I'm trying to reconcile the Kamakura Samurai, like at the Battle of Bun'ei, where any image I can find all Bushi have Yumi's (either daikyū or hankyū), and when fighting they are using Tachi sword (which were not able to stand up to the Mongol swords, causing the Tachi to be replaced by Katana in the 14-15th century), the other is the Bushi using there yumi's as Yari/naginata as shown at the end of this video "https://www.youtube.com/embed/tJVC6ExVUi4". I do not understand why the Yumi is dropped from the Bushi in these list since my studies of Kyudo and it's history (Something I must do for my grading), "Samurai" Bushi were still ordering daikyū and Ya's (Arrows) in a great number one lord order 100,000 Ya around 45-60 years after the Mongol invasion, these Ya where for War, not hunting as he also ordered 50 Ya's for hunting (10 for bird hunting). When the Tanegashima (matchlock) was added to the Japanese armory after 1543 "Samari" bushi bodyguards were equipped with them along with their Yumi's. Firearms first appeared in Japan around 1270, as primitive metal tubes invented in China and called teppō (鉄砲 lit. "iron cannon") seem to have been introduced in Japan as well, most like with the Mongol invasion.
Kyujistu school would take almost anyone into training, not just those we in the west consider as Samurai, the only group which seems to have trouble is the sons of merchants, as it was thought they would trade their knowledge for money, rather than use it to protect their lord.
The Yari was used in great numbers but by people who had not been to a Kyjitsu school.
Thanks for reading.
I don't claim to have any knowledge of Japanese armies.
Are you suggesting that the followers in mixed TuGs in the Kamakura Samuari list should have Bow shooting capability?
Richard
That would be one idea, these would be "Bow" not "PowerBow", the Powerbow I would thing would be a draw weight around 50Kg, in the old Japanese text this is rate as a two-man yumi, i.e, take two men to string the yumi, there are tales of 4 and 5 man yumi's I've drawn a 60Kg Bow (Three Man Yumi, at My Draw, was around 72Kg) which was a "modern" copy of a yumi from 14th century which you could be seen in a temple in Tokyo before the war, and the dimension where recorded, and inner core setup record, this scroll still exists in the imperial collection of Japan.
the Skill of the Japanese archer can be seen in the fox hunting practices called Kemari, https://www.senganen.jp/en/2020/08/kemari-samurai-football. Although horses where in short supply, this may be a misconception, as most Samurai Bushi would own a horse, However, a warhorse would be very expensive for most Samurai, Also not all Samurai were full-time warriors, but all could fight. Some Samurai Bushi followers would be Younger Samurai Bushi and Samurai who owed an honor debt.
Quote from: LeslieIan on August 09, 2020, 10:31:28 PM
I'm trying to reconcile the Kamakura Samurai, like at the Battle of Bun'ei, where any image I can find all Bushi have Yumi's (either daikyū or hankyū), and when fighting they are using Tachi sword (which were not able to stand up to the Mongol swords, causing the Tachi to be replaced by Katana in the 14-15th century), the other is the Bushi using there yumi's as Yari/naginata as shown at the end of this video "https://www.youtube.com/embed/tJVC6ExVUi4". I do not understand why the Yumi is dropped from the Bushi in these list ...
I don't understand this - in the Kamakura list the Bushi/Samurai have Bow, it hasn't been dropped.
Quote from: nikgaukroger on August 30, 2020, 06:43:28 AM
Quote from: LeslieIan on August 09, 2020, 10:31:28 PM
I'm trying to reconcile the Kamakura Samurai, like at the Battle of Bun'ei, where any image I can find all Bushi have Yumi's (either daikyū or hankyū), and when fighting they are using Tachi sword (which were not able to stand up to the Mongol swords, causing the Tachi to be replaced by Katana in the 14-15th century), the other is the Bushi using there yumi's as Yari/naginata as shown at the end of this video "https://www.youtube.com/embed/tJVC6ExVUi4". I do not understand why the Yumi is dropped from the Bushi in these list ...
I don't understand this - in the Kamakura list the Bushi/Samurai have Bow, it hasn't been dropped.
"....
followers would be Younger Samurai Bushi and Samurai who owed an honor debt." what the list call followers could be Bushi, over half the army at Bun'ei where Bushi with Yumi, So what I'm saying is that the numbers are wrong 50:50 would be closer, and some of these would be armed with Bow if not all. Since the Yumi can also be used as a Spear, in which later paintings showed up as a Naginata or a Yara. Also, the use of gunpowder started earlier than 1543, this date is when matchlock appeared, from the Portuguese. Who brought matchlocks made in Chennai (Madras) guns or Tanegashima, Teppo start around 1270, but are mainly firestick and grenades.
So three main Points
1. Japanese Armies from 1270 should have access to some form of gunpowder weapons, made be only as a charge response.
2. Samurai Bushi and followers should be a 50:50 mix until the 15th century
3. More yumi's in the list this could be done by adding an option for followers to be upgraded to have Yumi instead of Naginata
To List reviewers are we still going to have the wrong name for the Firearms of the Samurai list?
Teppo means "Iron Cannon" and was used with "Hand Grenades" from 1270, okay some of the grenades used by the Japanese were 25-35cm in diameter.
Tanegashima is the Portuguese firearms with appeared from 1543, made in Madras, to Portuguese designs