In this web content, the author discusses the historiography of warfare and weaponry in medieval Japan. The author aims to evaluate the existing literature on the subject and draw tentative conclusions about the nature of warfare and society during this period. They examine different authors’ perspectives on who was fighting, what weapons were used, and how battles were fought. The author highlights the use of mounted archery as the primary form of warfare, despite the prevalence of the image of the samurai swordsman. They also note disagreements among scholars regarding tactics and the evolution of weapons. The author criticizes the reliance on literary sources as evidence and highlights the importance of ambushes and surprise in tenth-century battles. They also discuss the development of armor and the limitations of pony-sized horses. Overall, the content challenges pre-conceived notions of medieval Japanese warfare and offers a nuanced examination of the subject.
https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9252/4/1/2