Articles
The Development of Military Strategy
The use of strategy in China began in the time of Emperor Ken Yen. In Japan, strategy began in the time of Kami Yo (Age of Gods). The transition from the Jomon to Yayoi, and later to the Yamato, period is likely to have been characterized by violent struggle as the natives were soon displaced by the invaders and their vastly superior military technology.
Around this time, the Wei Chih (or Chinese Chronicles) from the Han Dynasty first refer to the nation of Wo (or "Wa" in Japanese). According to this work, Wa was "divided into more than 100 tribes" and for some 70 or 80 years there were many disturbances and warfare. About 30 of the communities had been united by a sorceress-queen named Pimiko (or "Himiko" in Japanese). She sent an emissary named Nashonmi with a tribute of slaves and cloth to Daifang in China, establishing diplomatic relations with Cao Wei (the Chinese kingdom of Wei). Cao was competing with the three kingdoms.
By the end of the 4th century, the Yamato clan was well settled on the Nara plain with considerable control over the surrounding areas. It exchanged diplomatic envoys with the Three Kingdoms of Korea and Chinese rulers. Yamato was even strong enough to have sent an army against the powerful state of Goguryeo, which then dominated the Korean Peninsula at the time. It was most closely associated with the south-western Korean kingdom of Baekje (, or "Kudara" in Japanese), whence came the Seven-Branched Sword (or "shichishito" in Japanese). Near the end of the Heian period, the samurai became a powerful political force, thus starting the feudal period.
The Nara period was the beginning of Japanese culture becoming what we today think of as Japanese. It was in this period that Japan first gained Buddhism, the Chinese writing system, and tea ceremony. The country was united and centrally governed for the first time, and much of the basics of the feudal system were set down. While much of the discipline, weapons, armour, and technique of the samurai were probably not developed yet, the skeleton of the Japanese feudal warrior began here. Mounted archers, swordsmen, and spearmen fought with weapons not too different from those of any other culture, across the world, which had the same level of technology.
The classical warrior needed to be skilled in the use of various weapons and tactics. Thus the warrior was trained in various aspects of combat. Different curriculum was required depending on rank and status. The military strategy was called Gunpo, which was the specific use of the military units or troops, and Heiho the preparation of strategic form. These military units took their orders from the Shogun. According to the book Sanryaku the most important job of the units was to be aware of public sentiment and carry out the government orders. The troops were subdivided into five groups. The first group used bow and arrows, the second group used halberds, the third double edge halberds, the fourth used double edged swords called mono uchi and the fifth mounted horseman.
According to an ancient book, in battle the weapons and strategy were the most important parts. Around this time several chronicalls on strategy were compiled. The Masters of strategy used bows and arrows, spears, long swords and other deadly weapons. In considering how to win, they attacked when the timing was to their advantage and refrained when it was not. From these teachings many different styles (Ryu Gi) and Ryu ha (tradtions) were developed. It was said that if one mastered a skill he would establish a Ryuha based on that skill. Based on this many different kind of Ryu Ha were developed during the 15 and 17 century. The Ninja Ryu Ha were very similar in nature with one main difference. According to tradition the first rule of the Ninja was to teach by word of mouth never writing anything down, for this reason very little was known to the general public. However it is well documented that the Ninja played an important roll in shaping Japanese history. The straggly and skills employed by the Ninja were of the highest quality and far superior to any of their time. During the peek of their activity it is said some 70 Ninja Ryu Ha were in existence.
+ Additional Resources
Heiho Okugisho
Japan Military
The Development of Military Strategy
The use of strategy in China began in the time of Emperor Ken Yen. In Japan, strategy began in the time of Kami Yo (Age of Gods). The transition from the Jomon to Yayoi, and later to the Yamato, period is likely to have been characterized by violent struggle as the natives were soon displaced by the invaders and their vastly superior military technology.Around this time, the Wei Chih (or Chinese Chronicles) from the Han Dynasty first refer to the nation of Wo (or "Wa" in Japanese). According to this work, Wa was "divided into more than 100 tribes" and for some 70 or 80 years there were many disturbances and warfare. About 30 of the communities had been united by a sorceress-queen named Pimiko (or "Himiko" in Japanese). She sent an emissary named Nashonmi with a tribute of slaves and cloth to Daifang in China, establishing diplomatic relations with Cao Wei (the Chinese kingdom of Wei). Cao was competing with the three kingdoms.
By the end of the 4th century, the Yamato clan was well settled on the Nara plain with considerable control over the surrounding areas. It exchanged diplomatic envoys with the Three Kingdoms of Korea and Chinese rulers. Yamato was even strong enough to have sent an army against the powerful state of Goguryeo, which then dominated the Korean Peninsula at the time. It was most closely associated with the south-western Korean kingdom of Baekje (, or "Kudara" in Japanese), whence came the Seven-Branched Sword (or "shichishito" in Japanese). Near the end of the Heian period, the samurai became a powerful political force, thus starting the feudal period.
The Nara period was the beginning of Japanese culture becoming what we today think of as Japanese. It was in this period that Japan first gained Buddhism, the Chinese writing system, and tea ceremony. The country was united and centrally governed for the first time, and much of the basics of the feudal system were set down. While much of the discipline, weapons, armour, and technique of the samurai were probably not developed yet, the skeleton of the Japanese feudal warrior began here. Mounted archers, swordsmen, and spearmen fought with weapons not too different from those of any other culture, across the world, which had the same level of technology.
The classical warrior needed to be skilled in the use of various weapons and tactics. Thus the warrior was trained in various aspects of combat. Different curriculum was required depending on rank and status. The military strategy was called Gunpo, which was the specific use of the military units or troops, and Heiho the preparation of strategic form. These military units took their orders from the Shogun. According to the book Sanryaku the most important job of the units was to be aware of public sentiment and carry out the government orders. The troops were subdivided into five groups. The first group used bow and arrows, the second group used halberds, the third double edge halberds, the fourth used double edged swords called mono uchi and the fifth mounted horseman. According to an ancient book, in battle the weapons and strategy were the most important parts. Around this time several chronicalls on strategy were compiled. The Masters of strategy used bows and arrows, spears, long swords and other deadly weapons. In considering how to win, they attacked when the timing was to their advantage and refrained when it was not. From these teachings many different styles (Ryu Gi) and Ryu ha (tradtions) were developed. It was said that if one mastered a skill he would establish a Ryuha based on that skill. Based on this many different kind of Ryu Ha were developed during the 15 and 17 century. The Ninja Ryu Ha were very similar in nature with one main difference. According to tradition the first rule of the Ninja was to teach by word of mouth never writing anything down, for this reason very little was known to the general public. However it is well documented that the Ninja played an important roll in shaping Japanese history. The straggly and skills employed by the Ninja were of the highest quality and far superior to any of their time. During the peek of their activity it is said some 70 Ninja Ryu Ha were in existence.
+ Additional Resources
Heiho Okugisho
Japan Military
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