Big Yari

[menpo]

Hi all

I would like to know some of the more experienced members thoughts on this piece and what it may have been made for or used for. I purchased this yari a while back and have been trying to carry out some research on it. I've taken a picture of it next to a standard sized monju sansaku yari. As you can see it is massive in comparison! I have seen omi yari in which the Blade length would be advantageous but this one is not what I'd call overly long as it has a 285 mm Nagasa. The weight however is the surprising factor as it weighs just over 1.2 kgs while the standard yari blade next to it weighs only 120g! Has anyone ever seen a yari this heavy or this size before and if so, what could its purpose be? I would have thought it would be far too heavy to carry around for any considerable amount of time. Any comments or thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

Gethin

[Shugyosha]

Hi Gethin,

 

My only thought is that perhaps it could be a shrine offering rather like the outsize yanone that one sees. It's certainly an interesting example - thanks for sharing.

 

Best,

John

[Ken-Hawaii]

I've never seen a yari that large either, Gethin.  It does look like a scaled-up version of both your yari, & the two that I own.  Probably used on a much shorter staff.

 

Ken

 

[Toryu2020]

Either a presentation piece, as has been suggested, or a "Yari-jirushi" - an oversized blade for use in an over-sized saya to make a statement in a Sankin Kotai procession...

-t

[Gilles]

I also have one which is oversized and I always wondered for what purpose it was made  . I think that the one I have, which is very robust is from koto times, so I surmised it was built for heavy fighting, may be it was the type fitted on very long poles.

[jason_mazzy]

possible it is created to stop horses?

[menpo]

Hi guys

            Thanks for your comments. the yari is signed wakasa daijo fujiwara fuyuhiro chozaemon. I've looked at many examples of the schools work but never anything like this. Could it be a special order for some sort of so jutsu practitioner?

 

Gethin