Shigeto yumi symbolism

[Jos?Dom]

I'm looking for information and explanation about the decoration used in the ancient Japanese bows known as shigeto yumi. These bamboo bows are painted with Japanese lacquer (urushi) and wrapped with rattan to protect them. They were used by samurai and now are only used by a few experts. What I'd like to know is the meaning of the rattan patterns, some are totally covered with spaced rattan wraps, some are only covered on sections, some are painted in red, some unpainted. I think these patterns are determined by hierarchy but I can't find more precise information about this. Anybody knows? probably only Japanese people can bring light on this subject.

[Alan Flashing]

Jose'Dom,
Greetings, you should ask Jaap Koppedrayer I would bet that he would have an answer for this.
Alan

[jack farrell]

Jose; I will just make a guess, for what it is worth.

Only samurai or people of even higher rank could own weapons in Japan. Japan also had strict sumptuary laws where a person could only own objects correlating to their station in life. These wrapped and lacquered bows were just another step up on the quality ladder of all Japanese goods.

I own a miniature of one of these bows, rattan wrapped painted red and black. Kanjuro Shibata, the old man, saw this bow in my display at Fort Dodge and he said that it must have belonged to a very special young boy.

There is meaning in the printed deerskin grip covers on typical yumi and on the "coin" rattan wrap above the grips. -j-

[Jos?Dom]

Alan, I'm pretty sure that Jaap knows something about this subject. He's a great maker of yumis, even this type of silk wrapped, urushi painted and rattan bands. In fact, I'm a proud owner of one of his yumis. Jaap is currently out of town, so I'll wait until he arrives to ask him.

Jack, your argument seems to be logical and correct. Maybe at the highest rank, it was just a matter of taste and it isn't anything special about the rattan wraps and colors.
I'm curious about your yumi. Is it a decorative miniature or a functional small yumi? Do you have pictures that you could share?

[jack farrell]

This is a Boy's day bow. A miniature, nonfunctional bow, 29". Its purpose is to remind boys of their heritage. This can be part of an elaborate set.

[jack farrell]

closeup

[jack farrell]

The miniature glove. The dragonfly evokes...Summer.

[Stephen Selby]

I have this couple in my collection: one is 18C and the other 19C (the red and black one). The decorative rattan has come away in parts of both bows. I had not imagined that they had symbolism: I just thought they were decorative. Interested to learn more.

[Jos?Dom]

Jack, what an exquisite example! Also the glove is a work of art. Maybe in this case the dragonfly evokes summer, but it's the traditional samurai symbol for victory (usually it's printed on ebiras)

Stephen, I can see you have precious bows in your collection.

Thank you for sharing these pictures. I'll try to post pictures of my new yumi.

[Jos?Dom]

Here is my 22Kg yumi.

[jack farrell]

Stephen; Nice old bows. Jose; Good bow. Is the quiver traditional? We boys love our toys. -j-

[Jos?Dom]

Thanks, Jack. By the way, the quiver is a traditional ebira. It's great for war heads but not good for the kyudo mato points because of the small slots.