A Question on Samurai Military Evolution

Hajimemashite, mina. Boku wa JC desu. Dozo Yoroshiku. Now that we
have introductions out of the way, I wished to ask about the evolution of
the individualistc 900-1100s samurai using horse bows to the conception
of the primarily katana wielding samurai that you see in most depictions of
the samurai. I know that the Mongolian invasion was when samurai battle
tactics really started to change to more unit-oriented style, but I am
unfamilar with when the transition to swords from bows occured and the
how and why?

JC,

Your timeline is reasonably accurate, however it's bows, spears and THEN
(after peace broke out) swords. In modern terms the sword was more the ankle
holstered backup than anything else.That's not to say they weren't
important, they were also the "bling". Daimyo wrote to thier descendents and
retainers not to spend huge amounts on famous swords but to instead spend
those funds training spearmen.

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Perhaps I'm being devil's advocate here but did it happen
like that? How about the idea that the archery-trained
samurai developed into the naginata or yari-equipped
samurai of the Nanbokucho and Sengokujidai campaigns, and
the sword remained a symbol of authority and status rather
than battlefield action. Just a conversation starter I
hope (and not a flame war).


--- amajinnokaze <amajinnokaze@...> wrote:

> Hajimemashite, mina. Boku wa JC desu. Dozo Yoroshiku.
> Now that we
> have introductions out of the way, I wished to ask about
> the evolution of
> the individualistc 900-1100s samurai using horse bows to
> the conception
> of the primarily katana wielding samurai that you see in
> most depictions of
> the samurai. I know that the Mongolian invasion was when
> samurai battle
> tactics really started to change to more unit-oriented
> style, but I am
> unfamilar with when the transition to swords from bows
> occured and the
> how and why?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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Hi.

A lot of battle paintings of the sengoku period show samurai units using weapons other
than swords as their primary weapon. I think that you are thinking more of the Edo period
where male members of the buke class customarily wore two swords when out doors, but
did not generally carry other weapons.

Well, I am only a student of the history (I'm in my first semester of Japanese history), so I can't really debate it or anything. I only know what I've learned in class.

Michael Lorimer <mijalo_kr@...> wrote: Perhaps I'm being devil's advocate here but did it happen
like that? How about the idea that the archery-trained
samurai developed into the naginata or yari-equipped
samurai of the Nanbokucho and Sengokujidai campaigns, and
the sword remained a symbol of authority and status rather
than battlefield action. Just a conversation starter I
hope (and not a flame war).


--- amajinnokaze <amajinnokaze@...> wrote:

> Hajimemashite, mina. Boku wa JC desu. Dozo Yoroshiku.
> Now that we
> have introductions out of the way, I wished to ask about
> the evolution of
> the individualistc 900-1100s samurai using horse bows to
> the conception
> of the primarily katana wielding samurai that you see in
> most depictions of
> the samurai. I know that the Mongolian invasion was when
> samurai battle
> tactics really started to change to more unit-oriented
> style, but I am
> unfamilar with when the transition to swords from bows
> occured and the
> how and why?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> --------------------~-->
> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make
> Yahoo! your home page
> http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/BcOolB/TM
>

--------------------------------------------------------------------~->

>
>
> ---
> Join the 2006 Samurai Fiction contest:
> http://www.samurai-archives.com/writcon2.html
>
> Samurai Archives: http://www.samurai-archives.com
> Samurai Archives store:
> http://www.cafeshops.com/samuraiarchives
> ---
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

___________________________________________________________
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