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Blacksmiths, Classic Weapons, Heavenly Jewelled Spear, Japanese Evergreen Oak, Naginata, Naginata Do, Naginata Jutsu, Ninja, Origins Legend of the Spear of Japan, Sasumata, Spear Basics, Yarijutsu
Along with the Bow+Arrow and Sword, The Spear,.. has long been a major part of the JAPANESE Martial Traditions and Ways. Basics, types and styles. Along with Our World Legends and Japan’s Legend of Origin, a glossary and Slide-show… all points examined herein indeed. Including the TENGU… the olden ninja instructors who seem a part of the world-wide FALLEN ANGELS LEGACY and Our World Legends.
ON THE WAY… THE WAY OF THE HORSE… AND SPEAR.
ARTICLE AND BONUS SLIDE-SHOW.
WEAPON INTEL #6.
Along with the BOW+ARROW and SWORD,
THE SPEAR,..
has long been a major part of the JAPANESE MARTIAL
TRADITIONS AND WAYS.
As a general WEAPONRY TYPE,..(click)
referred to as THE YARI.
This LONG-POLE or STICK upgrade is also an invaluable
asset to your ARTS OF SELF-DEFENCE.
YARI …=… 槍
YARI …=… 槍 …SPEAR… VARIETY PACK.
The SPEAR is a (oft long) stick or pole with a sharp point
or edge. This gives it an advantage in close combat even
over THE SWORD. During many of the pre-gunnery battles,
after the ARCHERS have darkened the heavens,..
come the SPEARMEN.
Swordsmen were oft dominated and decimated
at the end of a SPEAR. A well practiced team
of such Warriors become formidable opponents
on the field. A defensive yet offensive spiky hedgehog
WALL OF SPEARS effect,.. effective indeed.
SOLDIERS OF THE SPEAR… SPIKY INDEED. POINTED ALSO.
The modern MOVIE version of such ANCIENT Battles
is very dramatically epitomised in THE 300 series of films,..
(a Shiro fav.btw ) for those interested in seeing over-dramatic
and cinematic MARTIAL MAYHEM melodramatica,
even pointed SPARTAN SPEAR Techniques. Indeed.
MOVIE MAYHEM… LEGENDS OF THE WAY OF THE SPEAR… SPARTA STYLE.
The SPEAR has length, more than sufficient to scatter
opponents, deflect and parry other weapons as well
as the applicable thrusting, snaring, striking,
cutting and slashing type capabilities.
The nature of this ANCIENT Weaponry Form,
when combined with Tempered Blade Steel
and relatively overall lightweight construction;
ensures extreme maneuverability and versatility
for the proficient and practiced (click).
Creating space and open distance which allows
SELF-DEFENCE essentials, easier and further applied.
MALE SAMURAI… SPEAR OF THE WAY WARRIOR… TARGETING ARROWS INDEED. Woodcut Print of “Ronin (Masterless Samurai) Fending Off Arrows” – 1869 Artist- Yoshitoshi Taiso.
Ancient Japanese MASTER BLACKSMITHS AND WEAPON MAKERS
worked on SPEARS with the same renowned care and precision
they put into the iconic SAMURAI SWORD
and other BLADED WEAPONRY (click).
The SPEAR SHAFT was in no way disregarded,
being constructed from sound + solid wood,
of appropriate hardness, thickness and type.
Japanese EVERGREEN OAK ( akagashi 赤樫 )
was predominantly used, valued for it’s natural
uniform tight grain structure.
THIS IS A TREE… THE TRANSPIRER… WHAT A SPEAR LOOKS LIKE… BEFORE ITS A SPEAR. OAK OF JAPAN.
This was then prepped, seasoned and treated
before being reinforced with binding, strips,
wire and/or metal rings.
SPEARING IN ON A CLOSEUP OF SOME RING REINFORCEMENT/COMPONENTS FROM A SECTION OF THE SPEAR.
Usually at all the strategic areas, of contact and impact
as well as the joins and stress absorption sections too. These
could in turn, be finely and ornately decorated, to add
to the overall awesome aesthetic quality also.
Several methods were also developed of securely
attaching SHAFT + SPEAR-HEAD dependent on such
as BLADE-TANG length, width and type.
No point… in losing the point here.
CLICK TO SEE Our World LEGENDs OF AN EMPEROR… FOR THE LOVE OF SWORDS… BECOME THE BLACKSMITH’s APPRENTICE INDEED AND IN FACT TOO.
The YARI/SPEAR SHAFT, in general,..
comes in one of three cross-section/profile shapes.
- ROUND : common/basic spear.
- OVAL : bladed/naginata type.
- SQUARE FACED : specialist type… facet number varies.
are the LONG POLE WEAPONS…as well as… The SPEAR TYPES OF ANCIENT JAPANs MARTIAL WAYS…
THE POINT,
A large variety of SHEATHS protected the pointed
end of SPEAR business.
Many were personalised,.. some ” standard issue type ” .
In fact,.. the LEGENDS of the YARI WAYS indicate that;
for long periods of HISTORY, IT WAS CLAN/MILITARY LAW:
to carry SHEATHED,.. a SPEAR’s-
naked SHINY SHARP STEEL bits…
presumably to cover up any accidental pointed intrusion…
into other people’s… business.
Point taken here… indeed.
COVER… THEN CARRY it seems.
So the LEGENDS say…
about this SPEAR OF A MARTIAL WAY.
Photo Credit/Thanks:LX-121… YARI OF JAPAN… THE SPEAR. POINT-TYPE No.1 = STRAIGHT.
The SPEAR’s POINT too,
came in a variety of SHAPE TYPE(s).
In general terms;
- THE STRAIGHT TYPE.
- THE SHAPED TYPE.
- THE CURVED TYPE.
No.1 THE STRAIGHT TYPE… 槍 The atypical or basic SPEAR. A straight, aligned Spear-Head, usually Metallic and Double-Edged, forged and tempered for Martial use. Rounded Lance Types,.. Hand-Javelins too. Some variety in the Spear-Head shaping. Very ANCIENT Types were simply FIRE-HARDENED WOOD STICKS SHAPED TO A POINT. The other ( ” handle ” ) end was oft capped with metal and used accordingly also. Multi-purpose and double ended capabilities. SPEAR+SELF-DEFENCE indeed. Straight to the point and… point taken too.
No.2 THE SHAPED TYPE…THIS TYPE BE SASUMATA.
The SASUMATA and SPEAR POINT-TYPE No.2 variations = SHAPED… can indeed be non-lethal weaponry whilst still possessing high offensive/defensive potential. A stereo-typical olden police/guard ‘ restraining/capturing weapon ‘. With it’s long reach and the shaped catch area being made of metal, extremely useful too against even armored opponents. High-defensive structure and capabilities and intent. The STAFF/handle could be metal or wood, possibly with further attachments. As with others in this review; there are historically many with subtle yet very effective add-ons/variations. Tips, barbs, chain/rope attached, hook devices and more. This type of common-sense approach to a weapons development meant that most opponents could be confidently approached then somewhat easily levered or pressured against, as well as the opponent’s weapon if so req. With unique versatility, the SASUMATA, 刺股 a SHAPED SPEAR with a long history too, probably not as bloody as some. Not as pointed perhaps either,.. but still a classic.
NO.3 = THE NAGINATA… SPEAR-POINT TYPE No.3 = CURVED. A JAP. Martial combo of SWORD+STICK whuch produces a SPEAR Type with formidable qualities and potential power adding to one’s SELF-DEFENCE. The Blade of the NAGINATA (aka nakamaki) curves alike the SAMURAI SWORD, though with more pronounced/wider curve as it approaches the blade-point. Like The Sword,.. THE NAGINATA 薙刀 was forged expertly by MASTER MAKERS. The proficiency of the Bushi… men and women both,.. though women tend to dominate the field… with this versatile and flowing Weapon, ensured the continuing development of the appropriate personal ARMOR to help annul it’s long and lean CURVED SPEARED and tempered, yet lethal Steel. Hopefully. Our World LEGENDS indeed.
SIDETRACKED AND SPOTLIGHT ON :
THE SASUMATA… 刺股
THE SHAPED SPEAR + co.
…cos… they got,..
NO POINT… AT ALL. Indeed.
A SHORT AND SHARP :
SLIDE-SHOW… by Shiro.
Main Article continues… down under…indeed.
This WEAPON Type was used for much more
than just making it’s point or clearing out and cutting thru,
crowds of belligerent Samurai foe. Many variations…
had NO POINT at all.
Or many. Designs are oft unique. To snag and snare,..
hook and tear… push and pull and so forth.
The concept of maximum SELF-DEFENCE,
with minimal offensive damage, combine to present
a LENGTHY WEAPONRY TYPE more than capable
of defending and saving lives. Including your own.
LONG STUFF SASUMATA… THE SPEAR WAY.
All at more than arms length indeed.
Such SHAPED SPEARS were oft employed
by POLICE FORCES,.. CASTLE GUARDS,..
FIRE MEN and others with a urgent need for crowd control. (click)
Each… had a WAY… of their own.
THE WAYS,..
OF THE JAPANESE
SPEAR WAY.
SPEAR… SANKAKU YARI.
- THE SPEAR.
THE YARI : 槍
THE WAY OF THE YARI:
YARI JUTSU : 槍術
- THE CURVED SPEAR.
THE NAGINATA : 薙刀
THE WAYS OF THE NAGINATA:
NAGINATA JUTSU : 薙刀術
NAGINATA DO : 長刀道
The WAYS OF THE SPEAR + co. involve a WEAPON Type
that evolved with and from, several others. Input
from stick and sword Arts in particular. This produced
a very wide range of practitioners, who in turn,
produced a vast array of methods and techniques
into the various styles…
of which there were many too. (click)
Martial WAR ideas and concepts
were also incorporated, particularly
in regards to new designs and so forth.
NAGINATA…
This also meant, many
LIVE BLADE DUELS AND CHALLENGES…
between BUSHI MASTERS and such like,..
oft meant incapacitation and death for one or both.
Usually both.
CLICK PHOTO TO SEE SHIRO’s Survival AID IDEAS… FIRST… NINE…
Over such time and the associated mounting loss of…
quite a few MASTERS…
whose body and aspirations had both been pointedly
pierced,..
the WAY found another way…
A WAY WITH WOOD.
A LESSON IN WOOD…
Many such events,..
and the SPEAR loving peeps involved in such…
saw the simple life enhancing profit; of the
SOFT WOOD BAMBOO and PADDED SPEAR WEAPONRY
approach. They could still make their point…
with their technique per se…
ON… but NOT IN the opponent’s body.
A great pointed idea indeed. Saves lives too…
thus great for one’s SELF-DEFENCE SPEAR WAYS.
Get that point across,.. woodenly indeed.
ANCIENT WEAPONRY OF JAPAN was oft training converted, thus simply…woodenly indeed. ARMOR helps also…
Several related RYU such as the TENDO, HOZO
and SHINKAGE continue to promote SPEAR TRADITIONS
evolved from such as the BUSHI SPEAR WAYS.
This has consistently produced a high quality
of SPEAR SYSTEM AND TECHNIQUES… to suit the times.
In the days of yore… and challenge galore…
yet, many of the experienced olden SWORDSMEN too,..
studiously AVOIDED any unnecessary point
of confrontation with such students of the SPEAR WAYS.
SPEAR + SELF-DEFENCE it seems.
A fine pointed pair indeed.
RUN… WHEN IT’s TIME TO RUN.
A WAY OF WARRIOR WOMEN.
A NAGINATA WARRIOR WOMEN OF THE WAY.
Tis not the mere male here who deserves
the credit for continuing a LEGENDARY WAY.
This WAY, this ART,.. of NAGINATA JUTSU/DO
is one indeed where the WARRIOR WOMEN excel. Now
and in days of old. Long has the nickname
THE WOMENS SPEAR applied.
Many SAMURAI WOMEN, MILITARY
AND COURT NOBLES too, took this bladed point
to heart per se.
For long periods of HISTORY, all such femininity…
by the time they were 18, were fully trained
in all the basic WEAPON WAYS.
(… as a side-note,.. if all such womanhood were still
similarly trained now… SELF-DEFENCE would be
needed less against the crims…
cos the gals would… know a lot more indeed.?.
so Shiro sayeth it seems. )
Ladies in Waiting of the Chiyoda Castle: Sword Practice and Puppet Kyôgen Toyohara Chikanobu (Japanese, 1838–1912) Period: Meiji period (1868–1912) Date: 1895 Culture: Japan Medium: Triptych from an album of polychrome woodblock prints; ink and color on paper.
Usually now only referred to within NAGINATA DO;
the WEAPON was also oft taught and trained with,
in combo with the TRADITIONAL JAP. DAGGER aka TANTO.
This type of approach ensures thus,..
a good immersion in the aspects of both short
and long WEAPONRY… at the same time.!.
presumably just in case your first point misses the target.
Feminine wiles indeed. Point taken,.. first and last.
Studio portraits of samurai martial arts practitioners, ca. 1875 by Baron Raimund von Stillfried-Ratenicz.
A discipline whereby appropriate fundamental
and balanced postures smoothly flow into movements
akin to martial dance, yet fully coordinating weapon
and warrior into hopefully impenetrable SELF-DEFENCE.
The basic displacements and positions involve both
physical and mental concentration and integration
to fully utilise the BLADED aspects of such LONG
WEAPONRY appropriately,.. and not…
fall on your own pointed ends.
A NAGINATA… WHAT A WAY INDEED.
Training LIVE BLADED, now replaced
with BAMBOO and OAK replicas;
such warrior women of the martial arts continue
to link to the past by integrating such old
and new concepts and ideas. Thus keeping
a LEGENDARY WAY… traditionally alive.
WARRIORS OF THE WAY indeed.
WARRIORS OF SELF-DEFENCE.
Pointing the WAY forward too, it seems.
槍…薙刀
THE LEGEND
OF THE WAY OF THE SPEAR.
A LEGENDARY POINTED TALE retold.
槍術
The rich and long heritage of THE WAY OF THE SPEAR
harkens back to the ORIGIN LEGEND of JAPAN itself.
Included in such HISTORICAL collections
as THE CHRONICLES OF JAPAN,..
(compiled circa 1286 though…)
dating back at least to the 8th century,
when such as the KOJIKI and NIHON SHOKI
Records were first written down and kept
as official documents (click).
A tale which combines LEGENDARY WEAPONS, T
HE GODS, DIVINE BEINGS and the MANKIND CREATION EVENT.
THE HEAVENLY WEAPON of legendary choice here, is THE SPEAR.
THE WAY OF THIS SPEAR OF LEGEND was to use
a Technique of a ” dripping ” SPEAR…
a SPEAR dripping with LIFE that is. Creative indeed.
By the Gods.
Postscript of The Age of Gods, chapters from The Chronicles of Japan, 1286.
THE LEGENDS SAY;
The 12 Gods born in seven generations were stirring
with creative energy.
A place to play with such,.. was soon so decreed.
The drifting Lands were to be made a Home… in fact…
indeed.
Creation summoned,..
a divine pair appeared,.. in this LEGENDARY tale-
Male divine IZANAGI,.. divine IZANAMI, female.
The Gods summoned once more…
with a flourish; and many more than just one GEM,..
the somewhat phallic symbol of 天沼矛 AMENONUHOKO…
THE HEAVENLY JEWELED SPEAR… did appear… to all them.
THE LEGENDARY HEAVENLY SPEAR OF JAPAN : AMENONUHOKO …WITH A PAIR OF DIVINE BEINGS AND SO ON… DIVINE RED IS IZANAMI,.. ONE IN BLACK IS IZANAGI… NOTE THE SPEAR IS OFT DEPICTED A NAGINATA WAY… BTW.
Stretching out from THE FLOATING BRIDGE BETWEEN HEAVEN
AND EARTH ( …the AMENOUKIHASHI… )
the divine pair lowered the SPEAR OF HEAVEN
and let it penetrate the churning waters below (click).
Mysterious actions such as these,..
soon had the desired effect it seems.
By simply withdrawing the now soaked SPEAR…
as drips oozed, cascaded and fell back,.. to land below;
THE ISLANDS OF JAPAN… did appear and… grow.
Tis so… these of Our World LEGENDS do say,..
and now you too…
do know.
FEMALE WARRIOR OF THE WAYS WITH NAGINATA… Japanese Painting of TOMOE GOZEN by Shitomi Kangetsu. Image on SILK; EDO era.
THE 槍 POINTED
MISCELLANY END NOTES
AND GLOSSARY. A–Z.
ARTS OF PEACE : BU
ART OF THE SPEAR WAY : SOJUTSU
ANCIENT BRONZE SPEAR : TSUKUSHI BOKO
ANCIENT NAGINATA : NAKAMAKI
BAMBOO-LEAF SHAPED : SASAHO
BAMBOO SPEAR : TAKE YARI
BED-SIDE/PILLOW SPEAR : MAKURA
BUTT END-CAP POMMEL : ISHIZUKI
CATCH/SNAG POINT SPEAR : SODE GARAMI
CROSS SHAPED : JUMONJI, TSUKUBO
DIAMOND SHAPE X-SECTIONAL : RYO SHINOGI
GRAPPLING HOOK : KUMADE
FLEUR-DE-LIS SHAPED : BISHAMON
FOLLOWERS OF BUSHIDO : BUSHI
FORKED : FUTAMATA
HOOKED : KAGI
HAND SPEAR : TE YARI
HALBERD TYPE : HOKO, NAKAMAKI
JAVELIN : UCHI NE, NAGE
AN L-SHAPED SPEAR : KATA KAMA
LONG HAND SPEAR : MOCHI
MARTIAL WAY OF PEACE : BUDO
MARTIAL INSPIRED PEACE : BUFU
MARTIAL CODE OF PEACE : BUSHIDO
METAL BIND RING : SUJIGAU
METAL BIND WIRE : DOGANE
MOON SHAPED : TSUKI NARI
PADDED TRNG.SPEAR : TAMPO
PRIEST (hidden) SPEAR : SHAKUJO YARI
RESTRAINING : SASUMATA
SICKLE-SPEAR : KAMA YARI
SINGLE EDGE SPEAR : KIKUCHI
SOCKET CONNECT TYPE : FUKURO
SPADE SHAPED : YAJIRI NARI
SPEAR : YARI
SPEAR RACK : YARI KAKE
SPEAR SHAFT : NAKAE
SPEAR SHAFT EX.LONG : NAGAE, NAGAYE, EBU
SPEAR SHEATH : SAYA
SWORD-SPEAR : NAGINATA
SPEAR REST-PIECE (on horse) : YARI SASHI, HARAMI
STRAIGHT, SPECIAL SHAPED : OMI YARI, SUGU YARI
SHIP HOLDER HOOK-SPEAR : UCHI KAGI
TANG OF BLADE/SPEAR : NAKAGO
TANG BLADE STEEL : TAMAHAGANE
TO STRIKE : KIRI
TO THRUST : TSUKI
TRIANGULAR : SANKAKU
TRIDENT FORK : MAGARI
TUBE SPEAR : KUDA YARI
WAY OF THE (4ft) STICK : JOJUTSU
A SPEAR AND WARRIOR WAY.
THE YARI : 槍
THE TENGU : 天狗
NINPO : 忍法
SHINOBI : 忍び
NINJA : 忍者
女 KUNOICHI : くノ一
FOR A POINTED LEGENDARY LOOK AT NINPO ORIGINS… CLICK PHOTO TO SEE…WHERE THE TENGU SPEARMAN BE.?.
For those with an interest…
the ORIGIN LEGENDS OF JAPAN resonate
in some ways with many other OLDEN TALES
from diverse regions of the globe.
The Gods are usually a group
or council of twelve (like ZODIAC.?.)…
the divine tech used is o so mysterious…
or presented that way…
and the very name of AMEN.?.
from HEAVEN in the SPEAR’s and BRIDGE’s
nomenclature. At the time of writing…
i have yet to determine whether this name is
a western christianized adoption
or originally scribed that way etc.
…THE GODS… Greek per se.
AMEN of course, being directly related
to the Ancient EGYPTIAN Gods and Watchers (click).
Other items of pointed interest: The TENGU,
pictured 2nd photo above, training in red with wings…
taught the early SHINOBI in many WAYS…
including THE SPEAR…
were also said to be divine beings generated
by the Gods. Western Traditions simply refer
to them as THE FALLEN ANGELS. These Gods
and/or divine beings per se show
up in some far away places at times
it seems indeed.
MANKIND’s ORIGINS AND LEGENDS. INANNA… GODDESS OF LOVE… AND MORE.
For example, a previous research article found
one of the original GODDESSES OF SUMER;
which was also a gaggle of 12 Gods,
by the name of IN-ANNA (click),.. refer photo above…
was the same as the LEGENDARY
HEROINE founder of IN-DIA .
A goddess with many fine points it seems.
LEGEND indeed.
Just like… THE WAY OF THE SPEAR.
A SWORD + SPEAR… OF ANOTHER DESTINY AND LEGEND… STILL POINTED… INDEED.
Till next…
Our World Legends. 