11 Fascinating Samurai Weapons

No list of Japanese weapons is complete without the katana.The katana's combat history is not as long as you think. Early samurai mostly fought as mounted archers, and the Mongol invasions changed that.The Mongol invasions gave Japanese swords a real chance to shine. With good weather and a smart defensive spot, the Mongols could not use their strength. Japanese steel beat them in close combat.The Mongol invasions occurred.Japanese swords gained a chance to shine. Fortuitous weather and a good defensive spot stopped the Mongols. Japanese steel at close range quickly sent them away.

Swordsmithing became an important skill during the Muromachi era.The katana served as a sidearm in the Sengoku Era battles. During this time, the pairing of two swords, the daisho, began. The katana was the larger of the two blades samurai carried.Many lesser quality swords were seized by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1588. Hideyoshi melted them down to make a giant Buddha statue. Only samurai could carry two swords in public.The tachi.The right to carry swords ended during the Meiji Restoration. This, plus losing other perks, started samurai rebellions. The final end came in 1877 when Saigo Takamori’s followers drew their swords and charged to die.The tachi started around three feet long. Smiths shortened it to two feet. Early tachi measured around three feet.Katanas.The naginata also functions as a polearm because of its long handle. This extra reach let it fight cavalry better than a katana. It also proved a strong weapon on horseback.The versatile weapon rose to prominence in the 12th century during the Genpei War. Warrior monks and the legendary female warrior Tomoe Gozen wielded it.At the Battle of Uji, a warrior monk named Gochi-in Tajima held off an army on a bridge with two allies. He supposedly cut arrows mid-flight with his naginata. He downed many enemies to earn the name “Tajima the arrow-cutter.” This story comes from a later source, so take it with caution. Still, the naginata was a brutally effective weapon in the right hands.In the later Sengoku period, the naginata fell out of use. Noblewomen kept it for self-defense. In some cases, the lady of the castle and her retainers used it in sieges as a last resort.The yumi is the weapon discussed.The katana.The katana’s reputation for cutting skill was earned. It served as a sidearm in the Sengoku Era battles. Samurai paired two swords during this time.The daisho.The daisho was born. It involved the katana and the wakizashi.The katana.The katana was the larger of the two blades samurai carried.

Many weaker swords were confiscated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.Toyotomi Hideyoshi confiscated many lesser quality swords.Hideyoshi melted down those swords in 1588 to make a giant Buddha statue. Only samurai could carry two swords publicly. Even after technology made swords obsolete for fighting, the katana kept great cultural value during the Edo period.The katana.The katana carried great cultural value throughout the Edo period.

The right to carry swords ended during the Meiji Restoration.The Meiji Restoration ended the privilege of carrying swords.This loss, plus other perks, sparked samurai rebellions. The final major one ended in 1877. Saigo Takamori’s followers drew their swords to charge to the death.The last of Saigo Takamori’s followers.Saigo Takamori’s followers chose to draw their swords and charge to a warrior’s death.

Tomoe Gozen’s name means “mowing-down sword.”The naginata.The naginata can be a polearm because of its long handle. This extra reach let it fight cavalry better than a katana. It also worked well against horses.The naginata.Unlike a katana, the naginata could still fight cavalry effectively.

The versatile weapon became famous in the 12th century during the Genpei War.The Genpei War saw the versatile weapon gain prominence in the 12th century.Warrior monks and the legendary female warrior Tomoe Gozen wielded the weapon.Tomoe Gozen.At the Battle of Uji, a warrior monk named Gochi-in Tajima held an army back on a bridge with two comrades.Gochi-in Tajima held off an opposing army on a bridge at the Battle of Uji.Gochi-in Tajima held off an opposing army on a bridge with two comrades at the Battle of Uji.

Supposedly, he cut arrows mid-flight with his naginata.He cut arrows mid-flight with his naginata.He downed scores of enemies using his naginata and earned the name “Tajima the arrow-cutter.”He earned the epithet “Tajima the arrow-cutter.”This fine story comes from a later source; take it with caution. In the right hands, the naginata was a brutally effective weapon.In the later Sengoku period, the naginata fell out of use. Noblewomen kept it as a self-defense weapon. Some castle ladies and their retainers used it in sieges as a last defense.The naginata had largely fallen out of use in the later Sengoku period.

The naginata had largely fallen out of use in the later Sengoku period.The naginata had largely fallen out of use but noblewomen kept it for self-defense.Noblewomen kept the naginata for self-defense; in some cases, the lady of the castle and her retainers used it during sieges.In a few cases, the lady of the castle and her retainers took to the field during sieges as a last-ditch defense.The lady of the castle and her retainers took to the field during sieges as a last-ditch defense.

The yumi.The yumi.The yumi is a large, asymmetrical bow, shot well below the center. This design dates to the third century CE, and its style, still used in martial arts today, began in the Sengoku period. It measures 2 meters (about 6.5 feet).YumiThis yumi is an exceptionally large bow, longer than the English longbow.English longbow.

Early samurai fought with bows on horseback. Archery was a highly valued skill. This led to the boxy design of the o-yoroi armor. o-yoroi The design of armor showed this in the.Genpei WarAt the start of the Battle of Yashima, one famous archery feat occurred. The Taira clan attached a fan to the gunwale of a boat atop a pole.gunwale of a boatThe plan was to bait the Minamoto to hit the fan from a distant spot. A young samurai named Nasu no Yoichi stepped forward to shoot, striking the fan dead center in one try.Nasu no YoichiNasu no Yoichi struck the fan dead center in a single attempt against all odds.

The asymmetric design had certain advantages.It made drawing the bow over a horse's head easier while mounted and reduced shock on the archer's hand..

The yumi’s design changed little throughout its long life. It remained widely used even after firearms appeared in the 16th century.yumiThe yumi’s design changed little over its long service. It remained widely used after firearms appeared in the 16th century.

You might think the katana would dominate feudal Japan's military history. While the sword held great cultural value, the main weapon for armies in the warring states period was actually the yari.katanaKatō Kiyomasa would take center stage in the military history of feudal Japan. The sword held great cultural value, but the real workhorse of the armies during the warring states period was something else.warring states periodyariyariBecause samurai were a small part of the armies, equipping mass peasant armies with expensive swords was impractical.

Instead, most of the ashigaru fought with yaris.ashigarupeasant soldiersyaris.The spear's end took many shapes, but most were simple straight points. Some clans tried much longer weapons; a yari was usually around 2 meters (6.5 feet) long, offering good power.yari Yaris usually measure around 2 meters (6.5 feet) long. This gave them good power for their size.

Mounted samurai used a yari effectively in combat, not just for peasants.yariMounted samurai used a yari to great effect when fighting. At the Battle of Shizugatake, Toyotomi Hideyoshi led mounted troops through the night for a key win. The Seven Spears of Shizugatake included Kato Kiyomasa.Battle of ShizugatakeToyotomi Hideyoshi led a small group of mounted troops through the night to win a key victory. The retainers who made this victory famous were later called the Seven Spears of Shizugatake. Kato Kiyomasa was one of them.Kato KiyomasaKato Kiyomasa, one of the era's most accomplished warriors. (Pictured is his spear).

Kato gained more martial fame by defeating Niiro Tadamoto in single combat during the Kyushu campaign and his victories in the invasion of Korea. He found another use for his spear there: hunting tigers.Niiro TadamotoKato Kiyomasa fought Niiro Tadamoto in single combat during the Kyushu campaign and in his victories during the failed invasion of Korea. He found another use for his spear there: hunting tigers.hunting tigers.

Why attack armor's weak spots when you can just hit it hard? This was the idea behind the kanabō, a class of war club used in the Middle Ages. They came in sizes ranging from one-handed clubs to powerful two-handed tools only the strongest warriors could use well. kanabōKanabō is a class of war club used throughout the Middle Ages. These clubs came in different sizes, from one-handed clubs to powerful two-handed weapons that only strong warriors could use well.

These weapons smash armor well. They also devastate mounted warriors because a warhorse's legs suffer from the weapon's power.kanabō.

Outside the battlefield, they served self-defense. A Sengoku-era samurai found one handy for this.daimyohe kept one in his bathroom.in his bathroomHe used it as a last-ditch security measure. If he was caught with his pants down, a club sufficed in that dire situation.

Don’t be fooled by Hollywood. Except for one thing.short-lived rebellionSamurai used firearms in 1876. Japan first got guns in 1542-3 from Portuguese traders. A storm blew them off course. Those first muskets cost much, but the island ofTanegashimabecame a hotbed for modern firearms.

Its best time came during the Battle of Nagashino.Battle of NagashinoIn 1575, Oda Nobunaga put three rows of musketeers behind stockades. They inflicted rotating waves of volley fire on the Takeda clan's cavalry. Guns became common in the later battles of theSengoku periodSamurai used guns in the failed invasion of Korea at the end of the 16th century.

After the keyBattle of Sekigaharain 1600 and the rise of theTokugawa dynasty, gun manufacturing shrank greatly. Japan enjoyed a long peace and stayed isolated from the outside world.

During the peaceful Edo period, samurai carried two swords in public. wakizashiThe wakizashi was the smaller, lesser-known of these two blades. It came from an earlier time. Samurai used it as an auxiliary sword for tough situations, often for post-battle tasks. Victorious samurai used it for the collection of heads.collection of headsor for theImjin War, noses. Defeated samurai used a wakizashi for their noses.wakizashiThe wakizashi sometimes made the first cut during seppuku. seppuku.

Outside of cutting heads or the stomach, the weapon was used as a weapon a few times. Legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi won his first duel against an opponent armed with a longer katana.Miyamoto Musashihe won his first duel against an opponent armed with longerkatanawhen he was only 13.wakizashiThe wakizashi was also used as a thrown weapon as a last resort, very rarely.

Theōdachiōdachi was not for weak or thin men. Only the strongest warriors could wield this sword. It was a status symbol in the Kamakura period.Kamakura period. The Japanese great sword had its greatest fame in the 14th century. Most had blades at least 5 feet long. This meant the ōdachi couldn't be worn at the waist like a standard katana.ōdachiōdachikatanawas. It was carried on the back or by a servant.

Although warring states didn't generally use it, one story shows its use at the Battle of Anegawa.Battle of AnegawaDescription of 'Ōdachi' in the list '11 Fascinating Samurai Weapons'Makara Jurōzaemonstayed behind to cover the retreat of his comrades. With hisōdachiin hand and his son at his side, he took on all comers. After slaying many foes in single combat, he was finally overwhelmed.

This fearsome-looking device was essentially a sickle attached to a chain with a weight at the end; it took a fair amount of skill and space to operate with any level of efficiency. Thekusarigamawas sometimes used byshinobi(a type of ninja) and intended more to disarm or incapacitate an opponent to facilitate an escape than to kill.

It became a weapon of curiosity for some duelists during the Edo period. With no wars to fight, some bored samurai experimented with the unusual implement. Japanese swordsmanAraki Mataemonused situational awareness to overcome the unique challenge posed by an opponent swinging a kusarigama; he backed into a bamboo grove where there simply wasn’t enough room for his opponent to use it.

TheShurikenis one of those instantly recognizable Japanese weapons, but its documented history is actually quite sparse. Typically associated with the clandestine work of ninjas, there’s no evidence that throwing stars were actually part of their toolkit, as Bansenshūkai, a 17th-century collection of training materials from the Iga and Koga regions (the provinces most associated withshinobi) doesn’t mention the weapon at all.

Only in the English language translation of the text will a reader find even an oblique mention ofshurikenin a discussion of makeshift torches near the end of the manual - an unspecified throwing weapon can be cannibalized from the tool’s leftovers.

The idea of a ninja as a superspy clad in black is largely an invention of theEdo period, and his weird and wonderful tools were popularized inthe 20th century. Theshurikendid indeed exist, but not as a weapon used by ninjas. It was merely anovelty weaponfound in the Edo Period; it came in various shapes and sizes, as seen by the image. It wasn’t so much a specific weapon as a class of throwing weapons seldom used in Japan. When used, it was for creating a diversion or distance in order to gain the upper hand in a duel.

Fans were kind of a big deal in medieval Japan - even the lowliest peasant wouldn't dream of leaving home without one. At the other end of the scale, more elaborate and sturdy fans were used by the top warlords of the era. Although typically for signaling and displaying status, thetessencould be used as a weapon in a pinch.

A fan isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think of weapons used by the samurai, but a handful of recorded instances exist of a war fan being the difference between life and death. One, a rather fanciful tale, suggests the legendary tragic hero Minamoto no Yoshitsune used one to disarm and best a notable warrior monk named Benkei insingle combatBenkei fought while disguised as a woman. Benkei became Yoshitsune's most loyal follower. This happened even after his brother declared him an outlaw.Yoritomo.

Another famous duel involved atessencame between the great Sengoku-era rivalsTakeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. They fought many inconclusive battles at Kawanakajima. In the second fight, Uesugi jumped Takeda. Takeda then used only his fan to block Uesugi's hits. Takeda survived that fight. The two fought several times without a final winner.