Heian Period Notes

These are just some notes to myself, primarily in the form or some links about the period and culture of the time. The intent is to use these for a game of The Blossoms are Falling, an adaptation of the indie-rpg Burning Wheel.

Equipment, Weapons & Armor

That Samurai era does not begin until AFTER the Heian Period and most of what is today considered Iconic Japanese Weaponry and Armory does not exist. Some of the general links below cover a broad range of eras and I try link individual weapons or equipment appropriate to the era for ease of reference.

• East Asian Swords
• Weapons of Japan
  • Bisento - Polearm, early version of Naginata.
  • Bo - Light and flexible wooden staff.
  • Eku [1][2] - Oar shapped staff.
• Japanese Swords
  • Chokuto - Japanese straight sword.

Stories

• Tales of Murasaki