Post by tomoyuki on Nov 24, 2005 17:36:18 GMT -5
Hi Gang,
Here is the basic Yari lesson I have promised.
Many Historians believe that the use of spear by Samurai was rare before the time of the Mongol invasion. The way of the horse and bow was the way of all samurai up until this time.
The Samurai likely learned the hard way that the good Chinese, and Korean, spearmen, did a lot of killing when they could get to range. Soon after this conflict we start to see Yari being made by Sword smiths. Something that was not seen before this time.
With the peaceful times that followed, through most of the late-Kamakura, the yari nearly disappeared again.
It wasn't until the wars of the Nanbokucho period the the Yari came to it's fame. Yari came into general use throughout this period, followed by massive use during the Onin wars of the mid-1400's.
At this stage, many common men became soldiers. This lead to a breakdown of the old class system.
And the yari were made by the thousands. Most of these were the standard Su-yari, placed on a 6-10 ft pole. At this time many of the lords begin to make use of Yari units. During this time the higher-ranking samurai commissioned long bladed Omi-no-yari from sword smiths, for their personal use. Many as long as Tachi. To quote Knutsen sensei, " Expert opinion amoungst the bugeisha advances three main reasons for this specialized long-bladed form of yari. The first is that it is similar in length to the warrior's long sword. The second is that in battle it is more difficult for an opponent to cut the blade from the shaft. Thirdly, such a weapon is likely to have a strong psychological effect on the enemy."
No doubt!
Many high ranking Samurai also started using Jumonji or multi bladed/edged yari of many forms.
So the yari now became the most destructive weapon on the field. This lasted for many years, until the Gun made close fighting an anachronisms.
The Su-yari is the most common form. These are of many lengths, and shapes, but all are mostly three sided. Many with a groove cut into the center of the flat part of the side to allow air to escape from the target so your yari would come back out better.
Some Su-yari are leaf-shaped, many of these were 4 sided.
The Jumonji-yari or Magari-yari . These yari were trident looking spears of many cutting surfaces. The standard Jumonji yari has 8 cutting surfaces. You can cut your opponent on the back thrust as easy as going in. WONDERFUL! Used by a skilled spearfighter these weapons were very deadly. Daa!
Kata-kama-yari or Hoko yari. These are yari with one arm or side spur. Used to cut, slash, or grab. The pic. posted in the last Yari post is an example of this.
Fukuro-yari are spears with a sleve that fit over the pole, rather than a Nakago that was inside the pole. These are less common.
So there are the basics. The best Yari book in English is by Roaldand,and Patricia Knutsen. It has been reprinted and is much easier to find now. Very good basic Yari history.
In the Edo period, Yari became very wonderful works of the swordsmiths art. Some to the point of not being very useful as a weapon.
My favorite yari are those made during the early-mid 1600's Very powerful (due to the ever thicker armor of the shinto period).
Marc
Here is the basic Yari lesson I have promised.
Many Historians believe that the use of spear by Samurai was rare before the time of the Mongol invasion. The way of the horse and bow was the way of all samurai up until this time.
The Samurai likely learned the hard way that the good Chinese, and Korean, spearmen, did a lot of killing when they could get to range. Soon after this conflict we start to see Yari being made by Sword smiths. Something that was not seen before this time.
With the peaceful times that followed, through most of the late-Kamakura, the yari nearly disappeared again.
It wasn't until the wars of the Nanbokucho period the the Yari came to it's fame. Yari came into general use throughout this period, followed by massive use during the Onin wars of the mid-1400's.
At this stage, many common men became soldiers. This lead to a breakdown of the old class system.
And the yari were made by the thousands. Most of these were the standard Su-yari, placed on a 6-10 ft pole. At this time many of the lords begin to make use of Yari units. During this time the higher-ranking samurai commissioned long bladed Omi-no-yari from sword smiths, for their personal use. Many as long as Tachi. To quote Knutsen sensei, " Expert opinion amoungst the bugeisha advances three main reasons for this specialized long-bladed form of yari. The first is that it is similar in length to the warrior's long sword. The second is that in battle it is more difficult for an opponent to cut the blade from the shaft. Thirdly, such a weapon is likely to have a strong psychological effect on the enemy."
No doubt!
Many high ranking Samurai also started using Jumonji or multi bladed/edged yari of many forms.
So the yari now became the most destructive weapon on the field. This lasted for many years, until the Gun made close fighting an anachronisms.
The Su-yari is the most common form. These are of many lengths, and shapes, but all are mostly three sided. Many with a groove cut into the center of the flat part of the side to allow air to escape from the target so your yari would come back out better.
Some Su-yari are leaf-shaped, many of these were 4 sided.
The Jumonji-yari or Magari-yari . These yari were trident looking spears of many cutting surfaces. The standard Jumonji yari has 8 cutting surfaces. You can cut your opponent on the back thrust as easy as going in. WONDERFUL! Used by a skilled spearfighter these weapons were very deadly. Daa!
Kata-kama-yari or Hoko yari. These are yari with one arm or side spur. Used to cut, slash, or grab. The pic. posted in the last Yari post is an example of this.
Fukuro-yari are spears with a sleve that fit over the pole, rather than a Nakago that was inside the pole. These are less common.
So there are the basics. The best Yari book in English is by Roaldand,and Patricia Knutsen. It has been reprinted and is much easier to find now. Very good basic Yari history.
In the Edo period, Yari became very wonderful works of the swordsmiths art. Some to the point of not being very useful as a weapon.
My favorite yari are those made during the early-mid 1600's Very powerful (due to the ever thicker armor of the shinto period).
Marc
