A Fine Long Spear ‘Sankaku Yari’

Object Description

A Fine Long Spear ‘Sankaku Yari’
Wood, steel, lacquer, skin, copper, fur
Edo period / 17th Century / (Enpo Era) 1673 – 1681
‘Tsuka’ (wooden shaft) surmounted by a fur ‘Saya’ (probably 19th Century)
Japan

SIZE: 246.5cm long – 97 ins long / 2.46 metres long / 263cm long – 103½ ins long (with fur covered spear cover)

Object Literature

‘Yari’ is a term for a long spear with a traditionally made steel blade. The ‘martial art’ of handling and wielding a “yari’ is referred to as ‘Sōjutsu’. The triangular spear head ‘Sankaku Yari’ has a point terminating from a triangular cross-section. Used to penetrate metal armour, its effectiveness was without doubt.
Other examples in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, and the Nagashino Museum, Japan.

Object Condition

Excellent overall condition

Object Details