The traditions and martial art of the Japanese samurai are still relevant and some of them are used to this day. A prime example of this is Kyudo. This is traditional Japanese archery, which is based on two key principles: spiritual harmonic and physical development.
The ultimate goal of kyudo is to achieve the state of "shin - zen - bi", which in translation means "truth - virtue - beauty".
The history of the origin of kyudo
Kyudo has its roots in ancient times. The first memories of archery date back to the 8th century. During the feudal period, kyudo became very popular. Samurai paid special attention to archery, as it was the main weapon in feudal wars.
The basic equipment of a samurai kyudo
The main equipment in this martial art is the bow. It is the longest in the world and is represented by several types:
Yumi: a high bow over 2 m high. It is made of wood, koi and bamboo;
Yaa: made of bamboo with eagle or hawk feathers. Each such bow has its own direction of rotation;
a special three-fingered glove - mitsugakeili, or a four-fingered - yotsugake. The glove worn on the right is referred to as Yugake. It is made of deerskin and can be hard or soft. In the latter version, there is no solid finger. There is also a one-finger glove and a five-finger glove.
It is worth paying attention to such an interesting fact as wearing gloves only on the right hand. Given the kyudo shooting technique, the left hand does not require protection: the main blow is made on the right hand.
In order for the onion to be well fixed in the hand, rice husk powder is applied to the palm. It absorbs sweat, which allows the bow to turn in the hand.
Additional equipment for female archers is the Muneate chest protector. This is a piece of leather or plastic that protects the breasts from possible blows from the bowstring.
Archery technique: preparation steps
Kyudo technique is very carefully spelled out in the main Code. Individual moments may differ based on style. However, there are common points. For example, all archers hold the bow only in the left hand, and pull the string with the right. It is very important to draw the bow so that the pulling hand is held behind the ear. If you break this rule, then there is a risk of hitting a neighboring shooter in the ear or face when releasing the bowstring.
Unique to kyudo is the technique of releasing a bow shot that rotates in the hand so that the string stops in front of the archer's outer forearm.
Other techniques in kyudo:
support installation;
checking the balance of the body;
preparation of the bow: grasping the string with the right hand - positioning the left hand on the handle of the bow - turning the archer's head to analyze the target;
stretching the bow, full drawing;
construction of vertical and horizontal lines of the body;
release of the bowstring from the right hand;
lowering the bow.
All actions are performed in the appropriate order, which allows you to achieve the most accurate result. At first glance, it only seems that the technique of stringing a bow is simple. In fact, it requires maximum physical effort. Everything is involved here at the same time:
correct breathing;
physical strength;
elegance of movement.
During the shot, the warrior must be in complete calmness, being in a state of meditation. Everything happens after achieving complete calmness. The samurai went into a state in which he gave up all his thoughts and desires. Thus, the only tools that led to enlightenment were the bow and arrow.
Today, kyudo has evolved from a martial art to a traditional sport.
See also
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Nadzima Castle
It is believed that the first structures on this site were built by Tachibana Akitoshi (?-1568), head of the Tachibana clan, a branch family of the Ōtomo clan, as auxiliary fortifications for Tachibanayama Castle. In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi established control over the island of Kyushu and granted Chikuzen Province to Kobayakawa Takakage, one of the leading vassals of the Mori clan. Takakage began construction of a new castle on the site of the existing fortifications in 1588. The exact date of completion is unknown, but by the time the invasion of Korea began in 1592, the castle had already been finished, as records note that Toyotomi Hideyoshi stayed there overnight on his way to Hizen Nagoya Castle, which served as the headquarters of the invasion forces.
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Kubota Castle
The founder of the castle is considered to be Satake Yoshinobu (1570–1633). Yoshinobu was one of the six great generals of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. During the Odawara Campaign of 1590, he took part in the siege of Oshi Castle under the command of Ishida Mitsunari, with whom Yoshinobu developed a good relationship.
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Kavanhoe Castle
Kawanoe Castle is located on the small Wasi-yama hill near the port area of the Kawanoe district in the city of Shikokuchuo, occupying a central position along the northern coast of Shikoku Island. Kawanoe was also known as Butsuden Castle. The term “butsuden” in Japan refers to temple halls, and for this reason it is believed that a Buddhist temple once stood on the site before the castle was built. Due to its location at the junction of four provinces on Shikoku Island, Kawanoe held significant strategic importance and was repeatedly targeted by rival forces seeking military control over the region.
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Yokote Castle
The founder of the castle is considered to be the Onodera clan. The Onodera were originally a minor clan from Shimotsuke Province and served Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199), the founder of the first shogunate. The Onodera distinguished themselves in battle against the Fujiwara clan of the Ōshū branch and were rewarded with lands around Yokote. Around the 14th century, the Onodera moved to Yokote as their permanent residence. Their original stronghold was Numadate Castle, but after a series of clashes with the powerful Nambu clan, they relocated their base to the site of present-day Yokote Castle. It was likely during this time that the first fortifications appeared at the castle.
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Wakayama Castle
Wakayama Castle was built in 1585, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered his uterine brother, Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hidenaga, to construct a castle on the site of the recently captured Ota Castle. The purpose of this construction was to secure control over the likewise newly conquered Province of Kii. Following an already established tradition, Hidenaga entrusted the project to his castle-building expert, Todo Takatora. Takatora carefully inspected the future castle site, personally drew up several designs, created a model of the planned castle, and took part in the work of laying out the grounds (nawabari). For the construction he brought in more than 10,000 workers and completed the large-scale project within a single year, which was considered extremely fast by the standards of the time.
Toyama Castle
Toyama Castle is located almost in the very center of the former province of Etchū and is surrounded by a wide plain with a large number of rivers. The very first castle on the banks of the Jinzu River was built in 1543 by Jimbo Nagamoto. The Jimbo clan were vassals of the Hatakeyama clan and governed the western part of Etchū Province. The eastern part of the province belonged to their rivals, the Shiina clan, who were also Hatakeyama vassals. Beginning in the 15th century, the influence of the ancient Hatakeyama clan gradually weakened, and as a result, the Jimbo and the Shiina fought constant wars for control of the province. Meanwhile, the forces of the Ikkō-ikki movement periodically intervened, helping first one side and then the other.
Takada Castle
During the Sengoku period, the lands where Takada Castle would later be built were part of Echigo Province and were controlled by the Uesugi clan.
Kishiwada Castle
The celebrated 14th-century military commander Kusunoki Masashige (1294–1336), who owned extensive lands south of what is now the city of Osaka, ordered one of his vassals, Kishiwada Osamu, to build a fortified residence. This order was carried out around 1336. These fortifications became the first structures on the site of what would later become Kishiwada Castle. From the beginning, the castle stood in a strategically important location—roughly halfway between the cities of Wakayama and Osaka, south of the key port of Sakai. Because of this position, it changed hands several times during periods of warfare.
