Yumi Popular Books

Yumi Biography & Facts

Yumi (弓) is the Japanese term for a bow. As used in English, yumi refers more specifically to traditional Japanese asymmetrical bows, and includes the longer daikyū (大弓) and the shorter hankyū (半弓) used in the practice of kyūdō and kyūjutsu, or Japanese archery. The yumi was an important weapon of the samurai warrior during the feudal period of Japan. It is typically shot with Japanese arrows known as ya. The most famous style of yumi is an asymmetrically shaped long bow with a length of more than 2 m (6 ft 7 in), characterized by the archer holding the part of the bow below the center to shoot the arrow. History Most of the excavated Jōmon period (c. 14,000–300 BCE) bows are 1.2 to 1.6 metres (3 ft 11 in to 5 ft 3 in) in length, while most of the Yayoi period (c. 3rd century BCE–2nd/3rd century CE) bows are 2 to 2.3 metres (6 ft 7 in to 7 ft 7 in) in length. The bows in these periods were made from a single processed wood, and the bows with this structure were called maruki yumi (丸木弓) and were used until the Nara period (710–794 CE). It is unknown when the asymmetrical yumi came into use, but the first written record is found in the Book of Wei, a Chinese historical manuscript dating to the 3rd century CE, which describes the people of the Japanese islands using "spears, shields, and wooden bows for arms; the wooden bows are made with the lower limbs short and the upper limbs long; and bamboo arrows with points of either iron or bone." The oldest asymmetrical yumi found to date was discovered in Nara Prefecture, and is estimated to be from the 5th century. Some of the bows found as burial goods in kofun (ancient tombs) during the Kofun period (300–538 CE) were decorated with gold or silver, and it is believed that they were also used in ceremonies. The length of most bows in this period ranged from 70 to 150 cm (28 to 59 in), and it is thought that they were powerful enough to shoot enemies and animals at close range. In the Nara period, lacquered bows with more weather resistance and decorative features appeared. Euonymus hamiltonianus, Zelkova serrata, and Toxicodendron succedaneum, which are highly elastic wood, came to be used for making yumi, and many yumi became as long as roughly 7 shaku 3 sun (2.21 m (7 ft 3 in)), increasing their power and range. Since then, the structure of the bow has gradually evolved, but its length of roughly 7 shaku 3 sun has been passed down to the present day. From the mid to late Heian period (794–1185), the Japanese developed the fusedake no yumi (伏竹弓) style of yumi, the first yumi in Japan with a laminated structure. This style of yumi was made by attaching bamboo to a wooden yumi with a flat front side using glue made from a fish float, and the elasticity of the bamboo improved the bow's range, power and durability. Nasu no Yoichi was famous as a master of archery in the late Heian period; his fame was depicted in The Tale of the Heike and Genpei Seisuiki, and he was the subject of various Japanese traditional performing arts and fine arts such as Noh, kyogen, kodan, kabuki, and ukiyo-e of later generations. From the end of the Heian period to the beginning of the Kamakura period (1185–1333), the sanmaiuchi no yumi (三枚打弓) was developed, and bamboo was glued not only on the front side but also on the reverse side of the yumi. In the late Kamakura period, the shape of the bow became more asymmetrical, with the upper part bent from the lower part, so that it resembled a modern bow, further increasing the range and power of the yumi. From the middle of the Heian period, the tōyumi (籐弓) style of yumi, in which rattan was wrapped around a laminated-structure yumi to improve its elasticity and sturdiness, became popular. The shigetō yumi (重籐) style yumi in particular was the strongest weapon of the Kamakura period, with a maximum range of 400 metres (1,300 ft) and an effective range of 80 metres (260 ft) that could inflict fatal wounds on targets. There are more than 20 varieties of shigetō yumi, depending on how and where on the bow the rattan is wound. In the Muromachi period (1336–1573), the shigetō yumi went from its luxurious exterior to a piece of equipment that symbolized the rank of commander. During the Kamakura period, when the samurai class came to power, kyūjutsu (archery) became more and more popular, especially the three types of mounted archery: yabusame, inuoumono, and kasagake. The shihodake no yumi (四方竹弓) was developed during the Muromachi period, and bamboo was used on the side of the bow to increase its range and power. During the Sengoku period (1467–1615), the higoyumi (弓胎弓) used in modern kyūdō was developed, completing the original form of the Japanese bow now known around the world. The characteristic of the bow is that it has a greatly changed laminated structure from the conventional bow. The core of the structure is about four pieces of bonded bamboo, with bamboo glued to the front side and the other side and wood glued to the sides. This improved the range and power of the bow and enabled it to shoot through targets 132 metres (433 ft) away in the Sanjusangen-do archery contest, Tōshiya, a famous event still held today. Research on yajiri (arrowheads) was actively conducted to enhance their killing ability, and yajiri of various shapes were developed. During this period, the tanegashima was mass-produced by Japanese swordsmiths, and mobilized ashigaru (foot soldiers) used them to exert tremendous power on the battlefield. However, because tanegashima took a long time to load, were inconvenient in rainy weather when damp gunpowder would not fire, and were not exactly subtle in terms of noise, the yumi did not go out of fashion and continued to be used as an important military force on the battlefield. When Japanese society became more peaceful in the Edo period (1603–1867), the spirituality and decorativeness of the yumi became important, and kyūjutsu developed as a samurai's way of doing things. Even today, the yumi is used in kyūdō and ceremonies, and in Grand sumo tournaments, a ceremony called the yumitori shiki (弓取り式), which is dedicated to Shinto kami, is held. Shape The yumi is exceptionally tall, standing over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in height, and typically surpasses the height of the archer (射手, ite). They are traditionally made by laminating bamboo, wood and leather, using techniques which have not changed for centuries, although some archers (particularly beginners) may use a synthetic yumi. The yumi is asymmetrical; according to the All Nippon Kyudo Federation, the grip (nigiri (握り, lit. 'grip; handle; handful')) has to be positioned at about two thirds of the distance from the upper tip. The upper and lower curves also differ. Several hypotheses have been offered for this asymmetric shape. Some believe it was designed for use on a horse, where the yumi could be moved from one side of the horse to the other with ease; however, there is evidence that the asymmetrical shape predates its use on horse.... Discover the Yumi popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Yumi books.