Yari (槍) is the Japanese term for spear. It has been widely used on the battlefields of Japan since the time of the early Japanese emperors. The martial art dedicated to the use of the yari is called sōjutsu.
Yari can range in length from one meter up to six meters, with the longer ones used by infantry soldiers (ashigaru) and shorter versions used by higher-ranking samurai.
The blades of the yari vary in shape (thin blade, cross-shaped, crescent moon-shaped, tapered) and length, ranging from one shaku (30.3 cm) to three shaku (90.9 cm).
It is believed that the yari originated from Chinese spears and developed its own characteristics in Japan. Although they have been used in battles in Japan since ancient times, they are believed to have become more popular in the 13th century.
Classification
Su yari (素槍, simple blade)
These are yari with straight blades, such as:
- Sankaku yari (三角槍, triangular spear)
- Fukuro yari (袋槍, bag spear)
- Kuda yari (管槍, tube spear)
- Kikuchi yari (菊地槍)
- Yajiri nari yari (鏃形槍)
Kama yari (鎌槍, crossed blades)
There are yari with crossed blades, such as:
- Magari-yari (十文字槍)
- Kamayari (鎌槍)
- Katakama (片鎌槍)
- Kagi yari (鉤槍)
- Bishamon yari (曲槍)