ARTICLE AND INTEL/INFO HEREIN.

THE WAY OF THE BOW +…

 ARROW.

 

 STRAIGHT AS…

 by SHIRO.

 

 

ARCHERY, oft referred to in JAPAN as KYUDO or KYUJUTSU, (click)

is the modern application and TRADITION of  THE WAY OF THE BOW + ARROW (click).

A Global phenomenon.

 

Though indeed, the BOW may release the ARROW and fly TRUE…

the ARROW…

DOES NOT STRAIGHT FLY.

 

 BOW CURVES…

 ARROW TOO… sort of.

Shiro,.. as a student of the NINPO WAY,

straightens out this LEGENDARY WEAPON,..

 

showing indeed, how BOW bends and curves

with ARROW straightness,..

provide a formidable offensive/defensive capability to your ARTS OF SELF-DEFENCE.

 

 

In JAPAN, the ARCHERS Weapon of choice is…

 

YUMI ( 弓 ) = the BOW.

+

YA ( 矢 ) = the ARROW.

 

 

 MARTIAL… SPORTS.?.

Along with the SWORD and SPEAR,..

the BOW + ARROW has long been a part of JAPAN’s MARTIAL TRADITIONS.

Amongst certain groups at various times in HISTORY… considered even more worthy of veneration than the SWORD and various ARCHERS of note and ability, were oft highly praised.

 

 

In JAPAN,.. as with many other MARTIAL WEAPONRY, it was the RULING class of SAMURAI that formalised the BOW ARTS OF WAR– usually termed KYUJUTSU; into the more SPORTIFIED approach of KYUDO. (click)

 

Mainly to preserve, both ARROWS…

and SAMURAI students in training presumably.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 THE BOW AND ARROW…

 THE WAY.

THE WAY OF THE BOW in Japan,

as in many many, other countries and regions etc… goes back to our earliest times. A simple and long used Weapon per se, there still is some evidence remaining for example, that goes well back into the b.c. time periods (click).

Globally,.. inclusion in several LEGENDS and so forth.

 

Images and textual refs are common, as is inclusion in/on Statuary, the Traditional Japanese Wood Block UKIYO-E prints/carvings of differing nature and other cultural artefacts. (click)

Organised CEREMONIES and HUNTS were relatively common in Japanese country or Castle city areas. Such attracted NOBLES, SAMURAI, ARISTOCRATS and the SPORTY Type.

 

 

 

 

 Bow DOWN… TO THE BOW.

 ARROW,.. ARCH HERALD OF AGES.

 

 

The BOW+ARROW has also, long been a part of JAPAN’s official and traditional Society. (click)

The SACRED CEREMONY ;

which commemorates the founding of the Nation and is held in a Sacred SHINTO Shrine precinct for example;

includes displays from THE WAY OF THE BOW.

 

The KAMAKURA/TOKYO ( YABUSAME ) annual Festival, NEW YEAR ( HARAI ) Celebrations and the announcement of ROYAL BIRTHS too ( HIKIME ),.. have long been accompanied by the BOW… (click)

and due to the nature of things… lots of Japanese… bowing too.

 

 

The birth of an addition to the ROYAL FAMILY btw…

is one where the SACRED BOW launches a somewhat specialised CEREMONIAL ARROW ( TANJO HIKINU ).

 

This contains… and launches,..

an intricately manufactured ARROW-HEAD ( YA JIRI ); a

 

PERFORATED type ARROW-HEAD,

which emits during flight a whirring whistling sound…

thus birth,..

 

 

heralded by sound from THE BOW+ARROW.

Such is this Japanese WAY…

 

and more peeps bowing too i guess in response.

 

Sounds… sweet.

On target too.

 

 SUMO BOW… BOW SUMO.

Those who RESEARCH a lil deeper than most… will see and find that MANY MARTIAL WAYS… INTERLINK… in some way.

Sometimes surprisingly so.

Such here, is with the SUMO… and their MARTIAL WAY.

 

Whilst on the surface,..

the so called Modern approach to broadcasting of such events manages to entertain,..

 

tis also manages to obscure MANY things…

 

esp. of LEGEND, TRADITION and so forth… for the

SUMO AND THE BOW+ARROW… are WAYs deep indeed.

 

 

Akin to the SAMURAI and their SWORD veneration,

The SUMO WAY has inherited THE BOW+ARROW.

 

It continues to promote this ANCIENT LEGACY and TRADITION thru Ceremonial Displays within it’s own, rather than the normal ARCHERY outward BOW target work and play etc. The Refs and LEGENDS, for example;

tell of the necessity for the presence of a BOW-MASTER during the Closing Ceremony of a Champion’s Tournament (click)

 

Furthermore,.. a special SUMO AWARD; the YUMITORI SHIKI:

is also bestowed on and presented to…

an appropriate CHAMPION SUMO exponent from the Tournament proper.

 

The AWARD is a SACRED BOW.

 

 

In this presentation of

the SUMO CHAMP’s arrowed appreciation and acceptance, this

involves a Ceremonial whirl of MARTIAL WAY Form and Dance type movements,..

 

by SUMO…

BOW… in tow. LEGENDs. Indeed.

 

 IDREAMOFNINJA

 WEAPON INTEL #5.

Due to the nature of this WEAPONRY TYPE,.. a LARGE VARIETY

of BOW, STRING, ARROW, ARROW-HEADS AND TAILS/FEATHERS TOO.

 

Many components designed for particular uses and targets…

live or otherwise.

 

The INTEL INFO presented herein will present the BASICS per se in each of the COMPONENTS that collectively represent the THE BOW+ARROW,.. to provide an overview for the MARTIAL student.

Modern Experts in each of the applicable Trades can be quite easily found online if further knowledge is sought or required…

check with your SENSEI perhaps too for suggestions.

 

 BASIC LAYOUT:

 TERMS/COMPONENTS.

 

 BOW + ARROW …=… YUMIYA.

 

 YUMI  弓  YA  矢 

 

 JAP.TERMS

 VISUAL AID/PICS:

 

 

 

 BOW TYPES:

 

 

 COMMON NAMES/TERMS…

 

CROSS-BOW : DOKYU

FORTRESS/CASTLE BOW : O-YUMI

HORSE-BACK BOW : UMA YUMI

HUNTING BOW : SUZUME YUMI

RATTAN BOUND BOW : SHIGE no YUMI

ROUNDWOOD BOW : MARU-KI

SHORT, SMALL BOW : AZUSA, BANKYU, HANKYU…

SHOULDER BRACED BOW : TEPPO YUMI

SMALL, REPLICA, PLAY BOW : YOKYU

TARTAR REPLICA BOW : HOKO YUMI

WAR BOW : DAIKYU

 

 BOW MAKERS and bowing formally…

are both,.. JAPANESE TRADITIONS.

 

The JAPANESE NATION itself btw,..(click)

was oft referred to as ‘ the PEOPLE OF THE BOW ‘…

both types. (click)

 

The Ancient Japanese BOW + ARROW specialist MAKERS could rely on an awesome array of components for the aspiring ARCHER.

 

BOWS… and bows for all occasions indeed.

 

 

Each and every Component could be built to size and requirement,..

if so desired ( and afforded ) by the ARCHER.

BOW,.. STRING,.. ARROW too.

 

A large diverse range of readily available base materials ensured suitability.

Ceremonial,.. training, hunting and war.

All types easily catered to and for.

 

 

The ongoing demand for DEPENDABLE products of the trades and crafts of WEAPONRY manufacture ensured also,.. a high quality Trades people would find much needed work, worth their while.

This too, encouraged and allowed a TRADITION and WAY to evolve. (click)

 

BOW MASTER : YUMISHINAN

MASTER BOW MAKER + ARCHER : ONYUMISHI

 

BOWSTRING : TSURU, TSURAO

ELASTIC BOWSTRING : KUSUNE

PLUCKING the BOWSTRING : NUIGEN

 

 

 STRINGS THAT BIND

 THE BOW.

 

 

Along with the various woods and metals incorporated into the BOW+ARROW,.. such as BONE, IVORY and SILK

could be substituted for ceremonial or aesthetic purposes/reasons by the MAKERS and BOW STRINGERS. (click)

A good look indeed.

 

BOW COMPONENTS: WOOD, METAL, BONE, IVORY

ARROW COMPONENTS : WOOD, METAL, SILK, FEATHERS

STRING COMPONENTS : HEMP, SINEW, SILK

 

ARROW MAKER : HIYA

MASTER ARROW MAKER : O-HIYA

MASTER BOW STRINGER : TSURA SASHI

 

 

 THE ARROW…

 

 

Manufacturing Specialists furthermore,..

such as the master makers, would… and could, easily provide the ARCHER in-training with easy… and cheaper access to the required equipment.

ROUNDED TIP ENDS, PADDED TIPS, WOODEN TIPS and so forth were also in the range on offer.

No wasted shot here it seems.

Cheap shots abound,.. though indeed.

 

ARROW FEATHERS btw… are made from…

the FEATHERS of the larger Birds of Prey.

 

LEFT CURVE FEATHERS : HAYA

RIGHT CURVE FEATHERS : OTOYA

 

 

SPECIALIST ARROW MAKER : YA HAKI

 

BLUNT ARROW : MATO YA

ROUNDED ARROW : KI HOKO

 

ARROW BAMBOO SHAFT : YADAKE

ARROW REED SHAFT : YAGARA

 

ARROW TIP/HEAD : YAJIRI

 

 

 ARROW TYPES.

 

 

 

 ARROW-HEAD… of many faces.

 YA JIRI… the MAJOR SHAPES :

 

BARBED : WATAKUSHI

CHISEL : TSUBEKI ne

DRAGON’s TONGUE : RINZETSU

KITE : TOBU

NARROW WILLOW LEAF : HOSO YANAGIBA

POINTED : TOGARI

2 POINTED, bifurcated : KARIMATA

SIGNAL, whistling : HIKIME, HINIKI, KABURA, MEITEKI

SMARTWEED LEAF : TADENARI

SPADE : RYOKAI

SWORD POINT : TSURUGI JIRI

TRIANGULAR : SANKAKU

WILLOW LEAF : YANAGIBA

 

 

THE SOUND OF THE ARROW : HYAGO

 

 

The ARROW HEADS… + TAIL/FEATHERS… all reflect diversity.

Indeed… and in fact too.

 

As with any of the major types of WEAPONRY Manufacture and associated Black-smith type Trades;

there was oft great technical care in the production processes of ALL COMPONENTS. The MAKERS used and adapted knowledge passed down from WAR,.. SWORD-SMITHING,.. CARPENTRY,.. WILD GAME LORE, LEATHERS,.. and so forth.

These TRADITIONS were indeed HANDS ON.

 

Soldiers…

of any and all natures, in the obvious need for SELF-DEFENCE,..

were outfitted… in those times… HAND MADE per se.

 

Made by TRADE + WEAPONRY Specialists,..

many are with subtle, oft innovative design differences.

Oft unique too… just like THE ARCHERS themselves.

LEGENDS.

 

BOW… and bow down.

 

 TARGETING…

 ARCHERY’s TERMS

 for TARGETS…

 

 

ARCHERY RANGE/CONCOURSE : IBA, YABA, MATOBA, YADO…

ARCHERY TARGET PRACTICE/TRAINING : KAKAUCHI

BOW+ARROW SET : KYUSEN

BAMBOO HAT TARGET : KASAGAKE

DEER TARGET : KUSAJISHI

LARGE TARGET : O-MATO

ROUND TARGET : MARUMONO

STRAW BUNDLE TARGET : MAKIWARA

TRI TARGET SHOOTING DRILL : YABUSAME

 

 THE HUNT IS ON…

BIG GAME HUNT : MAKIGARI

BIRD HUNT : OITORIGARI

DOG HUNT : INUOI

 

 

 QUIVER…

 ALL OVER THE WORD.

 

 

QUIVER COMPONENTS : WOOD, LEATHER, FURS

 

 

ANCIENT STYLE QUIVER : KACHIYUKI

ARROW CASE : YABAKO

BOW STAND : CHADO KAKE

BOX QUIVER CONTAINER : YATSUBO, YAZATSU…

CYLINDRICAL ARROW STAND : YADATE

DECORATED  QUIVER CASE : HEIKOROKU

FLAT QUIVER CASE : IKA (usually willow wood).

HUNTING QUIVER : KARI YEBIRA

LEATHER QUIVER BASKET : TSURU MAKI

QUIVER (basic) : YEBIRA

WOOD TYPE : OURUMA (similar yew).

 

 

 A-Z of… YUMIYA’s…

 ARCHER’s ASSORTED

 MISCELLANY.

 

THE GOD OF WAR,.. HACHIMAN (nick-name) : ASYUMI

THE LEFT HAND (the BOW hand…) (nick-name) : YUMI-no TE

ANCIENT NOBILITY : KUGE

ARCHER : ITE

ARCHER ADEPT : SHAGEI

ARCHER EXPERT ( ‘ Holder of the BOW ‘ ) : YUMI TORI

ARCHERY : KYUDO

ARROW TAIL FEATHERS : OTSUBA

BOW MASTER : YUMISHINAN

CLOSE RANGE SHOT : KOKASAGAKE

LONG RANGE SHOT : TOKASAGAKE

SAMURAI MILITARY ARISTOCRAT : BUKE

TRADITIONAL JAP.WRESTLING WAY : SUMO

 

THE WAY OF THE BOW+ARROW : KYUJUTSU

 

  SYSTEM OF THE WAY.

Until eclipsed by the GUNNERY,..

the ARCHERS were ELITE SOLDIERS.

 

 

Collectively many battles were decided + won with the oft repeated draw of the BOW.

LEGENDS are peppered throughout. (click) (click)

 

 

From the very well aimed,..

thru to the casual upwards flick of the particular fingers concerned…

opposite of hand peace sign perhaps here (click).

 

 

The disciplined Japanese approach to such a MARTIAL ART, ensures such as the KYUDO Tradition continues to highlight all the various and particular actions required to perform and target appropriately.

Akin to other MARTIAL WAY’s use of KATA, (click)

each movement, of BOW and ARCHER reflects a functional systematic way, of achieving the precise and smooth coordination to fulfill…

 THE WAY OF THE BOW.

 

 

∗ THE STANCE : ASHIBUMI

∗ PREP AND BREATHING : DOZUKURI

∗ NOTCHING THE ARROW : YUGAME

∗ RAISE BOW AND DRAW : UCHIOKOSHI

∗ SETTLE AND DRAW : HIKIWAKE

∗ FINISH FULL DRAW AND TARGETING : KAI

∗ ARROW RELEASE : HANARE

∗ FINAL POSTURE : ZANSHIN

 

 

 NINJA YUMI DATA…

 

 

FIRE ARROW : HIYA, BOHIYA

B GRADE MARTIAL MOVIE SHOUT : HIIII YAAH.!. biff,bam…baddies fall etc.

 

Long prior to the Modern use of technology to increase one’s fire-power,..

SAMURAI and NINJA too, used the POWER of FIRE to increasingly…(click)

set their world on fire.!.

 

 

 

 ARROWS ALIGHT…

 GETTING THE BOW…

 ALL FIRED UP.

 

 AN ARROW DOES NOT FLY…

 STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW.?.

SHIRO SAYS… THE BEND AND CURVES…

THE ARROW GOES THRU…

 

STAY STRAIGHT AS…

ARROW TRUE.

 

POWER DELIVERED VIA

A LINEAR HARMONIC OSCILLATION.

PULL TIGHT… POWER UP.

 

BOW DOWN.

 

LET THE ARROW… SHOW YOU.

 

 

 

 

 THE WAY OF THE BOW.

…FROM SHIRO…

 

THIS RESEARCH ARTICLE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF

MRS.HELLA HOLWEG…

who moved on to the next during this time and whose support

of this NINJA student will always be appreciated and noted.

rip.

 

 

Till next…

 

Shiro says… take care and,..

 

TO TARGET THE ORIGIN LEGENDS OF ROCKnROLL… (click)…

or here (click)… TO ZERO IN ON SCIENCE’s NUCLEAR NASTIES…

or indeed and instead,… be inspired to aim high and

 

scroll up for another view of the astonishing ARROW…

STRAIGHT AS LEGENDS OF THE WAY.