Cunnan - User contributions [en]

Society for Creative Anachronism

2007-11-11T04:15:13Z

194.83.70.20:

chieltbasvi
The '''Society for Creative [[Anachronism]]''' (or SCA for short) is a hobby organization devoted to studying and re-creating the [[Middle Ages]] and [[Renaissance]], primarily in Western [[Europe]] but also other regions such as the Middle East and [[Japan]]. It could be considered a [[historical reenactment]] or [[living history]] organization, but, unlike most such organizations, the SCA does not concentrate on a narrowly-defined time [[period]], let alone a specific war or other event. The SCA also does not have a [[minimum standard]] of authenticity. The activities of the SCA have more to do with
re-creation (and recreation) than with re-enactment. Some SCA participants describe the SCA as a large group of people with interlocking hobbies.

At a typical SCA event, you will see a wide range in the quality of re-creations and reenactments. Some individuals may do some aspects of re-creation well (say, [[music]]), while simultaneously doing others poorly (say, [[clothing]]). Still, there is one standard that all participants of official SCA events are held to: participants should try to dress in period (i.e., pre [[17th century]]) garments.

The relatively low requirements to participate are also one of the strengths of the SCA. For example, they make it possible [[to participate in the SCA on a small budget]]. As long as you are genuinely interested in medieval or Renaissance life, there is a place for you in the SCA. If it was a job or a hobby in Period, most likely someone within the SCA practices it, sometimes to an excellent degree. Excellent practitioners are awarded a SCA [[peerage]] (SCA-wide, highest level award) known as the ''[[Order of the Laurel]]''.

The SCA is worldwide in scope. There are active groups all over the [[United States|USA]], [[Canada]], [[Europe]], [[Israel]], [[Africa]], [[Australia]], and [[New Zealand]] with scattered groups elsewhere. The ''[[Known World]]'' is divided into [[Kingdoms]]. Each Kingdom determines its King and Queen by combat in a crown [[tournament]].

To prepare for tournament and wars, some groups hold 'fight practices' where a unique full contact martial art is practiced. The fighters wear armor (often of their own making) and strike each other with sticks primarily made of [[rattan]] and made to resemble [[sword]]s, [[pike]]s, [[spear]]s, [[axe]]s and other medieval weapons. This '''Armoured Combat''' (sometimes called '[[Hardsuit]]' or '[[heavy fighting|Heavy Weapons Fighting]]') is interesting among [[martial sport]]s for its lack of formalized training, which allows new-comers to add to the game in unpredictable ways. SCA fighters practice many-on-many engagements called melees or wars.

Some groups practice [[fencing]] with modified rules that largely disregard [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] fencing rules. As SCA fencing is supposed to recreate courtly [[dueling]], fencers neither recognise right-of-way nor are they forced to stay within a lane, instead fencing "in the round". SCA [[Fencing]] is based on [[Renaissance]] fencing manuals and includes [[rapier case|two weapon]], sword and cape and sword and shield styles.

Some SCA groups hold regular dance practices where [[Renaissance Dance]] and [[English Country Dance]] is taught.

''See also:''
*[[Live-action roleplaying games]]
*[[metal weapons groups|Reenactment society]]
*[[Living history]]
*[[Historical reenactment]]

== External Links ==
The SCA website - http://www.sca.org/
[[category:recreationists]]
[[category:starting out]]

Battle

2007-11-10T22:42:04Z

194.83.70.20:

boccadomd
A '''battle''' can be a single engagement in a [[war]] between two or more [[army|armies]], generally with a single objective. Most [[medieval]] battles were either fought openly on a [[battlefield]] or [[siege|sieges]] of fortifications.

Historical battles are frequently named after nearby communities or physical features, for example, the [[Battle of Hastings]].

'''Battle''' can also refer to a unit within an army. It may be described as Lord X's Battle (or Battel).

== Medieval Battles ==
*The [[Battle of Badon Hill]]
*The [[Battle of Stamford Bridge]]
*The [[Battle of Hastings]]
*The [[Battle of Poitiers]]
*The [[Battle of Agincourt]]
*The [[Battle of Stirling Bridge]]

== Battles in the SCA ==

Types of battles are generally determined by two factors: what the objective is, and what sort of terrain the battle is held upon. Examples of common [[SCA]] battles are:

* Open field -- [[kill]] all the opposing [[fighter|fighters]]
* Bridge battle -- take or hold a bridge from the enemy.
* Woods battles -- like open fields, but with obstacles like trees.
* Castle attack -- take or hold a castle or defensive position.

Other forms of battles are possible, with goals like "keep a specific fighter alive," or "escort a non-combatant from one side of the field to the other," with the only real limitation being what the [[marshal]] can dream up.

[[category:combat]]

Mythology

2007-11-10T22:34:41Z

194.83.70.20:

taorta
'''Myths''' are things in which people-in-general believe, but that can't be proved to be true.

Generally myths migrate across the landscape between accepted facts and outright fictions, but some take up semi-permanent residence in the territory of myth, where belief is too strong for them to be abandoned, but proof is too arduous for extensive attempt.

In the [[middle ages]], the worship of [[saint]]s helped expand the myths relating to their lives. The idolism would twist truth unintentionally as well as for political, social or financial gain. A good example is the story from the [[First Crusade]] relating to the wood that was mysteriously found in the desert. The claim was that it was from the [[spear]] that wounded [[Jesus Christ]] on the cross. This was shown to be a good omen and used to justify the push on to "free" [[Jerusalem]].

Some entertainers (eg. the [[minnesinger]], [[Ulrich von Liechtenstein]]) also tended to tell tall tales that are hard to prove or disprove due to lack of evidence. As their reputation grew, so did the myths about them.

Some myths have multiple origins but their similarity has melded them together into a single story. For instance, [[Robin Hood]] may have been based on real people and folklore and fables on someone called Robin.

==Medieval Mythology==
* [[King Arthur]]
* [[Robin Hood]]
* [[Holy Grail]]

==SCA Mythology==
* [[No Shit, There I Was]] stories
* [[Urban legend]]s

Samurai

2007-11-10T22:34:19Z

194.83.70.20:

c4trolracer
The '''samurai''' was a class of society in [[Japan]] that last up until it was abolished by the Meiji Restoration. The samurai were required to serve a lord [[daimyo]] and were expected to fight and if necessary die in his service. Samurai are often refered to as Samurai Knights due to their parallels with the Western [[knight]].

The word samurai means 'to serve' and is a later term that was preceded by the term 'bushi'. Early words for samurai refer to their use of the [[bow]] as a primary [[weapon]] in [[combat]].

Samurai were expected to be [[education|educated]] and artistic, and above all loyal to their [[lord]]. It was not forbidden, but frowned upon to take a wife. The adoption of another into the samurai's family was an accepted practise and samurai could often change their names if they saw fit.

A lower class of samurai existed called the ashigaru (light feet) and formed the bulk of fighting [[soldier|armies]] in the Warring States Period.

== Combat ==
Combat was often conducted from horseback using ''naginata'' ([[glaive]]), ''yari'' ([[spear]]) and ''[[tachi]]'' (a longer version of the [[katana]]). The ''uchigatana'' or ''[[katana]]'' was developed and to some extent replaced the [[tachi]]. With the end of the Warring States Period the [[katana]] became the primary [[sword]] of the samurai. Despite popular [[mythology]], the katana was not the primary [[melee]] [[weapon]] of the samurai during [[war]]. That role was taken by ''naginata'' and ''yari''. However, the [[sword]] was the symbol of the samurai.

Generals [[daimyo]] often directed [[battle]] from the rear, often seated giving instructions to messengers to relay. At least one general was attacked whilst still seated by [[cavalry|mounted samurai]]. At the end of battle generals would view the heads of slain enemies as they sat on spiked boards.

With the introduction of the ''tanegashima'' (matchlock musket) in the [[16th century]] warfare changed removing most archers from the field.

After the Tokugawa Shogunate began wars became less common in Japan and the samurai fought reelatively few mass engagements. As a result the [[tachi]] became very rare and the [[katana]] became most recognisable [[symbol]] of the class. During this time, the swords arts underwent a change in focus from war to duelling. It is from this time most samurai [[theatre|drama]] and popularly mythology has developed.

Samurai wore [[armour]] constructed of [[leather]] or [[iron]] covered with a [[lacquer]]. This armour was primarily of [[lamellar]] construction but later forms existed with larger riveted plates. Popular myth also erroneously believes samurai wore armour made of [[wood]] or [[bamboo]]. Foreign forms of armour were prized.

== Famous Samurai ==
*''Tokugawa Ieyasu'' - united Japan under his shogunate with his major victory at Sekigahara where 200,000 samurai took the field.
*''Mushashi Miyamoto'' - believed to be the greatest swordsman and developer of the ''nito'' (twin sword style) of Japanese swordsmanship, supposedly after viewing two [[Portugal|Portugese]] [[sailor|sailors]] sparring with [[rapier]] and [[main gauche]].

== Japanese Knights and Masters of the [[SCA]] ==
*Rakkurai of Kamakura
*Fuyuzuru Tadashi
*Komura Shimitsu
*Sakura Tetsuo
*Ishiyama Namban Tadashi (deceased)
*Kobayashi Yutaka
*Ogami Akira (Ino Ogami)
*Sakura kita Maikaru
*Atai Yoshina
*Tsunetomi-no-Inazuma Tsuneo (Badouin MacKenzie of Balfour)
*Yasugawa Shiotani noh Okami
*Kikuchi no Tsurunaga (Kai de Ravenglas)
*Takechi no Musashi
*Akitsuki Yoshimitsu
*Yumitori no Kiyoshi (Aylwin Graham the Flamehaired)
*Kageyama Yasuo
*Tanaka Raiko
*Koga Yoshitsune
*Takamatsu Sadamitsu no kami Tadayoshi
*Sekimura no Minamoto Akiranaga (Alexandyr)
*Sato Jiro of the House of Kuji
*Oikawa Katsu
*Kamizumi Monenori Jirou
*Magariki Katsuichi no Koredono
*Kitakaze Tatsu Raito

[[category:japan]]

Yellow dye

2007-11-10T11:04:31Z

194.83.70.20:

c4tsittrocc
Lots of [[dye]]s make [[period]] yellows - [[weld]], dyer's greenweed, [[saffron]], [[marigold]], [[tansy]] and other substances. Not all of them were very colourfast, so [[weld]] and [[dyer's greenweed]] were prized because they made a good clear yellow that was easily grown and harvested and didn't fade much.
[[category:dyes]][[category:colour]]