One of the most common bows was the yumi, about 2.3 metres long. The string was made of silk and attached with pine resin to the bamboo bow. It shot bamboo arrows with feather flights. The yumi was a very important weapon for the Japanese soldiers until guns came in the 1600s.
Much bigger than the yumi was the Japanese longbow, or dai-kyu. Despite its length, this bow was apparently used from horseback.
Ninja weapons
The shurikan was an important weapon for the ninjas ( see page on "Swords and Knives"). The kama was originally a sort of hoe used for weeding plants. Ninjas used them extensively. Many of the ninjas had to be secretive, so they needed weapons they could hide or pretend were something else.
Spears
The yari was a spear which was used by soldiers. It was a pretty typical spear, not distinctively Japanese. It was mainly used during the Civil War era.
Staffs / others
The bo was a big staff, which was about 2 metres long. It was used for self-defense by commoners. The jo was a shorter staff, also used by commoners, and about 1.3 metres long. The keibo was a really small stick, only about a foot long, which was used for fighting in close quarters.
The naginata was a weapon with a blade similar to the blade of a wakizashi, attached to a long staff. It was mostly used by warrior monks defending their temples.
Bows
One of the most common bows was the yumi, about 2.3 metres long. The string was made of silk and attached with pine resin to the bamboo bow. It shot bamboo arrows with feather flights. The yumi was a very important weapon for the Japanese soldiers until guns came in the 1600s.Much bigger than the yumi was the Japanese longbow, or dai-kyu. Despite its length, this bow was apparently used from horseback.
Ninja weapons
The shurikan was an important weapon for the ninjas ( see page on "Swords and Knives"). The kama was originally a sort of hoe used for weeding plants. Ninjas used them extensively. Many of the ninjas had to be secretive, so they needed weapons they could hide or pretend were something else.Spears
The yari was a spear which was used by soldiers. It was a pretty typical spear, not distinctively Japanese. It was mainly used during the Civil War era.Staffs / others
The bo was a big staff, which was about 2 metres long. It was used for self-defense by commoners. The jo was a shorter staff, also used by commoners, and about 1.3 metres long. The keibo was a really small stick, only about a foot long, which was used for fighting in close quarters.The naginata was a weapon with a blade similar to the blade of a wakizashi, attached to a long staff. It was mostly used by warrior monks defending their temples.
Bibliography
www.librarythinkquest.orgwww.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/japan/War/War_warfare_weapons.html
http://www2.kumc.edu/itc/staff/RKnight/Samurai.htm