Taketaba
A taketaba (竹束) was a Japanese type of bulletproof shield made from bundled bamboo.[1]
Summary
[edit]During the Sengoku period, traditional shields made of wooden planks (盾, tate) were found unable to stop the bullets used by the recently introduced arquebus.
The bullets used at the time were of very large caliber and thus had great destructive power, but their round shape and the lack of rifled barrels resulted in poor target penetration. Combined with the flexible strength of bamboo, this allowed taketaba to absorb and dissipate the energy of an arquebus shot. Because bamboo was in plentiful supply, taketaba were mass-produced and used throughout Japan.
The Kuki suigun fastened large taketaba to the freeboard of their ships as a defense against cannon shot.[1]
See also
[edit]Further reading
[edit]- 赤羽根 Akabane, 大介 Daisuke (July 1, 2008). Kamiizumi Nobutsuna den Shinkage-ryū gungaku "Kin'etsushū" 上泉信綱伝新陰流軍学「訓閲集」. Japan: スキージャーナル SKI Journal. ISBN 4789900711.
References
[edit]- ^ a b 新村 Shinmura, 出 Izuru (2008). 広辞苑 第六版. Japan: 岩波書店 Iwanami Shoten. ISBN 9784000801218.