[MR] Handedness

[jbrmm266 at aol.com]

BITD no one was left handed . . . almost.

The right hand was for tools and weapons, the left hand was for subordinate tasks.? Look at images from the time.? Any image that betrays "handedness" is clearly right-handed unless the party depicted is a villain.? 

You know that in heraldry the left side of a coat of arms is "sinister?"? It's all part of that mind-set.

The Japanese were - and to some extent remain - even more restrictive on that matter.? I have not studied the literature, but those who have comment that the swordsmanship instructions always assume the swordsman to be right-handed.? 

As late as the mid 20th century, Europeans were less accepting of left-handedness than Americans.? This comes from reading an article about left-handedness that mentioned several instances where Europeans were surprised at how many American soldiers were left-handed.? Over there, I conclude, children were taught to write with their right hands willy-nilly, and to use other tools and implements in like manner.

Your servant aye
Donal

 


 

-----Original Message-----
From: the.lady.phoenix at gmail.com
To: atlantia <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
Sent: Sun, Oct 4, 2009 12:28 am
Subject: Re: [MR] That was then, this is now










What if the fighter is left handed instead of right handed?

Sara

On 30/09/2009, logan <logan at ebonwoulfe.com> wrote:
> fighting with
> ones off hand is just wrong on every level since the left arm and hand are
> evil vile growths of uncontrolled and uncoordinated meat and bone.  terrible
> terrible things.
>
> regards
> logan
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