The various arms found throughout Rokugan
Arrows came in a variety of shapes and uses in Rokugan, to be used with various bows. [1]
The Bisentō, literally "brow blade" for its giant edge's resemblance to a human eyebrow, [3] was essentially a scimitar with an extremely long hilt, having a long, yari-like wooden shaft topped by a broad and heavy curved blade. The length of the shaft gave the wielder incredible leverage, allowing them to deliver great chopping blows that could slice a person in half or cleave through heavy armor. Typically seen among the more militant orders of monks, the bisentō was sometimes used by heavy infantry units, like those of the Daidoji family, [1:1] and it was the glaive of office for those who earned the captain rank in the Imperial Families. [4]
The Bō was the Rokugani term for staff, [5] [6] which was used as a weapon in the Bōjutsu martial art. [7] Roughly six feet long and made from sturdy hardwood, it was carried by travelers who needed both a walking stick and an inconspicuous weapon. [1:2]
A single sided straight edged sword.
The Daishō, composed of a katana and wakizashi were symbols of a noble of the samurai caste. [9]
Daishō were given in the gempuku ceremony of the now-adult samurai, to ma the final transition into adulthood and full membership in the samurai caste. Even courtiers, artisans, and shugenja received a daishō at their gempuku, although they generally left their katana on a display stand in a place of honor at their home rather than carrying it about as a bushi did. [9:1]
Gada was a common heavy weapon in the Ivory Kingdoms, especially among caravan guards along the Sand Road. The gada consisted of a long shaft capped with a spherical head with a pointed spike at the very top. Most gada were made of iron, but ceremonial versions were often gilded or dipped in molten gold. Red-coral gada were especially effective against the rakshasa of the Ghostlands and were highly prized weapons associated with the Ivory Kingdoms' greatest warriors. Gada came in massive sizes designed to crush the skulls of charging mounts and in smaller versions designed to be wielded in pairs. [10]
Katana was a long sword wielded by the samurai of Rokugan, [6] paired with the wakizashi, collectively called daishō. [7] It was the most revered weapon in Rokugan. This sword had an elegant, slightly curved blade between three and four feet long, made of steel that was specially folded during its creation. This unique forging style ensured that the inner part of the blade remained springy and soft while the outside was as hard as tempered steel. [1:4]
A Kusari-gama was a Rokugani chain-sickle weapon consisting of a kama with a long weighted length of chain attached to one end and could be used for climbing as well as entangling opponents. A heavy iron weight called a fundo was mounted at the end of the chain. In combat, a wielder typically spinned the chain over their head with one hand while holding the kama in the other. They whipped the chain forward, entangling an opponent's weapon or limbs, then rushed in for the killing blow with the kama. A wielder could also attack with the weighted end of the chain, striking opponents at range and keeping them at bay. The kusarigama was one of the more difficult ninja weapons to master. [1:5] [5:1]
The Naginata was a Rokugani long sword-staff, [11] most samurai's preferred polearm. It had a long, flexible shaft made of bamboo or springy wood with a large, lightweight, slightly curved blade at the top. A naginata's blade was forged with the same ceremony and meticulous craftsmanship as a katana's, and commanded the same reverence as the daishō. It was carried in elite units such as the Heaven's Wing Brotherhood and the Utaku Battle Maidens. [1:6]
Because of its associations with large groups of low-ranking folk, the naginata commonly representd the followers of the hero.
Nodachi was a Rokugani field sword larger than katana. Roughly six feet long, these blades were relatively rare due to the skill and strength needed to wield them effectively. Members of the Matsu school prized the raw force of these blades. Too large to be worn at the waist, nodachi were normally worn on the back and drawn over the shoulder or even carried into battle by a samurai's attendant. [1:7]
Urumi or “whip sword,” was a weapon of the Ivory Kingdoms which consisted of one to three flexible whip blades made from thin steel and mounted to a talwar's handle. Similar to the bullwhip, the urumi excelled at keeping multiple foes at bay, but it posed a significant risk of self-injury should anything go awry. Due to this weapon's difficulty, wielders who mastered it were venerated as unparalleled martial artists. [10:1]
Tsuruhashi was one of many Rokugani tools repurposed as a weapon by the Crab. Based on the common miner's pickax, this ax featured a forged-steel head mounted to a solid wooden haft. Roughly the length of a katana, the tsuruhashi's head featured two striking ends—a flat blade and a sharp point. While it was commonly used in construction and demolition, many Crab ashigaru and even some clan samurai used the tsuruhashi in battle to deadly effect. The blade head could pry apart armor, while the pointed head easily pierces it, and both caused grievous wounds thanks to the leverage provided by the long handle. [13]
Wakizashi was a short sword wielded by the samurai of Rokugan, [11:1] paired with the katana, collectively called daishō. [8:1] Even samurai who served as courtiers, artisans, and shugenja carried the short blade as a reminder of their responsibilities and privileges. [1:8] This small, katana-like sword was usually two to three feet in length, with the same flexible blade and lethal edge. The wakizashi made the ultimate sacrifice for their ideals and their master, the tool with which a samurai commits seppuku. [1:9]
A Yari was a long-shafted spear, one of the most common weapons in Rokugan. Between six and eight feet long, its shaft was made of hardwood and topped with a leaf-shaped spearhead. Since it was easy to make, the yari was a customary weapon of ashigaru, but also elite clan samurai such as the Daidoji heavy infantry. [1:10]
Legend of the Five Rings - Roleplaying, p. 230-236 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Celestial Realms, p. 97 ↩︎
Emerald Empire: The Essential Guide to Rokugan, p. 168 ↩︎
The Yogo Curse 2, by Josiah “Duke” Harrist and Katrina Ostrander ↩︎
Legend of the Five Rings - Roleplaying, p. 72 ↩︎
Legend of the Five Rings - Roleplaying, p. 162 ↩︎
Imperial Gifts (FFG Web) ↩︎
Shadowlands: The Essential Guide to the Dominion of Fu Leng, p. 102 ↩︎