A type of Japanese sword I've never heard of
Aug 30, 2015 7:10:41 GMT
Post by vinland on Aug 30, 2015 7:10:41 GMT
I was reading around about some stuff about swords when I came across something that was rather interesting to me. It described a sword that was created in response to the effectiveness of the Portuguese's rapier. Though I cannot find a name for the type mentioned, aside from a name given to a very specific sword. I was hoping someone here could help me out with finding a name for the type.
"Maybe no recorded personal duel per se but the story about the Portuguese being
banned from bringing swords (rapiers) ashore during the extensive trading
exchanges in Kyushu is documented. The reason for the ban was linked to the fact
that the Portuguese originally cut down so many samurai. The local samurai
responded by having new swords made which were much lighter than the battle
blades they normally carried. Later, another encounter occurred and a virtual small
scale war ensued with many Portuguese dying in the skirmish. I know about this
because a distant relative of my teacher actually took part in this bit of historical
trivia. My teacher (Takamura Yukiyoshi) still owned his relatives sword which was
made specifically in response to the Portuguese sword tactics the samurai
encountered in Kyushu. Like the famous Kogarasu Maru, this sword was double
edged from about 5 inches to the kissaki but much lighter and faster. This design
was adopted to allow a swift back-cut like the ones the Portuguese employed so
effectively against the samurai with rapiers. Once armed with swords of this style,
the samurai turned the tables even on the Portuguese in the second encounter. This
is when the ban was finally instituted. The whole trading relationship was
threatened. The Japanese needed the guns from the Portuguese and the Portuguese
needed the gold from the Japanese. Duels were doing neither side any good at this
point so the Portuguese were banned from bringing weapons ashore. Really the only
possible options as the Portuguese were on Japanese territory."
"...From what little I understand, the original confrontation resulted due to a serious
breach of protocol by a Portuguese officer towards a Japanese official. He was
summarily cut down by group of samurai. A party of sailors experienced at
swordplay hearing of the incident went ashore armed with rapiers intent on a
confrontation. Another incident of this type occurred (or was instigated) but the
Portuguese were prepared and avenged their shipmate by quickly cutting down
several samurai. Evidently several other similar incidents occurred in a short period
of time which shook the proud samurai. Things calmed as the Portuguese were
temporarily confined to their ship. Never to forget such a breach of honor the
samurai set about a crafting a suitable response. Sometime later small contingents of
Portuguese were allowed ashore and always came armed. The samurai insulted by
the previous incident and angered by the defiance of the armed Portuguese
instigated another incident. During this confrontation many of the Portuguese died
or were seriously wounded."
"Both Japanese and Portuguese officials clamped down to prevent any further
misadventures so the Portuguese were banned from coming ashore armed in any
way. The local samurai were likewise ordered under penalty of death not to draw
upon an unarmed Portuguese sailor.”
"I think I've got this story right. It was related to me by Takamura Yukiyoshi Sensei
several years ago in relation to a double-edged sword I previously mentioned. How
much of this story is fact or conjecture I cannot be sure of, but the premise does
seem plausible given other accounts of this or similar incidents."
"Maybe no recorded personal duel per se but the story about the Portuguese being
banned from bringing swords (rapiers) ashore during the extensive trading
exchanges in Kyushu is documented. The reason for the ban was linked to the fact
that the Portuguese originally cut down so many samurai. The local samurai
responded by having new swords made which were much lighter than the battle
blades they normally carried. Later, another encounter occurred and a virtual small
scale war ensued with many Portuguese dying in the skirmish. I know about this
because a distant relative of my teacher actually took part in this bit of historical
trivia. My teacher (Takamura Yukiyoshi) still owned his relatives sword which was
made specifically in response to the Portuguese sword tactics the samurai
encountered in Kyushu. Like the famous Kogarasu Maru, this sword was double
edged from about 5 inches to the kissaki but much lighter and faster. This design
was adopted to allow a swift back-cut like the ones the Portuguese employed so
effectively against the samurai with rapiers. Once armed with swords of this style,
the samurai turned the tables even on the Portuguese in the second encounter. This
is when the ban was finally instituted. The whole trading relationship was
threatened. The Japanese needed the guns from the Portuguese and the Portuguese
needed the gold from the Japanese. Duels were doing neither side any good at this
point so the Portuguese were banned from bringing weapons ashore. Really the only
possible options as the Portuguese were on Japanese territory."
"...From what little I understand, the original confrontation resulted due to a serious
breach of protocol by a Portuguese officer towards a Japanese official. He was
summarily cut down by group of samurai. A party of sailors experienced at
swordplay hearing of the incident went ashore armed with rapiers intent on a
confrontation. Another incident of this type occurred (or was instigated) but the
Portuguese were prepared and avenged their shipmate by quickly cutting down
several samurai. Evidently several other similar incidents occurred in a short period
of time which shook the proud samurai. Things calmed as the Portuguese were
temporarily confined to their ship. Never to forget such a breach of honor the
samurai set about a crafting a suitable response. Sometime later small contingents of
Portuguese were allowed ashore and always came armed. The samurai insulted by
the previous incident and angered by the defiance of the armed Portuguese
instigated another incident. During this confrontation many of the Portuguese died
or were seriously wounded."
"Both Japanese and Portuguese officials clamped down to prevent any further
misadventures so the Portuguese were banned from coming ashore armed in any
way. The local samurai were likewise ordered under penalty of death not to draw
upon an unarmed Portuguese sailor.”
"I think I've got this story right. It was related to me by Takamura Yukiyoshi Sensei
several years ago in relation to a double-edged sword I previously mentioned. How
much of this story is fact or conjecture I cannot be sure of, but the premise does
seem plausible given other accounts of this or similar incidents."