Japanese Matchlock (Tanegashima)

Timeline

1. 1421–1542Japanese archipelago · JapanIn the early 15th century, Japanese samurai relied on the yumi bow, tachi swords, and naginata as their main land-warfare weapons, with no matchlock-type firearms yet present, providing a baseline for comparison against the later military revolution following the introduction of the teppe.
2. 1543–1550Tanegashima · TanegashimaA Portuguese ship drifted ashore at Tanegashima; the island's lord Tanegashima Tokitaka purchased two matchlocks and ordered the craftsman Yaita Kinbei to copy them, beginning domestic teppe production in Japan, hence the name "Tanegashima" for this type of firearm.
3. c. 1560–1600Japanese archipelago · JapanTeppe were widely equipped in the armies of daimyo such as Oda Nobunaga and Takeda Shingen; battles like the Battle of Nagashino demonstrated volley-fire tactics, completely transforming Japanese field battles and sieges and advancing the wars of unification.