|
Post by sebastian on Oct 3, 2005 2:18:39 GMT -5
Last post to gather the needed information. Does anyone know offhand what was carried with a soldier to camp with in japan? On the idea of trying to cut down on things to take with me to SCA events, I've started trying to figure this out. Was it just a bedroll taken with? What was it made of, and how might I go about getting one? What was done for tents? Any links for buying pre-made ones or directions for making some myself? I'm really trying to go all out on this and minimize what I need to take with me to events, as well as stay as period as possible. Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by Nagamochi on Oct 3, 2005 2:48:34 GMT -5
Minimize? ? But I thought SCAdians packed everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink? Eh, goes to show how much I know.
|
|
|
Post by sebastian on Oct 3, 2005 2:52:14 GMT -5
Lol, I'm one of the few that would forgo luxury so I have less to pack up at the end of the weekend All I'm looking to have to bring is a bedroll, tent, box of clothes, and a cooler. But I would love to be able to have a somewhat period camp site.
|
|
|
Post by Takeda Sanjuichiro on Oct 3, 2005 8:49:21 GMT -5
All I'm looking to have to bring is a bedroll, tent, box of clothes, and a cooler. But I would love to be able to have a somewhat period camp site. Well for the average retainer samurai, you are traveling in luxury. It would seem the average man on campaign carried his armor (either on or in a box) a few mino (straw raincoats) that served as a tent, raincoat, and bedroll. A couple of food packs, either rolled up into the knotted bandoliers or as a satchel, a couple of gourd canteins and his weapons. If he was unlucky, he also had to help shlup the gear of someone more important as well. Unless a lord had a particuarly soft streak for his men, and there was buildings he could seize for the evening, you usualy slept outside, rain, snow, hail or starshine. A bedroll would not be too hard to diguise, a mino like thing thrown over it and "poof" it would look about right. A box of clothes or a cooler would be easy enough to disguize as armor boxes, or various and sundry equipment boxes. I saw a picture of a Japanese gun-chest (powder or shot I do not know) and think it would do well as a cooler disguise. I don't quite know what to do about a tent though, which of course is the question all of us on the list have, at least us of the sengoku period. Most of us however err on the side of comfort over accuracy and either comprimise and "errr.. requisition this convienient pavillion/yurt/tent that some crazy nanban set up.... ummm yes now that you mention it the nanban did look somewhat like me..." or for the few (And you know who you are ) lucky one suggest period alternatives and let their highly talented crew take the idea and run with it. (You can tell his, from the outstanding torii gate at Pennsic) -Takeda
|
|
|
Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Oct 3, 2005 9:33:12 GMT -5
What a samurai would bring to the field with him depends largely on his income. With Privilege comes Responsibility and Rank = Feudalism. A 100 koku samurai would be expected to bring one to three retainers with him; they are not necessarily expected to all be fighting men. Baggage train and 'engineering' duty slots also needed to be filled. IE ... scavanging the countryside for food and firewood. Building fences and temporary walls. Digging pits. Caring for horses. All the wonderful duties involved in maintaing a fighting force in the field that isn't actually fighting. A 250 koku samurai is probably mounted and expected to bring his horse, a few personal retainers and one or two 'on foot' 100 koku samurai and their retainers. Try this link for some information from the Zouhyou Monogatari as published by Turnbull in Samurai Sourcebook. It is a list of items that an ashigaru in the early seventeenth century would be expected to be carrying. tousando.proboards18.com/index.cgi?board=heiho&action=display&thread=1096861936
|
|
|
Post by sebastian on Oct 3, 2005 19:50:08 GMT -5
Always helpful You guys are going to spoil me rotten with knowledge heh. Moving on, erring on the side of comfort, say, would anyone have a suggestion on where to get a good tent. Now my one want in it..is that it is easy to set up and take down..and requires as little rolling or folding as possible. I detest re-rolling a tent. I've scoured all my local camping shops and some websites, but have yet to find anything decent.
|
|
|
Post by raycornwell2 on Oct 3, 2005 20:27:30 GMT -5
I have never technically slept in the open rain, but, I have lived in a tent for several years, and the canvas tent I had did not hold out the rain at all. If you keep covered, even though you are wet, you can still stay warm, then, it is just about getting your mind to except the fact. The first time I had awoken to find that I was lying in a puddle of water, I was surprised to find I had slept through it! I think the key is, if your tired enough, you can sleep through just about anything.
Besides, most SCA events are in the summer, right? what is a summer shower, anyways? Refreshing, I say.
Maybe it would be fun to camp out the old fashion way! It is only a weekend, for crying out loud!
... Or am I crazy??
The only problem I see is that there is no place to change into dry clothing, with out a tent. Fighting soggy all day would suck.
Maybe I AM crazy...
|
|
Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
|
Post by Saionji Shonagon on Oct 3, 2005 20:41:49 GMT -5
Not even remotely Japanese, but if you want something something non-modern looking, you might consider a wedge tent from these folks. Their prices for canvas tentage are the best I've found. www.blockaderunner.com/Catalog/catpg31.htmI have the "great wedge" which is big enough for me to set up a camp bed widthwise in and have plenty of room for myself and all my crap. It requires no wind lines and I can set it up by myself in about ten minutes (lay out tent on top of ground cloth, stake down corners, raise one upright and ridgepole at one end, then walk up the other end of the ridge while inserting the second upright). It comes down even faster. Sorry, you do have to fold up your tent, but you could fit this one in a largish duffel if you wanted. Mine lives in the back of my pickup truck loose - if it looks like painting tarps and lumber who's going to steal it. Canvas is cooler than nylon if you have to spend any time in it in hot weather. The shape is great in the rain - it just runs down the sides onto the ground - trenching, however, is a really good idea if you're expecting weather. I do not have a sewn in floor or sod cloth, but I haven't really needed it. Two sen worth, Saionji
|
|
Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
|
Post by Saionji Shonagon on Oct 3, 2005 20:54:56 GMT -5
That could've been the result of poor design (seams and stress points in the wrong places) or age (fabric fatigue). Or even the size of the tent. If you can manage not to have you or your gear touching the walls, moisture won't wick onto you. My wedge is two seasons old and while we don't get rain in the summer in northern California, the tent has done fine at spring and fall events when we do. The floor gets wet, but that's about it. Sure you are, darlin', but we still love you. Well, you could always ask someone nicely if you can change your clothes in their tent. (If you manage to look bedraggled and pathetic they may also offer to feed you. especially the gang I usually camp with.) Way back when rocks were soft and I attended my first Pennsic in an 8'x8' Coleman land zit, I was advised to pack my clothes in a plastic tub and to keep my bedding off the ground. Despite the fact that the minicot was a tight fit in that tent and at least one of those rip roaring thunderstorms that the area can sometimes get, I always had a dry change of clothes when I needed it and dry bedding. S.
|
|
|
Post by Takeda Sanjuichiro on Oct 3, 2005 23:12:02 GMT -5
I have never technically slept in the open rain... Rain is not bad, freezing rain sucks... freezing rain and then snow realy sucks! Point of note, if that happens and there are big old pine trees with low boughs, dig down into the snow for an entrance and crawl up under the boughs disturbing as little snow as possible... It actualy can get quite nice under there after a bit. (if you don't mind being slightly sticky and smelling like a cheap air-freshener) Yup, on artillery ranges, in strip-clubs, while marching to chow, when your are the one calling cadence... and depending on how many people are hooked into your tap at Pennsic, possibly more pressure Not any more than several other of us on here It's not so much the soggy, it's the freaking carbon steel kusari on my kote! I hate it when they rust! (The paint has worn off on most of it and its not like I want to oil it up) I think the next set is going to either be black stainless, or blackend brass. (Lacquered brass-kusari, a trick the Kaga armor makers used in the Edo period.) -Takeda
|
|
|
Post by sebastian on Oct 4, 2005 12:07:14 GMT -5
lol, I'll look into the wedge. And I've slept outside in the summer in Florida..I don't suggest it. We have mosquitos like nobody's business. I woke up the next morning, and every part of my body except for my face that wasn't covered had mosquito bites on it. not a pleasant thing. As for most events being in the summer, events are pretty frequent here all year round, 4-5 a month during summer, 2-3 a month during winter.
|
|
|
Post by raycornwell2 on Oct 4, 2005 16:54:19 GMT -5
That is some good advice, both Makiwara and Takeda! I have lived through wisconsin winters, in a tent too, and it was interesting, to say the least! I have seen how the igloo effect works. Just sucks when you gotta unzip the tent, lol!
|
|
|
Post by Nagamochi on Oct 5, 2005 2:42:19 GMT -5
Ah, Wisconsin winters! Where one doesn't think to put on a sweater until it's 40 below outside. Welcome to Northshield folks! Naro desu-ne? Nagamochi
|
|
Saionji Shonagon
New Member
One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
Posts: 7,240
|
Post by Saionji Shonagon on Oct 5, 2005 8:33:53 GMT -5
Oh, almost forgot! If you want to try to build your own wedge tent, you can find instructions at www.fibergeek.com/wedge.phpThe hardest part will be dragging that much canvas through a sewing machine, but it can be done. S.
|
|
|
Post by Date Saburou Yukiie on Oct 5, 2005 12:57:02 GMT -5
You should see our Sir Christopher sew a yurt! He plops himself in the middle of 80 yards of canvas, and makes perfectly straight, french seams...Truely bizzarre...
|
|