Archery

Kyujutsu, the Way of the Bow and Arrow

Pop culture tends to lend the idea of the samurai as a primarily sword-wielding warrior. However, the bow and arrow was the primary weapon of the samurai and soldier, especially during the Genpei war. According to Dr. Vyjayanthi Selinger of Bowdoin College, during the fourteenth century, when the Tale of the Heike was written, 73% of recorded injuries and deaths were from arrows and stones, both projectiles, while ony 25% were from swords, and 2% from pikes. The sword is less of a tool, and more of a symbol, while the bow is more a weapon of war.

In Book 11, archery is especially highlighted as the final large battle ensues, and is the highlight of the famous scene in which Nasu no Yoichi shoots a fan from a long distance. The way of the bow and arrow during the Genpei war, known as Kyujutsu, was one way to distinguish a true warrior. The size of the bow (yumi) was a way for warriors to show their superiority. The larger the bow, and the more men needed to string it, the better the warrior, and vice-versa. Warriors also distinguished themselves with how their arrows (ya) were fletched. Arrows were fletched with feathers from many different birds of prey, however they were never fletched with owl feathers, as that was seen as bad luck. On top of this, the feathers curve to the left and the right, as feathers from both wings of the bird are used.

It is important to keep in mind that Kyujutsu is different from Kyudo, which is archery in martial arts form, although it is based on Kyujutsu. It is also important to keep in mind that Yabusame, or horseback archery, is another form of Japanese archery, and although warriors fought with bow and arrow from horseback during the Genpei War, Yabusame was not yet established.

DeProspero, Dan, and Jackie DeProspero. “History and Development of Kyudo.” Kyudo: Japanese Archery, www.kyudo.com/kyudo-h.html.

Nasu no Yoichi, Photo from Wikipedia Commons

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