P6+Swords,+Armor+and+Bows


 * P6 Swords, Armor and Bows**
 * by: Karoline L. & Aly H.**

Swords, Armor & Bows are all things a samurai have in combat. There are 2 types of swords; 1 for committing seppuku and one for fighting. A samurai also has a bow; which is his most important weapon. There are many layers of armor, and there is a long process to create 1 suit of armor for a samurai warrior. A samurai warrior is a clan leader that serves/fights for their daimyo.

Samurai warriors were men who were leaders of local clans that fought on horseback and served the Emperor by guarded the borders. Samurai warriors code were subdivided into 2 principals (1) ordinary principals (principals of knighthood & weaponry) (2) emergency principals (principals of army & combat). The principal of Knighthood was personal hygiene; this included washing your hands, feet, bathing twice a day, shaving and doing one's hair. In addition to the basic personal hygiene dressing properly for the season and situation along with having a Katana and tanto (sword & dagger) tucked into their belt. When emergency arises for a Samurai they discard their knightly conduct and assume military conduct; they take off their suits, put on armor, take their swords and set out to battle. Weaponry requires mastery in swordsmanship and in other martial arts (archery, lancing, & shooting, ect.). Combat were plans and maneuvers that either win or lose the battle; they are secrets that must be familiar to every warrior. When a warrior masters the 2 kinds of principals and their subdivisions he is a top-class knight, but if he only mastered the ordinary principals that he can serve as a knight. Without emergency principals he cannot be a samurai leader, magistrate, or group leader.

Armor is not easily made and is not made for only protection for samurais, but also to show their ranking. Strict ritual of the dress of the samurai//;// Busi (way of the warrior) is part of the Bushido tradition, that also includes of everyday activities; this means a samurai's armor must be made of flexible materials. A samurai's armor is made from pieces of leather, iron, bamboo, and silk. To make their armor flexible, it was made of many small scales [called lamellae] of shiny, lacquered iron, copper, and other metals. Silk lacing connected the lamellae, and thick silk cords tied the larger sections together. Each rawhide plate overlaps with the next to make flexible panels which are then sewed into the suit of armor. The colors and patterns of the silk lacing identified the samurai or reflected his personal taste. The armor is designed like this to be flexible enough to be worn through unarmed combat. This suit of armor was not only made for protection, but also to show off their strength and power to their family and friends. Most cultures valued weapons and armor as signs of rank and status, as traditional symbols of the warrior class. Armor is very expensive because of the time it takes to make 1 suit of armor (1 year), and because of the many layers that are needed for the protection of a samurai.

There are 18 stages or Layers for the armor of a Samurai. Fundoshi, or lion cloth (first layer) is made of white linen or white cotton. Shitagi, or shirt is a plain garment reminiscent of the Komono, but shorted and narrower sleeves. Kobakama, or breeches are in various styles, but they all end up 10 centimeters below the knee. Kiahan, or gaiters are made from cotton or preferably linen. Waraji, or sandals are made from durable materials such as hemp, ginger stalks, palm fibers, rice straw. Extra pair of sandals must be carried at the samurai's waist, cords can be tied in various ways, but important to tie an extra knot across the instep. Suneate, or shin guards, most popular type was made from vertical plates joined together by hinges or chainmail, were often lined with material. Leather guard is attached in the inner side of the area that comes into contact with the stirrups. Haidate, or thigh guards is an iron like cloth with over lapping plates of metal or leather in the lower section. Yugate, or gloves are made of tanned skin are usually unlined. When putting on gloves right must be put on first. Kote, or sleeves varied but usually made from silk brocade which is padded and has cords on the inner arm. Covered with small metal plates or quilting with metal plates are sewn in. Metal plates protect the hands are attached to the Kote. Wakibiki, or armpit protectors must be worn by putting the arms through the shoulder loop abd then fastening the cords at the chest. Do and kusazuri, or body armor and skirts include the back and breast plates as well as the laminated skirts. Many types of armor. Uwa obi, or belt is made from linen or cloth wound 2-3 times around the body. Sode, or shoulder guards fasten to the left and then right guard to do by the hooks. First do the beck and then the front. The more important the officer the bigger the shoulder guards. Katana and tanto, or long sword and dagger. The tanto is single edged and has a wrought iron guard and short handle, which is as long as the width of a hand. The dagger is put between the belt and the cords tying the do. Is tied by twisting the silk cord around the scabbard of the dagger. Nodowa, or throat protector have many types of throat armors, the Nodowa is one. They many shapes and sizes, and is fastened at the neck with cords. Hachimaki, or head cloth is wrapped around the head before putting on the helmet. Made from light blue or reddish-yellow cotton. Hoate, or face mask includes a nose piece called menpo and there are 6 styles which all cover the cheeks and chin. Kabuto, or helmet many styles; is put on from behind and then is pulled forward.

The samurai has two swords. He uses the long sword to fight. The sword was a symbol of honor and ancestry to a samurai. The long sword expressed the owner's courage, honor and obedience. A sword can bring its owner good fortune, virtue, or sickness. The sword smiths were highly honored because swords meant so much to the samurai. They created a blade both sharp and resilient by combining steels of different hardness. Two kinds of steel are combined to create a sword with a flexible core and a hard outer edge to hold a razor sharp cutting surface. The blade has a characteristic curved shape because it is hardened by dipping the red hot blade in cool water. A sword was brought to a young samurai that was about to be born and the samurai's sword was placed next to the dead samurai's deathbed. If a samurai loses his sword, he also lost his honor. Therefore, he sleeps with his sword under his pillow.

The second sword of a samurai is the short sword. It is called the wakizashi. This sword was used only once in a samurai's lifetime. It was used to commit seppuku. Committing seppuku was a ritual cutting open of the abdomen. When a samurai is forced to choose between life and death, he will choose death. Samurai training includes teaching the proper method of committing seppuku. Samurais dress themselves is their white death robe and knelt down. Then, they slash their stomach. To commit suicide was preferable to capture, retreat, or disloyalty.

Kendo is the way of the sword. Dojos are fencing schools where samurais learn and practice sword fighting. Training to be a samurai starts when a student is very young. At Dojos, students learn specific cuts, blows, and thrusts. The mind, body, and sword move as one through hours of practice. When a samurai is fighting, the blade is always moving so that it will keep the momentum going. Samurais think several moves in advance. Sword fighting held important mental, physical and spiritual value.

The most important weapon to a warrior is his bow. Kyudo means the way of the bow in Japanese. Kyujutsu means the technique of the bow. Samurai bows are five feet long to more than eight feet. Average arrows were about twelve fists in length. Samurais fight on horseback with bows and arrows. Warriors practiced different types of archery. Mounted archery was the most prized of warrior skills. Civil Archery was shooting from a standing position and it was the far most common type in Japan. The sword, armor and bow are all very important to the samurai but the most important thing to a samurai is being loyal to his daimyo.

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