Portugesse and Japanesse matchlocks

[spitfire]

I gleaned further Information on the original inquiry of this post.From the Japan Patent Attorneys Association-"Nobunaga oda, a powerful warlord who rose to ascendancy in 16th century Japan,used muskets as an effective weapon in his bid to reunify the nation.The first musket was introduced to Japan in 1543 by a Portuguese Castaway(Fernand mendez Pinto-one of two portuguese traders aboard a Chinese Junk bound from Siam to China-damaged by Typhoon) whose ship was stranded(1542)on Tanegashima Island,off Kyushu.At that time,Japan was in the middle of the Sengoku period, and provincial warlords threw themselves into a fierce race to obtain this powerful weapon(Teppo).As a result,the modern technology of musket manufacturing quickly spread throughout Japan.The speed of the spread of this technology was breathtaking,enough to surprise the Portuguese,who came back to Japan two years later to witness the mass production of at Osaka,Sakai and other areas.This indicates that metal working technology used in japanese sword making was already fairly advanced and was readily applicable to musket production,as can be seen from the overlapping of production centers of swords and muskets.As a result of the fierce competition between warlords to obtain this epoch-making new weapon,Japan became one of the leading musket production countries in the world.This however had little impact on other aspects of life in Japan,as the technology acquired through the arrival of the musket was kept under wraps by warlords as their top military secret instead of being turned into public knowledge."From Kyushu tourism-"Tanegashemia Island-The first gun seen in Japan was a musket that a Portuguese sailor brought ashore in Tanegashemia in 1543.A Portuguese musket and the first gun ever made in Japan are among exhibits at a museum in Nishino-omote,a city in the north of the Island." :hmm:

 

[spitfire]

further investigation has led to this Bio-Tanegashima Tokitada (1528-1579)The Daimya(Lord) of Tanegashima was taken for a walk by the castaway Fernand Mendez Pinto during which Pinto shot a duck with his own musket.Tokitada was so impressed he arranged for shooting lessons and within a month bought both muskets the two castaways had.He order them replicated but his 'smith couldn't successfully breech a barrel until a year later when a Portuguese vessel visited the Island.A portuguese shipboard blacksmith explained the breech plug screw as the Japanese had no screws or idea of threading/tapping.The novelty of the firearms meant the portuguese were treated so well(the japanese dubbed the europeans "namban" meaning southern barbarian).After the initial setbacks the Japanese proceed over time to improve the weapon with a device(?) that allowed for shooting during the ever present down pours of rain in Japan. :hmm:Sorta reminds one of J.Clavells novel "Shogun". :winking:

 

[spitfire]

Correction to previous post naman should be Nanban.Also here is link to Tanegashima Kaihatsu Sogo Center museum in Nishino-omoteThis museum house"s the "grail cup" of our quest!The city also has a annual matchlock festival.The city also celebrated the 450th anniversary of first european contact with the president of Portugal in attendance. :thumbsup:

 

[benvenuto]

good link, thankyou!

 

[spitfire]

good link, thankyou!

One of the sources for my information TANEGASHIMA by Olaf Lidin (2002) link to book review The other is my lovely Japanese sister in law(aged young in her 70's)that aided in my web search(lasted 16 hours)& translating & verifing cited sources(especially above text references mentioned in above mentioned book). :thumbsup: to her.Also there are some Historians that believe the castaways guns were manufactured at the Goa colony in India. :hmm:

 

[spitfire]

Toes will do nicely. :blah: Seriously,how early were their trading posts in main land china?Might be some chinese illustrations? :hmm:

And interesting piece from Macau