Bajutsu (馬術) is a Japanese form of military equestrianism.
Although its origins are closely related to those of mounted archery (yabusame), bajutsu is considered a distinct and separate martial art, and there are a number of traditional schools, such as the Ogasawara, Otsubo, and Hachijo.[1] The art originated in the 7th century AD during the reign of Emperor Tenji[2] but was popularised in the 12th century as large-scale mounted warfare became more common.[3] However, the comparative scarcity of horses in Japan meant that bajutsu was always an elite art, restricted to high-ranking samurai.[4] In spite of this, many contemporary historians ignored the numbers of foot-soldiers in battles and referred to the size of armies by the number of horsemen alone.[5]
The comparative peace of the Tokugawa era from 1600 onwards led to a decline in the military practice of bajutsu, and it became relegated to a more ceremonial role,[6] indeed, the practice of horsemanship was actively discouraged during the reign of Tokugawa Tsunayoshi.[7] By the beginning of the 20th century there were more than 20 schools of bajutsu[8] and the Japan Bajutsu Federation was formed in Tokyo in 1946 to promote it as a modern sport.[9]
As well as requiring proficiency in riding and mounted sword-fighting, the art also included teachings on the care and upkeep of horses.[10] Horses were trained to ignore sudden shocks, and to press forward in the charge, veering off at the last second to allow the rider to kick with his battering-ram-like stirrups.[4] These stirrups (shitanaga abumi) were designed to enable the rider to stand and shoot easily from the saddle.[5] Cavalry charges were made possible by the development of spear techniques from horseback in the late 14th century, supplanting the mounted archery styles that had previously dominated.[11] Such charges were used to great effect by the Takeda clan, who introduced the tactic during the mid- to late- sixteenth century,[12] but after the Battle of Nagashino, were used only in conjunction with infantry manouevres.[13]
