Yumi and YaYumi and Ya

Japanese Longbow HistoryJapanese Longbow History

Godai KatsunagaGodai Katsunaga

PurposePurpose

To provide basic information on the To provide basic information on the Japanese Longbow, its history and Japanese Longbow, its history and

construction.construction.

Early HistoryEarly History

Early inhabitants of Japan (12,500-250 BC), Early inhabitants of Japan (12,500-250 BC), the Jamon, a hunter gathering society the Jamon, a hunter gathering society relied heavily on a short stave-bow. relied heavily on a short stave-bow.

From 250 BC to 330 AD, the Yayoi culture, From 250 BC to 330 AD, the Yayoi culture, early iron age, were more a farming, early iron age, were more a farming, fishing society. The bow became less fishing society. The bow became less used in hunting and changed to the long used in hunting and changed to the long bow.bow.

Ceremonial ArcheryCeremonial Archery

In the 4In the 4thth to 9 to 9thth centuries, Japan was centuries, Japan was strongly influenced by China. strongly influenced by China.

A scholar of the time wrote that A scholar of the time wrote that civilized men should never fight to civilized men should never fight to settle differences but should resolve settle differences but should resolve them through a test of shooting skills.them through a test of shooting skills.

Archery was primarily a ceremonial and Archery was primarily a ceremonial and religious pastime.religious pastime.

Early Feudal AgeEarly Feudal Age

During the early feudal period, 1100’s, the During the early feudal period, 1100’s, the rise of the Samurai brought the bow back rise of the Samurai brought the bow back to prominence. to prominence.

Armies were made up of famers in mass Armies were made up of famers in mass formations using spears and Samurai as formations using spears and Samurai as horse archers. horse archers.

Combat was primarily one on one and Combat was primarily one on one and archers used marked arrows so the victor archers used marked arrows so the victor could be know for their triumphs.could be know for their triumphs.

PeakPeak

During the 15During the 15thth and 16 and 16thth Centuries the bow Centuries the bow reached its zenith. reached its zenith.

Armies consisted of trained warriors, Armies consisted of trained warriors, Ashigaru, using spears and bows. The Ashigaru, using spears and bows. The Bowmen would have been used for mass Bowmen would have been used for mass formation shooting to rain arrows on the formation shooting to rain arrows on the enemy. enemy.

Samurai were still mounted archers but Samurai were still mounted archers but more important they were fast lance more important they were fast lance armed cavalry to exploit weaknesses.armed cavalry to exploit weaknesses.

DeclineDecline

With the introduction of the Gun into With the introduction of the Gun into Japan in the mid 16Japan in the mid 16thth Century the Century the bow declined in warfare use. bow declined in warfare use.

Many of the archers were replaced Many of the archers were replaced with gunners and the bowmen were with gunners and the bowmen were now regulated to providing cover fire now regulated to providing cover fire while the gunners were reloading. while the gunners were reloading.

Asymmetrical shapeAsymmetrical shape

Many theories exist Many theories exist for the asymmetric for the asymmetric shape of the yumishape of the yumi

MaterialMaterial UseUse Mounted ArcheryMounted Archery Hand positionHand position

MaterialMaterial

There are few suitable trees in Japan to There are few suitable trees in Japan to make a good staff bow from and in make a good staff bow from and in the early history, pre 900, the early history, pre 900, Lamination was unknown.Lamination was unknown.

The shape and asymmetric grip may The shape and asymmetric grip may have allowed the bow to be longer have allowed the bow to be longer and still be used by an archer.and still be used by an archer.

UseUse

Hunters would have used ambush as Hunters would have used ambush as their primary way of getting game. their primary way of getting game. An asymmetrical handgrip would An asymmetrical handgrip would allow a kneeling hunter to use a allow a kneeling hunter to use a longbow and thus increase power.longbow and thus increase power.

Mounted ArcheryMounted Archery

The early Samurai The early Samurai were primarily were primarily mounted archers.mounted archers.

The use of an The use of an Asymmetrical bow Asymmetrical bow would allow a would allow a longbow to be used longbow to be used from horseback.from horseback.

Hand positionHand position

The asymmetrical The asymmetrical position allows the position allows the bow to be held with bow to be held with the hand at a 60 the hand at a 60 degree angle, degree angle, lining up the bones lining up the bones in the arm and in the arm and hand to produce hand to produce the most strength.the most strength.

ConstructionConstruction

Originally a staff bow, one piece of Originally a staff bow, one piece of wood.wood.

Changed to laminated bow using the Changed to laminated bow using the strength of bamboo and hardwoods strength of bamboo and hardwoods together in the 900’s.together in the 900’s.

1616thth Century, three pieces of bamboo Century, three pieces of bamboo with hardwood on the sides and with hardwood on the sides and bamboo face and back. bamboo face and back.

Yumi constructionYumi construction

ShootingShooting

The Yumi uses a Mongolian or Asian The Yumi uses a Mongolian or Asian draw.draw.

The bow string is drawn back with the The bow string is drawn back with the thumb of the right hand.thumb of the right hand.

The bow is shoot off the right side like The bow is shoot off the right side like a left handed bow. a left handed bow.

CompetitionCompetition

Competitions held at the Sanjusangendo Competitions held at the Sanjusangendo Temple in Kyoto includeTemple in Kyoto include

24 hour shoot24 hour shoot 12 hour shoot12 hour shoot 1000 arrow shoot1000 arrow shoot 100 arrow shoot100 arrow shootThe distance for the competitions was full The distance for the competitions was full

hall or 66 ken (130.68 yds), and half hall hall or 66 ken (130.68 yds), and half hall or 33 ken (65.34 yds). The hall or veranda or 33 ken (65.34 yds). The hall or veranda was only 18 feet, ceiling to rafters. was only 18 feet, ceiling to rafters.

Competition RecordsCompetition Records

Wasa Daihachiro, shot 13,053 arrows Wasa Daihachiro, shot 13,053 arrows at a full distance in the 24 hour shoot. at a full distance in the 24 hour shoot. He averaged one shot every 6.6 He averaged one shot every 6.6 seconds from a kneeling position. He seconds from a kneeling position. He scored 8,133 hits.scored 8,133 hits.

Katsuranishi Sonouemon, scored 960 Katsuranishi Sonouemon, scored 960 out of 1000 arrows at full distance.out of 1000 arrows at full distance.

Chikurin Kichimen shot 6,110 arrows Chikurin Kichimen shot 6,110 arrows in 12 hours and scored 4,500 times at in 12 hours and scored 4,500 times at full distance.full distance.

EffectivnessEffectivness

The yumi’s effective range is about 80 The yumi’s effective range is about 80 meters and maximum range of 380.meters and maximum range of 380.

Optimum range would have been Optimum range would have been about 30 meters against an armored about 30 meters against an armored opponent.opponent.

YaYa

Arrow about 40 inches in length made Arrow about 40 inches in length made of bamboo and tipped with various of bamboo and tipped with various arrowheads (yajiri).arrowheads (yajiri).

Knocks were made of horn and they Knocks were made of horn and they had three or four feathers.had three or four feathers.

YajiriYajiri

Types of YajiriTypes of Yajiri

Hiniki: whistling Hiniki: whistling Hira-ne: flat shape with sharp edgesHira-ne: flat shape with sharp edges Karimata: two pronged , rope cutterKarimata: two pronged , rope cutter Muto: target pointMuto: target point Sankaku: Armor piercing, diamondSankaku: Armor piercing, diamond Yanagi-bu: Wilow leafYanagi-bu: Wilow leaf Watakushi: Barbed, flesh tearingWatakushi: Barbed, flesh tearing

KyudoKyudo

Kyudo, the way of the Kyudo, the way of the bow, is still practiced bow, is still practiced today. It is often today. It is often associated with Zen associated with Zen and improves and improves physical, moral and physical, moral and spiritual development spiritual development and is considered one and is considered one of the purest forms of of the purest forms of martial art.martial art.

KyujutsuKyujutsu

Kyujutsu, the art of Kyujutsu, the art of the bow, is the the bow, is the samurai practice of samurai practice of archery, the goal is archery, the goal is to achieve a smooth to achieve a smooth and rigorous and rigorous shooting style with shooting style with the goal of killing an the goal of killing an adversary.adversary.

Often called “Hi, Ken, Often called “Hi, Ken, Chu” or fly, pierce, Chu” or fly, pierce, center.center.

Awa KenzoAwa Kenzo

You and your bow must come You and your bow must come together as one, that act is divine. together as one, that act is divine. The unity of the instrument and The unity of the instrument and oneself is divine. There is no bow, no oneself is divine. There is no bow, no arrow, no you, yes and no are one. arrow, no you, yes and no are one.

Each shot can make you or break Each shot can make you or break you; each shot reveals you as a living you; each shot reveals you as a living buddha or a bumbling fool.buddha or a bumbling fool.

One shot, one life is an offering to One shot, one life is an offering to the gods.the gods.

The bow is in fact a gift from the The bow is in fact a gift from the gods. Right from the beginning it gods. Right from the beginning it has been an instrument of has been an instrument of purification.purification.

Student to SenseiStudent to Sensei

Sensei, what should our highest purpose Sensei, what should our highest purpose be in studying kyudo?be in studying kyudo?

To perfect ourselves.To perfect ourselves.

Have you achieved perfection?Have you achieved perfection?

Of course not, It is not humanly possible Of course not, It is not humanly possible to be perfect.to be perfect.

If it is impossible, then why try?If it is impossible, then why try?

Because to not try is to be less than Because to not try is to be less than human.human.