Minneapolis Institute of Art

Ten-monme custom-ordered matchlock rifle

Akaura Rihei (stock); Enamiya Sahei (barrel)

Date

18th century

Medium

Metal, wood, silver

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

In the 16th century, firearms became an important weapon on the Japanese battlefield. Not long after the first firearms were imported to Japan from Portugal, most major cities were engaged in their own rifle and gunpowder production. Guns were used for different purposes depending on their length and caliber size, e. g. pistols were not used on the battlefield but rather for personal protection. Asia

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