WEAPONS OF THE SAMURAI

Katana, Yari, Naginata, and the Arms of Japan's Warrior Class

von Tatsuya Morikane

98 Seiten, Taschenbuch

Kurzbeschreibung des Verlags

The samurai were never defined by the katana alone.For centuries, Japan's warrior class relied on a far broader arsenal-swords, spears, polearms, bows, short blades, and later firearms-each designed for a different distance, role, and battlefield problem.WEAPONS OF THE SAMURAI explores the development, construction, use, and historical significance of the principal arms carried by Japanese warriors across the Heian, Kamakura, Muromachi, Sengoku, and Edo periods. Rather than repeating romantic legends, this volume places each weapon within the military and social environment in which it actually functioned.Discover how early straight swords evolved into the tachi, uchigatana, and katana; how Japanese swordsmiths transformed tamahagane into carefully forged and heat-treated blades; why the yari became one of the most important weapons of large-scale samurai warfare; and how the naginata combined reach, cutting power, and battlefield control.Inside, explore: - The evolution of the Japanese sword from early blades to the katana- Katana forging, folding, differential hardening, hamon, polishing, and mounting- The real combat strengths-and limitations-of the katana- The yari and the rise of spear formations during the Sengoku period- The construction, use, and changing role of the naginata- Wakizashi, tantō, yumi, ōdachi, kanabō, firearms, and other samurai weapons- How armor, terrain, formations, cavalry, fortifications, and logistics shaped weapon use- The transformation of samurai arms from battlefield equipment to symbols of status, tradition, and martial cultureClear, detailed, and richly illustrated, WEAPONS OF THE SAMURAI presents these weapons as they truly were: not mythical objects existing outside history, but carefully developed tools shaped by craftsmanship, warfare, technology, and centuries of change.A practical and historical guide to the weapons that armed Japan's warrior class.

• Reihe: Independently published
• ISBN: 9798176047707
• Sprache: Englisch
• Erscheinungsdatum: 21.09.2026
• Größe: 229 x 152 mm
• Verlag: Independently published