A Question on Japanese Arrow Length

bairdec · Post by **bairdec** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 9:40 pm

I read an excerpt from The Tale of Heike, and in chapter 7, Sanemori boasts that Eastern Japanese archers draw arrows thirteen hands (or fists, by a different translation) long, and at least one archer draws an arrow fifteen hands long. If we use the same definition applied to (Western?) horsemanship, a hand measures 4 inches or about 10 cm. This standard results in a very long arrow.

Was the medieval Japanese "hand" merely much smaller, or is this excerpt a case of extreme exaggeration? I expect the former is true, but I wouldn't be surprised at the latter.

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 11:58 am

I refletched some old war arrows and the shafts were just less than 32".

Kyudohund · Post by **Kyudohund** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:24 pm

In todays Kyudo the measurement for arrow-lengths is: stretch your left arm and hand, as much as you can, in line of the shoulders and 90? to the body, measure from middle of your throat to the tip of your middlefinger and add 2 inches.

Peter

bairdec · Post by **bairdec** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:41 am

Thanks for the replies. They push me more towards the exaggeration camp.