Sōjutsu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sōjutsu (槍術) |
|
|---|---|
 Sengoku period samurai with a spear (yari). |
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| Focus | Weaponry (yari/Spear) |
| Hardness | Non-competitive |
| Country of origin |  Japan |
| Creator | No single creator |
| Parenthood | Historical |
| Olympic Sport | No |
Sōjutsu (槍術?), meaning "art of the spear" is the Japanese martial art of fighting with the Japanese spear (槍 yari?).
Contents |
[edit] Origins
Although the spear had a profound role in early Japanese mythology, where the islands of Japan themselves were said to be created by salt water dripping from the tip of a spear, as a weapon the first spear prototypes were brought from mainland Asia. These early versions were not seen as suitable by the Japanese, who later redesigned them once technology permitted.[1]
[edit] Use and popularity
Despite its mythological ties, the spear was never particularly popular with Japanese warriors. Possibly due to the fact that the spear left wounds that were frequently lingering, rather than immediately lethal, the spear was identified with a personal character of arrogance or ruthlessness. The height of sōjutsu's popularity was immediately after the Mongol invasions of the 13th century, who themselves used spearmen in great numbers.[1]
The Japanese ultimately modified the heads of their spears into a number of different variations, leading to the use of the spear both on foot and from horseback, and for slashing as well as the primary use of attacking with thrusts.[1]
[edit] Modern practice
Sōjutsu is typically only a single component of curriculum in comprehensive traditional (koryū) schools. The still extant Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū claims to be the first school to include sōjutsu in its formal curriculum, and another very well known school of sōjutsu is the Hōzōin-ryū. While today there are very few schools still teaching sōjutsu, at one time there were as many as 450.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Draeger, Donn F. (1973, 2007). Classical Bujutsu: Martial Arts and Ways of Japan. Boston, Massachusetts: Weatherhill, 71-72. ISBN 978-0-8348-0233-9.
