this form of a sword came to Japan itself from Korea, and in the Japanese chronicles of the 7th-13th centuries. such a sword was called "Korean". - tsurugi- had a long handle and a straight double-edged blade. They carried it obliquely behind their backs and exposed, grabbing the handle with both hands at once. Since the 3rd century A.D. becomes sharpened on only one side, and some of its types have a massive counterweight on the handle. The curved blade in Japan is beginning to be made (the first serious mention of them dates back to 710), that is, almost simultaneously with the appearance of the classic saber in the Middle East. By the XII century, with the growth of power and the strengthening of the samurai class, the curved blade, which is a standard one, completely supplants the straight one in Japan.
Both in European and in our literature there is enough confusion about the names of samurai swords. It is known that he carried two swords - a long one and a short one. Such a pair was called daisho(lit. "greater and lesser") and consisted of daito(The "larger sword"), who was the main weapon of the samurai, and seto("Smaller sword"), which served as a spare or additional weapon used in close combat, to chop off heads or, if the samurai did not have a specially designed dagger kusungobu... True, the custom of carrying two swords finally took shape only by the 16th century. A long sword has a blade length of more than two shaku (shaku = 33 cm), a short one - from one to two shaku (i.e. 33-66 cm). The long sword - the most famous in Europe, is commonly referred to as the "katana". But this is not entirely correct. A katana is a long sword that is worn in a scabbard, with a blade upward in the belt, and is pulled out of the scabbard, exposing itself, moving from top to bottom. This method of carrying a sword appeared in the XIV-XV centuries. and became the main one, the most convenient (by the way: wearing a katana behind the belt with the blade upwards allows you to conveniently pull it out not only with your right, but also with your left hand). Until that time, the word denoted a long dagger or short sword tucked into the belt, and the long one bore the name tati... worn on his side in a sling tied to a scabbard, in which he was placed with the blade down, exposing himself with an upward movement. This method of carrying a long sword was suitable when they fought, mainly on horseback, but for a footman it was much less convenient. In addition, etiquette demanded that at the entrance to the house the long sword should be removed, and it is much easier and more convenient to take out the sword in the sheath from the belt than to unhook them from the sling each time and then tie them back. Since the XIV-XV centuries, when such swords began to be worn mainly in a belt, wearing a sword in a sling began to be considered more ceremonial, and therefore tati and his scabbard got off much richer, because they were ceremonial. The short sword, which was always worn in a sheath at the waist, was called katana or tanto when paired with tachi... And when it was paired with a long katana, it was called wakizashi... So the name of samurai swords mainly reflects the way they are worn, and drawn from the scabbard, the greater and lesser swords, whatever they were called, had equal length and shape, perhaps very early forms the smaller sword (at the time when it was still called the katana) had a barely noticeable curvature and seemed almost straight.
Length daito- 95-120 cm, seto - 50-70 cm. The handle of a long sword is usually designed for 3.5 fists, a short one for 1.5. The width of the blade for both swords is about 3 cm, the thickness of the back is 5 mm, while the blade is razor-sharp. The handle is usually covered with shark skin or wrapped in such a way that the handle does not slip in the hands. The long sword weighs about 4 kg. The guard of both swords was small, only slightly covering the hand, had a round, petal or multifaceted shape. It was called "tsuba". The tsuba of a small sword could have additional slots for inserting additional knives into its sheath - throwing kozuki and household kogai. The production of tsuba literally turned into an artistic craft. They could have a complex openwork shape, be decorated with carvings or relief images.
In addition to daise samurai could also wear nodachi- "field sword" with a blade longer than a meter and a total length of about 1.5 m. It was usually worn behind the back like tsurugi or on the shoulder, holding it with your hand. Except for the length, nodachi structurally no different from daito, which we will call further katana.
The rider could hold the katana with one hand, but in battle on the ground, this sword was preferred to hold with both hands because of its weight. Early techniques katana works include wide circular chopping and cutting movements, but later they became much more developed. With a katana, it was equally easy to stab and chop. The long handle allows you to actively maneuver the sword. In this case, the main grip is the position when the end of the handle rests against the middle of the palm, and the right hand holds it near the guard. The simultaneous movement of both hands allows the sword to describe a wide range without much effort.
Both the straight European sword of a knight weigh a lot, but the principles of performing chopping blows by them are completely different. The European method, aimed at piercing armor, involves the maximum use of the inertia of the sword's movement and striking "with a carry". In Japanese swordsmanship, a person leads a sword, not a person's sword.... There, the blow is also delivered by the force of the whole body, but not from the usual step, but from the attached step, in which the body receives a powerful push forward (greater than when turning the body). In this case, the blow is delivered "fixedly" at a given level, and the blade stops exactly where the master wants it, and the force of the blow is not extinguished. AND . And if such a blow did not hit the target, then it no longer pulls the owner, as is the case with the European sword, but gives him the opportunity to change direction or strike the next one, especially since a short side step allows you to deliver powerful blows at every step - today's kendoka who has a black belt can execute three vertical sword strikes per second. Most of blows are applied in a vertical plane. There is almost no division into a “block-strike” accepted in Europe. There are knockback blows to the arms or weapons of the enemy, throwing his weapon out of the line of attack and making it possible to inflict a striking blow on the enemy at the next step. They retreat forward when fighting on katanas. Leaving the line of attack while striking at the same time is one of the most commonly used combinations. After all, one must bear in mind that a direct kick with a katana can cut almost everything, and is simply not designed to “hold” direct punches. The duel of true masters of the samurai sword can hardly be called a duel in the European sense of the word, because it is built on the principle of "one blow on the spot." In the same there is a "duel of hearts", when two masters simply stand motionless or sit and look at each other, and the one who first jerked to the weapon lost ...
Schools kenjutsu, as it is called in Japan, has existed and still exist quite a few. Some pay Special attention for an instant departure from the line of attack, accompanied by a vertical strike ("Shinkage-ryu"), others give great attention support of the left hand under the blade of a sword and fighting techniques carried out using this technique ("Shinto-ryu"), still others practice working with two swords at the same time - large in right hand, small in the left ("Nito-ryu") - such fighters are called "reto zukai". Someone prefers undercutting strikes in the horizontal plane with a detour around the opponent - between techniques kenjutsu and a lot in common. You can hit with the handle, you can intercept the sword with a reverse grip, you can use trips and sweeps in close combat. Features of the samurai sword allow you to use almost all techniques for working with long bladed weapons.
In the 17th century, after the unification of the country under the rule of the house, the tendency of transforming kenjutsu into kendo- the way to fight with swords in Path of the sword... paid a lot of attention to the moral self-improvement of the individual, and now it is one of the most popular sports in Japan, in which it is no longer present combat weapon and its athletic equivalents are wood or bamboo. First wooden sword, repeating the outlines of the present (bokken, or bokuto), introduced by the legendary master of the 17th century. ... True, such a wooden sword was still a formidable weapon that could easily split the skull. bokken were often kept at home, at the head of the bed. In the event of a surprise attack, it was possible with his help to disarm and take the enemy without spilling blood, simply, for example, by interrupting his hands or breaking his collarbone ...
Compared to the technique of fighting with the long Japanese sword, the technique of fighting with the short sword is less known. There are also whipping blows with a brush, built on the same principle of a fixed blow, and the hanging position of the sword, which lovers of Slavic-Goritsky wrestling love to flaunt, and frequent blows with the handle to the solar plexus. Naturally, in comparison with the long sword, there are more thrust strikes, since this weapon is nevertheless intended for combat at close range.
Much has been written about the place of the sword. The sword was and remains one of the symbols of the imperial dynasty, the subject of Shinto cult, one of the symbols of the education of the national spirit. Before starting to make a real traditional Japanese sword, he performed a long preparatory ritual, reminiscent of the preparation of a Russian icon painter for painting a church or for creating an icon important for him: fasting, cleansing ablutions, long prayers, putting on clean ceremonial clothes, celibacy.
Perhaps, in no other country in the world was it so developed sword etiquette... As in other regions, tucked into the belt with right side or a blade placed to the right of oneself meant trust in the interlocutor, for from this position it was more difficult to bring the sword into combat readiness. Upon entering the house, a long sword was left at the entrance on a special stand, and going inside with this sword meant a demonstration of extreme disrespect. It was only possible to hand over the sword to someone, both for display and for storage, with the handle towards oneself - turning the sword with the handle towards the enemy meant disrespect for his swordsman's abilities, since a real master could instantly take advantage of this. When demonstrating weapons, the sword was never completely bared, and it was only possible to touch it with a silk scarf or a sheet of rice paper. Drawing a sword, striking the scabbard with the scabbard and, moreover, rattling the weapon was tantamount to a challenge, which could be followed by a blow without any warning. As in Europe, swords could have names and were passed down from generation to generation. And the best ones often did not specifically brand their swords, believing that the weapon itself tells about who created it, and a person who is not able to understand this, and there is no need to know by whom the sword was created. The word "sword" was often taboo, and, for example, "wakizashi" literally means "stuck on the side" ...
Imagine a samurai. Without a doubt, you have a picture of a warrior in your head with helmet and armor, ready to attack with his reliable katana. Because, of course, he wields a katana. After all, the samurai went into battle with her, didn't they? If anything pop culture teaches us, it is only that the samurai was armed with his courage and faithful katana. Well, not so fast. The samurai's weapons were much more varied and versatile than those shown in the films. We will show you 10 types of samurai weapons.
Shurikens were used to distract the enemy
The problem with throwing stars is that they have very little to do with ninjas. Better known as shurikens, they come in two main forms: star-shaped and straight. While they fly into the enemy, the samurai has time to draw his sword and kill the enemy. They are a form of distraction weapon.
Shurikens were used by the samurai of each samurai school, who gave them different names depending on their form. Their connection with the ninja was not traced until the 20th century, so it is wrong to call them "ninja death stars".
Spiked brass knuckles
Such "brass knuckles" were used during close combat
The samurai used spikes to attack to injure the enemy. The example in the picture shows that the spike can move from a hidden position against the wrist, thereby inflicting mortal wounds on the enemy.
In addition to this, there are spiked rings used for striking and grappling when trying to grab an opponent. The so-called "brass knuckles", which are a piece of iron held in the hands, were used to hit the body or protect against other types of weapons.
Chains in skillful hands were a formidable weapon
Samurai had chains and weights of various lengths and styles. They could mainly be divided into two main types: chains with lighter weights at both ends and chains with a heavy weight at one end.
The former is mainly used to capture and hold people. The second type can easily kill a person if the goal has been achieved. A version of this weapon can be seen in the movie Kill Bill, where the Black Mamba (the heroine of Uma Thurman) fights a Japanese schoolgirl. This weapon is used to strike, restrain and strangle the enemy.
Metal baton
The baton is one of the oldest weapons in Japan.
In ancient Japan, weapons were anything from simple wooden clubs to metal swords. Samurai often had to leave their swords with an escort or in a special room at a party. The owner could even ask them to remove their short swords.
In this situation, the samurai could take a baton for protection, and having a heavy metal "fan" on it, he could boldly repel any sudden attack. In addition, the so-called "police" (some samurai and military) used batons to catch criminals.
Cane with an iron hook
These canes were used not only by firefighters.
Since houses and large buildings in Japan were made of wood, fire constantly threatened cities and settlements... To counter this, fire brigade teams were created. Part of their job was to demolish the building around the fire so that it would not spread. This work was done by absolutely everyone - from samurai to commoners. One of the main tools was a heavy beak-shaped iron shoe. People smashed walls and obstacles with them, demolishing sections of buildings so that the fire would not spread.
However, some of these gangs formed bad reputation, and this tool came to be associated as a destructive weapon.
Sickle with chain
A sickle with a chain was used as a multifunctional weapon.
The sickle is a curved blade used for cutting plants and grass; it was widespread throughout the medieval world. The warriors of Japan attached a chain to the sickle shaft, turning it into a formidable weapon. The chain could keep the enemy at a distance or entangle him, while the sickle could cut the enemy.
The ninja also used sickles, but not for combat. With their help, they broke through fences and barriers, and in some clans there were folding versions that could be worn in the sleeves of a kimono.
"Fast" rope
This rope was used to catch criminals.
If the supposed opponent of a samurai or police officer was to be alive, a "quick" rope is the way to go. It consists of a sharp iron hook at the end of a long and thin rope that unfolds at high speed. The hook could be stuck in an opponent's ear, cheek, or hand. After the enemy was caught, a stronger rope was used to tie the target.
In Japan, there was a complex system of traditions about how to bind a prisoner depending on his social status... It was believed that the samurai were immediately tied with a rope. This is not true. In fact, at the beginning of the arrest, a “fast” rope was used, and only after the opponent had no longer threatened anything, he was tied according to his status.
Battle grip
With such a weapon it was possible to keep the enemy at a distance
If it was too dangerous to approach the target or it was too far away, then the detention was carried out with the help of a combat grip. This is a set of three long poles with different attachments. With the tip they tried to catch the opponent by the leg, neck or joint, or to hook on a piece of clothing in order to hold him back until the rest were caught and tied up. Thorns were made on the shaft so that the enemy could not grab it.
Such effective tools were used to capture highly dangerous samurai, thieves or criminals.
Personal knife with a thorn
A knife with a spike was used not only in combat
Have you ever seen that on some samurai swords is there a thin spike on one side of the scabbard and a small knife on the other, sliding gently into position with the handle? There are various theories for their use, but a samurai school called Natori-ryu tells us that the spike was used to pierce the ear of a decapitated opponent so that a note with the victim's name could be attached. The spike is also used to push the tongue back into the mouth, as this is considered indecent.
The samurai knife was a personalized weapon and was often used as evidence. If a samurai penetrated deep into enemy territory, he could leave him hidden to prove that he was there when the allies take enemy lands, or if the samurai needs to send an important message, he can send a personal knife as proof of justice. This set was something like a Swiss army knife from the time of the samurai.
Only real warriors were allowed to wear them.
Many people know that carrying two swords (the shorter sword is called wakizashi and the longer sword is called katana) is a symbol of the samurai, and only warriors were allowed to carry these swords. However, until the end of the 16th century, swords could be wielded by almost anyone. Victory in a battle could mean promotion to samurai.
However, with the unification of Japan in the 16th century, the peasants were oppressed and the class system solidified. The samurai government issued a Sword Hunt decree that deprived the common people of their weapons. By issuing this decree, the government tried to prevent possible uprisings. Only in the Edo period - last century samurai - the sword really became their symbol. Before that, they were primarily a spear and a bow.
So, we told you about the types of samurai weapons. Now you know that samurai wielded not only their katanas. Each of the weapons on the list they wielded to perfection, which made them extremely dangerous opponents.
