Arquebus 1
We want to feature Hinawa-jyu this time. It was a new weapon at the Sengoku era. Hinawa-jyu is very famous and almost all Japanese catch the word "Hinawa-jyu", but if you say in English "Arquebus" is appropriate. Technically speaking, "Musket of matchlock firing system" or "Matchlock musket(gun)" .
Hinawa-jyu
In this exploration, we will visit places related to Arquebuses. Then, there is no historical structure in our destination this time. Furthermore, we don't know where is the correct destination of this exploration. We believe we can find something new.
What are fascinations of Arquebuses?
Before Arquebuses appeared in the Sengoku era, Japanese had fought using swords, spars and bows and arrows. Even after this period, Japanese found their spirituality in mainly swords. "Nihon-tou" or Japanese swords represent its spirituality. And "Bushi-do", "Ken-do" and "Ko-budo" are excessively gathering international attention. However, Arquevases are especially important, because they completely changed the aspect of the war of Japan in the Sengoku era.
Bushi-do
Ken-do
Ko-budo
Japanese soldiers had already met weapons using powders. They were used by a foreign invading army. And they made frighten Japanese soldiers then. However, Japanese didn't put these weapons into practical use at that time. By contrast, when Arquebuses were imported, Japanese soldiers began to use them as soon as possible. They were spread all over Japan in no time. Soon after the spread, there was no battle without using them. Due to the effects of these weapons, Japanese castles also changed. Because they need to defend against the power of Arquebuses. Furthermore, battles became to be done on large scales. After the widespread of them, the Sengoku era end. Thus, it might be Arquebuses' effect that all battles ended.
We came to think Arquebuses were the main items which made the history of the Sengoku era attractive. There was no doubt that they changed Japanese history strongly. So, this fact was one of their charms. And, there was a more attractive aspect which was the fact that the appearance of them changed soldier's skill. In other words, it made the way of fighting changed. Before the arrival of them, strong soldiers won always. Because battles were done in close combat and strong soldiers had well trained their bodies and had skill for battles. However, these weapons changed this theory completely.
Arquebuses' arrival made it practical to kill enemy in a long distance, even if certain soldier was physically weaker than his enemy. So, every soldier and the strongest soldier of enemy became a good match. We suppose that's also another reason this item was attractive for us.
Where do we go to find Arquebuses now?
We think that one of the estimated answers is visiting museums. We find one museum that is at the very place of "the Battle of Nagashino". It has top record number of Arquebuses in Japan. So, we will go there first.
the Battle of Nagashino
Go to the museum
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| Sitaragahara historical museum |
The museum is named "Shitaragahara historical museum". It is at Shinsiro city, Aichi prefecture. If you want to know more about the Battle of Nagashino happened there, you have to study power relationships of Sengoku lords and their strategies. But we think it's more important to watch the weapons. So we skip the information about the power relationships of them and so on now. Laying aside everything, let's go to the museum of Arquebuses!
Shitaragahara historical museum
Shinsiro city, Aichi prefecture
To tell the truth, there is a long distance to reach the museum when you visit there. You need enogh time even if you use Shinkansen Super Express. We started Osaka station as usual.
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| JR local"Iida-line" |
Osaka station ⇒ Sin-osaka ⇒ (Shinkansen Super Express "Nozomi") ⇒ Nagoya ⇒ (Shinkansen Super Express "Kodama") ⇒ Toyohashi ⇒ (JR local "Iida-line") ⇒ Mikawa-togo ⇒ (by walk) ⇒ Shitaragahara historical museum
There is no translation to private trains. But you have to board over 2 hours total. Furthermore, you have to wait trains a little long time at each station. Therefore, you need approximately 3 hours and half from Osaka to Mikawa-togo station.
Coaches of the JR local line from Toyohasi to Mikawa-togo don't fit automatic doors and passengers have to press the button beside of the doors. It's very inspiring for us, because we know only automatically open-system coaches.
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| very inspiring for us |
Now, the walking time from Mikawa-togo station to Shitaragahara historical museum is approximately 20 minutes. You may not arrive there until noon, even though you start riding JR train at 8 o'clock.
Appreciate its collections
Main exhibitions of this museum are Arquebuses, of course it has many other items. The total number of the Arquebuses is more than 80. Most of them are privately owned. These owners lend them for this museum. Well-kept guns shine brightly, metallic parts glitter gold and wooden parts blackish yellow-brown.
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| Arquebuses (Shitaragahara historical museum) |
Until when the Sengoku era continued?
We know this kind of knowledge isn't so much important for tourists, but please contribute your interest a little. However, we want you to understand that the interval between the arrival of Arquebuses and the end of the Sengoku era. The year of the arrival of Arquebuses was 1543. If you select the year when Oda Nobunaga banished Ashikaga Yoshiaki or the last Shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate, which was 1573. It was a very big event which happened at the later half of the Sengoku era. Accordingly, there were only thirty years between them, so, we suppose the arrival gave a strong impact to the progress of the history of Japan.
Oda Nobunaga
Ashikaga Yoshiaki
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| the oldest one of this museum |
We think this interval is very short. We want to mention one more historical event a little later. In 1615, the Siege of Osaka castle was happened and Toyotomi family was destroyed. And this battle became the last one during the Sengoku era. Even if we select this date, the interval is only seventy years.
the Siege of Osaka castle
Toyotomi family
Why we say like this... we found the truth that almost all Arquebuses in this museum were made in the Edo era, not in the Sengoku era!
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| These Arquebuses were made in the Edo era |
We notice one more worry, the Edo era continued 250 years, so, we had difficulty to suppose how old these Arquebuses displayed. If one Arquebus was made in the beginning of the Edo era, it is approximately 400 years old. However, if another one was made at the end of the Edo era, it is only 150 years old. We suppose there aren't Arquebuses which were used in the real battle field in the Sengoku era. Most of them are used in Hou-jutsu Do-jo or practicing places of Budo learners. It's very difficult to meet with the real one which was used in the Sengoku era.
Hou-jyutsu Do-jyo
Budo
At the view of ironically thinking, Arquebus is only a long, narrow stick. Even though you can find a practical beauty of the metallic parts of firing devices. We notice we go too far.
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| only a long,narrow stick |
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| the metallic parts have practical beauty |
It's a shame that there are only displays. If we can have the chance of firing Arquebus, we will be pleased with that. But, there aren't these kind of attractions at all.
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| some armors also exhibited |
We searched additional information if we can fire Arquebus. There are many associations of musket. And the members of the group learned several dozen hours can fire Arquebus. So, we wise on the fact we can't fire musket matchlock guns without practicing Arquebuses several dozen hours.
And, we want to know the result of scientific approaches. For instance, explanation of the inside of pipe and firing device. And comparison of power of guns. Or, how far the bullets reach, or...
We are a little critical now, but all in one piece, we have understood nearly hundred percent what Arquebus is. Because we visit the very place where Arquebuses had caught a great attention in the Sengoku period.
An addition
This museum is located at the very place of the Battle of Nagashino fought fiercely.
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| Shingen-zuka |
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| cherry blossoms along a bank |
The southern site of this museum is called Shingen-zuka. It is a memorial monument of war victims of the Battle of Nagashino. Every August, festival for war victims is held.
Shingen-zuka
The Battle of Nagashino
Among the battles occurred in the Sengoku period, the Battle of Nagashino happened in May 1575 is particularly famous. And behind the story of it, there's another story that Arquebuses changed an aspect of battle fields completely.
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| the very place of the batlle of Nagasino |
To be specific a little more, it was said that Oda Nobunaga had a wisdom to see into the future and worked out new tactics. Then his army completely won against enemies who used old type tactics. And after this war, many Sengoku lords began to copy his tactics.
Next story may sound a little far-fetched. Oda Nobunaga was a great tactician surpassing Europian ones at that time. And Takeda Katsuyori who was the successor of Takeda Singen was the leader of the opposite group. And today he is considered as one of many stupid commanders at that time. It was also said that he couldn't handle old senior vassals of his father. This appreciation is becoming to contradict among Japanese historians nowadays.
However, Oda Nobunaga is said to use very famous tactics named 'Sandan-uchi' or three lines alternate shooting in this battle. This famous tactics epitomize the spirit of military innovation in Japan at that era. Thus, the existence of it cannot be negated completely. Every nationality has a tendency to consider themselves as superb people...
Takeda Katsuyori
Takeda Singen
Sandan-uchi
What changed in Europe during the same time of the Sengoku period? Muskets of matchlock firing system was born in 1500's in Europe. After being improved in many parts, it was introduced to Japan. So, Japanese needed no innovation upon making by themselves. Then soon this gun became a crucial weapon of Sengoku soldiers.
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| Europian brought Guns and Cannons |
European lords were interested in cannons but Arquebuses. But Japanese lords were interested in practical use of Arquebuses only. Not in innovation and not in another weapon. Though, some Japanese lords tried to use cannons in some battle field, but cannons didn't become major.
Appearance of cannons had a potent influence in Europe. In the field of military tactics, fortification, prosperity or devastation of countries. So, European historians considered Japan had changed samely. Thus, they described Japanese history in the same story as theirs. But, true Japanese history is different. In some case, European historian's descriptions sounds strange for Japanese readers. However, we had better think Japanese history was unique.
The riddle of the folding screen "the Battle of Nagashino"
The battle that Oda and Tokugawa allies and Takeda army corps was drawn in it.
Alternatively, the second line holds guns and fusillades and recedes. After that, the third line does the same action. In this interval, the first line prepares the next firing. Arquebuses needed a little long interval between the first shot and the next. Before the arrival of this tactics, many Sengoku Lords considered Arquebuses had crucial weakness as weapons. Nevertheless, this fusillade tactics solved the problem. By using this tactics, your enemy won't to be able to come close to your place firing your Arquebuses.
In European history, a commander of the Dutch army came up with this tactics around 1594 the first time. If Oda Nobunaga commanded this tactics in 1575, he did 20 years earlier than the European commander.
Howerer, this tactics were possible only when professional firearms units practiced a long time. European armies had practiced long time and enabled it. Compared with them, Japanese soliders at that time didn't have long practicing time. Therefore, many historians conclude that Japanese soliders at that time couldn't use this tactics.
In addition, this folding screen was made after several decades of the battle.
Many historians thought this folding screen couldn't be used as the evidence of using the fusillade tactics in the Battle of Nagashino.
By contrast, there is another story. Chinese firearms units changed their tactics like the Japanese style after the Imjin War or the invasion of Korea by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's army crops (1592-1597). That was because the Chinese army fought against the Japanese army directly and they were annoyed Japanese firearm's tactics. They drew it in their manual. That is exactly the fusillade tactics.
the Imjin War
It's nonsense the Japanese army used the fusillade tactics in Korea for the first time. Therefore, we can mention the Japanese army used the fusillade tactics long before the Imjin War (1592-1597).
Then, the conclusion reachs the Japanese might use the fusillade tactics before the Dutch army for the first time in the world.
This opinion is our's and only one concept among many. And we know there're many other opinions. Please accept all our description in your big-heart.
In European history, a commander of the Dutch army came up with this tactics around 1594 the first time. If Oda Nobunaga commanded this tactics in 1575, he did 20 years earlier than the European commander.
Howerer, this tactics were possible only when professional firearms units practiced a long time. European armies had practiced long time and enabled it. Compared with them, Japanese soliders at that time didn't have long practicing time. Therefore, many historians conclude that Japanese soliders at that time couldn't use this tactics.
In addition, this folding screen was made after several decades of the battle.
Many historians thought this folding screen couldn't be used as the evidence of using the fusillade tactics in the Battle of Nagashino.
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| fusillade tactics ? |
By contrast, there is another story. Chinese firearms units changed their tactics like the Japanese style after the Imjin War or the invasion of Korea by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's army crops (1592-1597). That was because the Chinese army fought against the Japanese army directly and they were annoyed Japanese firearm's tactics. They drew it in their manual. That is exactly the fusillade tactics.
the Imjin War
It's nonsense the Japanese army used the fusillade tactics in Korea for the first time. Therefore, we can mention the Japanese army used the fusillade tactics long before the Imjin War (1592-1597).
Then, the conclusion reachs the Japanese might use the fusillade tactics before the Dutch army for the first time in the world.
This opinion is our's and only one concept among many. And we know there're many other opinions. Please accept all our description in your big-heart.
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