Chain Weapons and Samurai, ca 1550

I have a GURPS Sengoku campaign starting up in Spring, 2005. It will
be set in western Japan, around 1550. One of my players, who's
cinematic tastes run more to "Sho Kosugi" than to "Kurosawa", is
interested in playing a samurai who specializes mainly in chain
weapons of one sort or another. I know that the samurai used a great
many different weapons over different periods, but chain weapons seem
either to be restricted to ninja/shinobi or simply later period, Edo-
era creations.

So, my question is this: Circa 1550, what options would such a
samurai have available to him?

Respectfully,

Andrew Benton
http://www.spearweasel.com

HI

the thought that chain weapons were restricted to
ninja is very much incorrect.

Chain weapons are and were very prominent as Samurai
weapons.

the 3 most common chain weapons are

Chigiriki - short staff about 4 foot which either a
weighted chain attached to the pole or hidden inside
a metal tube attached to the staff.

Manrikigusari/Kusarifundo - a short chain with a
weight at each end.

Kusarigama - sycle with a weighted chain attached to
either the bottom of the handle or the blade.

Three Samurai ryu that are famous for such weapons are


Araki ryu, created around the time period you are
asking about. They are famous for there kusarigama and
chigiriki and somebranches have Ryofundo
(Mankrikigusari)

Toda Ha Buko Ryu which is most famous as a naginata
ryu but also has Kusarigama

Masaki Ryu which is credited with creating the
manrikigusari.

if you want more info on these ryu then I suggest you
start at this site www.koryu.com

Paul

--- Andrew Benton <spearweasel@...> wrote:


---------------------------------

I have a GURPS Sengoku campaign starting up in Spring,
2005. It will
be set in western Japan, around 1550. One of my
players, who's
cinematic tastes run more to "Sho Kosugi" than to
"Kurosawa", is
interested in playing a samurai who specializes mainly
in chain
weapons of one sort or another. I know that the
samurai used a great
many different weapons over different periods, but
chain weapons seem
either to be restricted to ninja/shinobi or simply
later period, Edo-
era creations.

So, my question is this: Circa 1550, what options
would such a
samurai have available to him?

Respectfully,

Andrew Benton
http://www.spearweasel.com





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Which is why I said "seems to be". ;D

Thanks for the information and the links. It should prove quite
useful in clearing this up.

Do you have any other information about samurai usage of weapons
other than the trio of bow, spear, and sword? I see mention of all
sorts of exotic polearms, axes like the masakari and ono, and other
things. How frequently would these be seen on the field? Were most of
these used only in specialized circumstances or by specific types of
people?

Respectfully,

Andrew Benton
http://www.spearweasel.com

--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Richardson Paul
wrote:

> HI
>
> the thought that chain weapons were restricted to
> ninja is very much incorrect.

Hello everyone..

it's been a while that I couldn't been active in this forum because of my pc.

Now that my pc has come back I need your help.. I'm going to do a research for the university, indeed it will be my future thesis. So, to make long story short, I need infos about Katsura Kogoro and/or Takasugi Shinsaku. I want you to recommend me some books about them or about bakumatsu jidai. I need your help so bad because now I am confined in my home and I am not able to reach any library...

I would be so grateful to you.

THANKS

Daniele

ps: sorry for my bad english



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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

How''s about the Naginata???????It's a polearm and it was mainly used by women.

Edy


Andrew Benton <spearweasel@...> wrote:
Which is why I said "seems to be". ;D

Thanks for the information and the links. It should prove quite
useful in clearing this up.

Do you have any other information about samurai usage of weapons
other than the trio of bow, spear, and sword? I see mention of all
sorts of exotic polearms, axes like the masakari and ono, and other
things. How frequently would these be seen on the field? Were most of
these used only in specialized circumstances or by specific types of
people?

Respectfully,

Andrew Benton
http://www.spearweasel.com

--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Richardson Paul
wrote:

> HI
>
> the thought that chain weapons were restricted to
> ninja is very much incorrect.

---
Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
Samurai Archives store: http://www.cafeshops.com/samuraiarchives
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Eddy


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

HI

the Naginata is not mainly used by women. It is very
much a mans weapon.

it was used by women when they defended the home.

The Sohei - male monks favoured the naginata, Kukishin
Ryu which was headed by the kuki family was founded by
having a blade cut from a naginata, and the staff
being used. The male line of the Toda ha Buko ryu also
claim the staff was created by a blade being broken
off a naginata.

Its a great weapon. I have an old one here at home as
well as several wood ones I use in my Kukishin Ryu
traiing and I am not a female.

paul



--- Edward Alexander <edyhiphop@...> wrote:


---------------------------------

How''s about the Naginata???????It's a polearm and it
was mainly used by women.

Edy


Andrew Benton <spearweasel@...> wrote:
Which is why I said "seems to be". ;D

Thanks for the information and the links. It should
prove quite
useful in clearing this up.

Do you have any other information about samurai usage
of weapons
other than the trio of bow, spear, and sword? I see
mention of all
sorts of exotic polearms, axes like the masakari and
ono, and other
things. How frequently would these be seen on the
field? Were most of
these used only in specialized circumstances or by
specific types of
people?

Respectfully,

Andrew Benton
http://www.spearweasel.com

--- In samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com, Richardson Paul

wrote:

> HI
>
> the thought that chain weapons were restricted to
> ninja is very much incorrect.

---
Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
Samurai Archives store:
http://www.cafeshops.com/samuraiarchives
---


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Eddy


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