Classifications of Swords

The Culture of Japanese Swords

Outfit and Accessories

Military Swords

Spears


Spears and Long Blade Weapons [Yari to Naginata]

Spears and other long stick weapons called Naginata were also important weapons at war and for defensive purposes. One Samurai family equipped its soldiers with about same number of spears as bows, the total of which was equal to one half the guns employed as weapons.
There are mainly two kinds of blades for spears; one is Su-yari, which is a straight blade, and the other is Kama-yari, which has a cross blade. The Su-yari has two kinds of shafts; one is very long , usually about eight to twelve feet, and the other is four of five feet long. Some of the long ones were used offensively in warfare and the short ones were used for defensive purposes. Even the long shaft spear identified the appearance of a family, and such a spear might have a long blade called Omi-yari. Sometimes an Omi-yari has a fancy scabbard. The cross blade spear is called Jyu-monnji-yari and it is not so long; it is six to seven feet overall and it has a blade of seven inches long and five inches wide. The Omi-yari is a weapon of high ranking Samurai.

Long Spears
At the top is a Jumuonji-Yari which has a blade in the shape of a cross; its overall length is 210cm (seven feet). Below it is a long spear with a short blade whose overall length is 240cm (eight feet.)

Blades and Cases
At the left is a spear in the shape of a cross which is very old. Of the Ko-tou era, and the blade is 22cm long and 16cm wide. To its right is a long sper with a short blade (15cm) and a very long case. Next to the right is a "Naginata," with a wooden case covered with leather; its blade length is 38cm. The round leather plate beside it is called a "Yari-shirushi," which is a family identification.

Long Blade Weapons [Naginata]
The Naginata was an old weapon used against warriors on horses. It began with sword blades fixed to long wooden sticks. It was a heavy weapon but later in the Shinto period a lighter Naginata appeared and this weapon was used by women to protect themselves. Naginata-jyutu became one of the female martial arts.

The overall length of this weapon is 210cm (seven feet.) The end of the stick mounts a sharp block of iron. Before the 16th century these weapons were used against horseman, but later the Naginata became the weapons of women.