Samurai Weapons were not used just for engaging in armed combat but also acted as symbols of social status. The Samurai were the top-ranked soldiers of Feudal Japan who eventually transitioned to become the dominant ruling class during the Edo period.
The possession of special weapons symbolized the authority and standing of the Samurai in feudal Japan. Possession of two swords was a privilege bestowed exclusively on the Samurai. They also had the right to kill individuals of lower social status in certain situations, known as kiri-sute gomen.
Here is a list of seven Samurai weapons from Feudal Japan:
7: Tantō
The Tantō was a traditional single or double-edged stabbing knife dating back to the Heian period. It was initially used as a weapon but later took a more ornate and ceremonial role. Most Samurai would carry this short and sharp blade until they lost out to a combination of katana and a wakizashi.
It was not usual for commoners to wear a Tantō. However, women sometimes carried a smaller version of the blade called a kaiken for self-defense. Tantō was also the weapon of choice for the samurai in the ritual suicide – seppuku.
6: Yumi
The Yumi was an asymmetric longbow used by the Samurai as a primary weapon while on horseback during the Feudal period. Traditionally made using wood, leather and laminated bamboo, standing over two meters tall, the Yumi exceeded the height of the archer, and fired special Japanese arrows referred to as Ya.
While katana swordsmanship was the samurai’s predominant skill, the kyūjutsu (“art of archery”) was deemed even more important. From around AD 1185-1568 (Kamakura and Muromachi periods), the yumi represented professional warriors and embodied their way of life known as ‘kyūba no michi’, which was “the way of the horse and bow.”
5: Tsukubō
The tsukubō is a pole weapon used by the Samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan. It is believed that the tool was originally developed from a Japanese rake that was commonly used by farmers. Although The tsukubō was initially created using wood, its teeth were eventually crafted out of metal or covered in it to make them more durable.
A tsukubō typically had a head that had multiple metal spikes and barbs. Additionally, the pole was constructed using hardwood with sharp metal barbs or spines attached to it via metal strips on one end to prevent the suspect from grabbing and holding onto the pole.
In the Edo period of Japan, the samurai were responsible for handling police operations. Both samurai police officers and non-samurai commoners used various non-lethal weapons to capture suspected criminals and put them on trial.
4: Wakizashiv
The wakizashi sword is shorter than the Katana and was carried along with it as daishō by the samurai. It had a slightly curved blade with a square-shaped hilt that was richly decorated with traditional motifs.
The Samurai were not allowed to enter a house with a katana but were allowed to carry their wakizashi. The possession of daishō was a symbol of a samurai’s social status and personal honor. Wakizashi, also known as the “samurai’s left arm”, was kept near the bed and used as a backup or auxiliary sword.
3: Kabutowari
The hachiwari, alternatively known as the Kabutowari, was a side-arm weapon in the form of a knife used by the samurai. The term “Kabutowari” refers to its function as a helmet or skull breaker, with “kabuto” representing the helmet worn by the samurai. The Kabutowari was a compact sword with two variations: a dirk-type and a truncheon-type. The dirk-type’s blade was specifically crafted to divide the enemy’s helmet.
2: Naginata
The naginata was especially popular with the female Samurai, known as the onna-bugeisha. It is a heavy long-bladed pole weapon that was a part of the dowry of noblewomen. It was smaller than its counterpart for the male warriors, o-naginata, to compensate for the lesser strength and height of women.
Naginata was also used by the warrior monks and foot soldiers of feudal Japan but gained popularity with the female nobility in the Meiji era (1868-1912).
1: Katana
The Katana is arguably the most iconic of all Samurai weapons. It was a single-bladed longsword with a slender, curved structure with either a squared or circular guard. The sword was carried by the Samurai on the left hip with the edge facing downward and had a long grip, allowing it to be easily handled with two hands. The best katana blades were made by skilled craftsmen who repeatedly heated and folded the steel to create incredibly sharp and strong blades.
The katana gained popularity because it was both strong enough for defensive use and sharp enough to slice through limbs. Often, samurais paired the katana with a smaller sword such as a wakizashi or tantō, in a combination called daishō, making them some of the deadliest warriors in history.
It became popular in close-combat warfare as the samurai could draw and strike the enemy in a single motion. The katana was highly valued as it was believed to hold a samurai’s soul, according to bushidō.