This is an attempt to simulate the military system of the Japanese after the repeal of the Taiho Codes but before the height of the Heian period as exemplified in the Gempei Wars As such, it starts at a notional date of 792 A.D. or slightly earlier to 1180 A.D. or slightly earlier.

Isolated from the rest of the world Japan developed her own unique system of warfare. This system was to prove wanting when the Japanese faced contintental armies with anything like parity of force as in Korea.

As such, this list is to be considered unique, as with the Swiss List, and not to be used as a yardstick for other non-Japanese armies.

Era: Triumph of Cavalry		TRANSITION FROM TAIHO CODES TO HEIAN PERIOD JAPANESE	CR: H: 1 L: 6			BP: 2	Init: 4
Core
Number	Type	Description	Key	FV	PROT	Weapon	Cost
4	LC	Bushi (d!)*	Key	3(0)0	+1	Various/bow	10
2	LHI	Roju	Key	4(1)2	+1	Various/bow	8
1	LI	Heishi		3(1)2	+1	Various pole arms	4
2	SI			2(1)1	+2	Bows	2
Bonus:
4	LC	Bushi (d!)*	Key	2(0)0	+1	Various/bows	8
2	LC	Miyako no musha (d!)*	Key	1(0)0	+1	Various/bows	6
8	LHI	Kondei,Ikusa, etc.	Key	4(1)2	+1	Various/bows	8
4	LHI	Zuishin no tsuwanomo, etc.	Key	4(1)2	+1	Various pole arms	6
2	LHI	Heishi		3(1)2	+1	Various pole arms	4
4	FT	Dewa or Mutsu Chinpei**	Key	4(1)1	+1	Various/bows	6
6	LI	Heishi		3(1)2	+1	Various polearms	4
2	SI			2(1)1	+2	Bows	2

Terrain:

Core: 1 GR

Bonus: 2 Max.: 2 GR, 1 SH, 1 W, 1 RG (Can be used to simulate towns)

Notes:

*Bushi LC may instead be purchased as LHI with an FV 5(1)2 Prot +1 bow various for 10 pts. Miyako no musha LC may instead be purchased as LHI with an FV 4(1)2 Prot +1 various weapons and bow for 8 pts. Both mounted and dismounted versions may be used in the same army not to exceed a total of 8 Bushi and 2 miyako no musha.

**Dewa or Mutsu Chinpei were the vestiges of the ritsuryo conscript armies that continued in use in the northwest fighting the emishi. Karl Friday and William Farris think that similar units raised by peasant conscription continued on well past the abolishment of the Taiho Codes in 792 A.D. Accordingly, they can be used in any Japanese army as representative of holdover provincial gundan.

The combined number of other LHI and LI must outnumber the total number of Bushi and miyako no musha. Bushi and miyako no musha, whether mounted or not, may not be in the same division as LI or SI.

OPTIONAL RULE: Japanese mounted troops engaged in combat by moving straight at the opponent and discharging a single arrow. Upon loosing the arrow, the bushi would circle to the left and charge back in to loose another arrow at close range. Written advice to young warriors in the form of teaching stories suggests firing from as close as possible. Moreover, the Japanese cavalry quiver held a comparatively small number of arrows. In order to simulate Japanese mounted archery, I would suggest the following OPTIONAL, VOLUNTARY, and COMPLETELY SELF-IMPOSED rule. All Japanese mounted troops are subject to the missile drop off rule for skirmish infantry when Japanese cavalry fire mounted in battles with gaijin. In other words, Japanese mounted troops suffer a minus 1 to mounted archery at ranges greater than nine game inches when fighting against non-Japanese enemies. No penalty is imposed if the mounted troops are dismounted or against fellow Japanese. AGAIN, this is a completely voluntary and optional rule which should not be used in tournament play.

The existence of SI with bows is purely hypothetical albeit logical.

This army can also fight in the Age of Chivalry.

The numbers of LC with FV 3 and LHI with FV 5 were expressly allowed for this army only in an effort to capture the ambiance of the unique Japanese military establishment of the period. It is not contemplated that ANY other, non-Japanese armies will have a similar exemption from the limitation on the number of such troop types.

List Author: Subodai Bahadur