Did Japanese Use Shields
When a united japan entered the peaceful edo period samurai continued to use both plate and lamellar armour as a symbol of their status.
Did japanese use shields. Early japanese foot soldiers did at one time use hand shields dorothy perkins notes the use of wood and leather shields by foot soldiers as early as the mid 6th century. In order to explain why we have to examine how the japanese fought and what shields are for. Japanese actually had shields and their use evolved with the advancing nature of warfare as weapons became more sophisticated. Hand held shields are curiously never used in the vast majority of japanese military history.
On why didn t the samurai use shields as often in addition to the inconvenience a hand held shield poses to a horse borne archer one of the clearest reason is because the unique samurai armour the kogusoku and ōsode. Although the preference is not to use hand held shields sometimes the samurai class did use shields whilst riding into battle. It houses 40 of japanese armour that has been designated as a national treasure and an important cultural property. It is in fact a widespread misconception that japanese armies didn t rely on hand held shields at least to some extent.
ōyamazumi shrine is known as a treasure house of japanese armour. Reposting a vid i put on epimetheus s channel japanese hs girls forced to be battlefield nurses. A historical presentation about ancient japanese warfare and some specific military choices made by the ancient japanese warlords. When it comes to the samurai period from the heian period onward hand held shields weren t used as much as before but were still common.
Spears and polearms also don t work too well with shields which were the essential staple weaponry of japanese armies. Japanese infantry actually did used shields but what changed that were two things. To extend upon u papajacky s response not only are shields unwieldy on horseback alongside manipulating a bow they simply didn t fit the style of battle that lasted throughout most of japanese history. Why didn t the japanese use shields.
Use of shields in japan s history.