Yari

For other uses, see Yari (disambiguation).
Three su yari mounted in koshirae, including one with an asymmetrical crossbar (hadome)

Yari (槍) is the term for one of the traditionally made Japanese blades (nihonto)[1][2] in the form of a spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear.[3] The martial art of wielding the yari is called sōjutsu.

History

Ukiyo-e print of a samurai general holding a yari in his right hand

Early yari are believed to have been derived from Chinese spears, these hoko yari are thought to be from the Nara period (710-794).,[4][5] and while they were present in early Japan's history, the term yari appeared for the first time in written sources in 1334 but this type of spear did not become popular until the late 15th century.[6] The original warfare of the bushi was not a thing for commoners; it was a ritualized combat usually between two warriors who would challenge each other via horseback archery.[7] However, the attempted Mongol invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281 changed Japanese weaponry and warfare. The Mongols employed Chinese and Korean footmen wielding long pikes and fought in tight formations. They moved in large units to stave off cavalry.[7] Polearms (including naginata and yari) were of much greater military use than swords, due to their significantly longer reach, lighter weight per unit length (though overall a polearm would be fairly hefty), and their great piercing ability.[7] Swords in a full battle situation were therefore relegated to emergency sidearm status from the Heian through the Muromachi periods.[7] Around the latter half of the 16th century, ashigaru holding pikes (nagae yari) with length of 4.5 to 6.5 m (15 to 21 ft) became the main forces in armies. They formed lines, combined with soldiers bearing firearms (tanegashima (Japanese matchlock)) and short spears. Pikemen formed a two or three row line, and were trained to move their pikes in unison under command.

The yari eventually became more popular than the longbow as a weapon for the samurai, and foot troops (ashigaru) followed suit and used them extensively.[7] With the coming of the Edo period the yari had fallen into disuse. Greater emphasis was placed on small-scale, close quarters combat, so the convenience of swords (as opposed to long battlefield weapons), polearms and archery lost their practical value. During the peaceful Edo era yari were still produced (sometimes even by renowned sword smiths) although they existed mostly as either a ceremonial weapon or as a police weapon.

Description

Omi yari (large spear), Tokyo national museum.

Yari were characterized by a straight blade that could be anywhere from several centimeters to 3 feet or more in length.[3] The blades were made of the same steel (tamahagane) that traditional Japanese swords and arrow heads were forged with, and were very durable.[3] Throughout history many variations of the straight yari blade were produced, often with protrusions on a central blade. Yari blades often had an extremely long tang (nakago); typically it would be longer than the sharpened portion of the blade. The tang protruded into a re-enforced hollow portion of the handle (tachiuchi or tachiuke) resulting in a very stiff shaft making it nearly impossible for the blade to fall or break off.[3]

The shaft (nagaye or ebu) came in many different lengths, widths, and shapes; made of hardwood and covered in lacquered bamboo strips, these came in oval, round, or polygonal cross section. These in turn were often wrapped in metal rings or wire (dogane), and affixed with a metal pommel (ishizuki) on the butt end. Yari shafts were often decorated with inlays of metal or semiprecious materials such as brass pins, lacquer, or flakes of pearl. A sheath (saya) was also part of a complete yari.[3]

Variations of yari blades

Straight Yari (su yari), detail view; blade is about 1 shaku (approx. 30cm) in length
Jumonji yari spearhead with metal collar; note the long tang, approx. equal to the blade-length

Various types of yari points or blades existed. The most common blade was a straight, flat, design that resembles a straight-bladed double edged dagger.[3] This type of blade could cut as well as stab and was sharpened like a razor edge. Though yari is a catchall for spear, it is usually distinguished between kama yari, which have additional horizontal blades, and simple su yari (choku-sō) or straight spears. Yari can also be distinguished by the types of blade cross section: the triangular sections were called sankaku yari and the diamond sections were called ryō-shinogi yari.[3]

[10]

Variations of yari shafts

A yari shaft can range in length from one meter to upwards of six meters (3.3 to 20 feet).

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Development of Controversies: From the Early Modern Period to Online Discussion Forums, Volume 91 of Linguistic Insights. Studies in Language and Communication, Author Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani, Publisher Peter Lang, 2008, ISBN 3-03911-711-4, ISBN 978-3-03911-711-6 P.150
  2. ↑ The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Mythology, Complete Idiot's Guides, Authors Evans Lansing Smith, Nathan Robert Brown, Publisher Penguin, 2008, ISBN 1-59257-764-4, ISBN 978-1-59257-764-4 P.144
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Ratti, Oscar; Adele Westbrook (1991). Secrets of the Samurai: The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan. Tuttle Publishing. p. 484. ISBN 978-0-8048-1684-7.
  4. ↑ Japan and China: Japan, its history, arts, and literature, Frank Brinkley, T. C. & E. C. Jack, 1903 p.156
  5. ↑ The connoisseur's book of Japanese swords, Kōkan Nagayama, Kodansha International, p.49
  6. ↑ Friday, Karl (2004). Samurai, Warfare and The State in Early Medieval Japan. Routledge. p. 87. ISBN 0-415-32962-0.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Deal, William E (2007). Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. Oxford University Press. p. 432. ISBN 978-0-19-533126-4.
  8. ↑ The new generation of Japanese swordsmiths, Tamio Tsuchiko, Kenji Mishina, Kodansha International, 2002 p.15
  9. ↑ The Encyclopedia Americana: a library of universal knowledge, Volume 15 Encyclopedia Americana Corp., 1919 p.745
  10. ↑ The Japanese sword Kanzan Satō, Kodansha International, 1983 P.63
  11. ↑ The connoisseur's book of Japanese swords, Kōkan Nagayama, Kodansha International, 1998 p.49
  12. 1 2 The connoisseur's book of Japanese swords, Kōkan Nagayama, Kodansha International, 1998, P.49
  13. ↑ Fighting techniques of the Oriental world, AD 1200-1860: equipment, combat skills, and tactics, Authors Michael E. Haskew, Christer Joregensen, Eric Niderost, Chris McNab, Publisher Macmillan, 2008, ISBN 0-312-38696-6, ISBN 978-0-312-38696-2 P.44
  14. ↑ Ashigaru 1467-1649, Stephen Turnbull, Howard Gerrard, Osprey Publishing, 2001, P.19
  15. ↑ Ashigaru 1467-1649, Authors Stephen Turnbull, Howard Gerrard, Illustrated by Howard Gerrard, Publisher Osprey Publishing, 2001, ISBN 1-84176-149-4, ISBN 978-1-84176-149-7 P.23
  16. ↑ Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior, Author Clive Sinclaire, Publisher Globe Pequot, 2004, ISBN 1-59228-720-4, ISBN 978-1-59228-720-8 P.119
  17. ↑ Taiho-jutsu: law and order in the age of the samurai, Author, Don Cunningham, Publisher Tuttle Publishing, 2004, ISBN 0-8048-3536-5, ISBN 978-0-8048-3536-7 P.44
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