Yumi for war, what did look like?

[Alex S.]

Hi~!

Before yumi is used just for kyudo purpose, it use was in war and battle.
The style of draw was different and so were the bows.

From old painting I have seen in Osaka, they appear much shorter (maybe closer to , and shape is less like modern yumi. Can someone confirm on the length? is it known to how tall they were in this time?

Also, any idea as to maybe what draw weight range these might be? I know there is special type of shooting style that includes the use of heavy draw weight bow like 160# or so.

[Kyudohund]

Hi Alex,

you are in Japan! You should have the best sources for this question. I send you the mail-adress of Mori-Sensei in Tsukuba. He is very wellinformed about Yumis and history of japanese archery. He was involved in tests at Sanjusangendo, were a bowmaker had the permission to shot, by way of exception, in the original corridor.

Peter

[Alex S.]

Peter!

hah! yes I indeed am in Japan!
Though isolated from mainland, so I am limited to internet sources until maybe I visit again.

I have received your email, much thanks to you!


Sanjusangendo, this place I have been to and take some picture. (outside)
I must say, yumi they have there seem quite thick and powerful. The certainly look different from modern yumi, though picture not allowed in these places.

I will surely send Mori sensei a message as soon as I return from my trip.

Again, thanks!

[Kyudohund]

Hi Alex,

on the picture below you can see two Yumis made the "old" style. The red one is wrapped with silk every 5mm and laquered with "urushi". The black is wrapped with rotang.

These are no war bows! But the design of warbows where similar. The difference: warbows had no recurve at the lower part (it was straight) and the middle part, at the grip, was straight too. As I know, the popular warbow was called "shigeto"; this discribed the form of the bow.
The bowlength was individual; it depended on the drawlength of the owner. You have to consider, for a Bushi (warrier), or Samurai, it was, after his sword, the most important weapon he carried...............

I think Bede can give you valuable informations about this too.

Peter

[Jos?Dom]

Very interesting topic. I wonder the same questions, though I know the usual war bow was the shigeto-yumi. That is the bamboo yumi wrapped with silk thread and then urushied ad wrapped with rattan. This would protect the yumi from natural elements. One note about the bow length; nowadays the length is defined by your height and arrow length. If the war bows were shorter, then the draw length would be the same, otherwise the bamboo core wouldn't resist a long draw in conjunction with a short bow. I guess you'd need to short your draw length if you wear a heavily ornamented kabuto, otherwise the tsuru would hit it.

About the draw weight, nowadays in modern kyudo, the heaviest seems to be in the order of 25-30kg. I'm sure they were heavier than that for penetration purposes. The same way they do katana cut tests on kabutos, they also do it with arrows.

Peter, please, could you send me the e-mail address of Mori-Sensei?

[Jos?Dom]

Peter, very nice bows! Did you make them or purchased them? In the last case, where?

[Kyudohund]

Jos?,

you are right. Bushis had a helmet too, so they didn?t draw the bow as far as we do it in Kyudo nowadays.
The heaviest Yumi I know here in Europe, has 30kg! But the archer, who shoots this bow, had a slipped disc from it. I myself shoot a 19kg yon-sun-nobi (233cm ntn) Yumi, what?s normal for my age (53).

To the bows on the picture: the red I bought in Miyakonojo (Kyushu) and the other here from a friend of mine.

I will send you Mori-Senseis mail-adress.

Peter

[Kyudohund]

Jos?,

I need your mail-adress. Its not in the Memberlist.

Peter

[Jos?Dom]

Here's another picture of my shigeto-yumi

[Alex S.]

Thanks much for information.

I shall make my attempt as soon as my workshop is ready.