Battle Formations

[Ouishi]

Hey, whaddaya know? They're letting me play in the yard O frabjous day Callooh Callay And yes, the air is rare out here, away from the great unwashed, that rabble (and here you may imagine me sneering) in the . . . (he lowers his voice and speaks the hated name) the Entrance Hall. But enough fanfare and celebration. I haven't come just to crow, no, no, no, I actually have a question.
I have (since yesterday) figured out most the mysteries I faced hitherto (in particular, the arcane iconography of the banners - little stars and shields and yinyangs) but one thing eludes me. What are these peculiar battle formations with the poetic names? Birdies and arrowheads and keyholes and fishy scales? What can they mean? Can't find it anywhere. Is there a legend somewhere? And as always, thanks in advance for any light shed.

[Ithaskar Fëarindel]

The formation names simply represent their shapes. ie the bird looks a bit like a bird, with the "wings" being the flanks etc. They don't all look right, ie the keyhole looks nothing like a keyhole, but it's best to check each out as they all have their uses.

I think most of them were used previously in battles.

[Hosakawa Tito]

I know I have a book, somewhere dang it, that shows these formations, their compositions (unit types), and describes how the different formations were used in battle. I looked last night and couldn't find it in my library http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/pissed.gif If I do find it I'll send you the title and author Ouishi, and you can try to locate the book at your public library. It was a book on the Samurai.

[Hosakawa Tito]

I still haven't found my copy Ouishi, but the name of the book is, The Samurai Sourcebook by Stephen Turnbull. They sell it on the Amazon.com. You may be able to find a copy at a good library too.

[Ouishi]

Thanks Hosakawa T. - My local library system lists six or seven books by Mr. Turnbull (prolific fellow) though the title you cite is not among them. His works are for the most part about Samurai and related subjects so I'll take a look at them as they become available (this seems a popular subject and most of them are currently checked out). Apparently we like Samurai and the Japanese like cowboys (and, I suppose, Elvis Presley, etc.). I just finished a novel that some of you may enjoy in which a cowboy gunfighter visits 19th century Japan during the last days of Feudalism. I know this sounds a bit strained but it was actually pretty good. By Takashi Matsuoka, it's called "Cloud of Sparrows" and distantly resembles Clavell's "Shogun" though very much from the Japanese perspective (notwithstanding the cowboy). Anyway, thanks for the input.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Anytime Ouishi. You'll find that Turnbull is a pretty good source for all things Samurai, that is available to us poor western types anyway. That Source book was a large paperback and is chock full of info. If Turnbulls other books are as detailed as that one, then you may find what you seek in one of his other titles. Happy researching http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

[Cheetah]

Check out this thread (http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=14;t=2082;hl=turnbull) for more books.

[Ithaskar Fëarindel]

Many thanks to the wise Archivist for raining knowledge down upon us from the havens of the Library.

*excuse me*