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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Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle, originally built by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period, stands on the site of an earlier Oda clan castle from the Sengoku period. It became the centerpiece of Nagoya-juku, a significant castle town on the Minoji road, which connected two major Edo Five Routes: the Tokaido and the Nakasendo. In 1930, ownership of the castle was transferred to the city by the Imperial Household Ministry, establishing it as the focal point of modern Nagoya. Although partially destroyed in the Pacific War in 1945, the castle has undergone continuous restoration and preservation efforts since 1957.
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Matsushiro Castle
Matsushiro Castle, originally known as Kaizu Castle, is located in what was once Matsushiro town, now part of Nagano City. The site is recognized as a National Historic Site of Japan. Situated on the northern Shinano flatlands between the Chikuma River and a former riverbed that serves as a natural outer moat to the north, the castle and its surrounding town were prone to flooding due to their location.
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Fushimi Castle
Fushimi Castle, also known as Momoyama Castle or Fushimi-Momoyama Castle, is located in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto. Originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi between 1592 and 1594 as his retirement residence, the castle was destroyed by the 1596 Keichō–Fushimi earthquake and later rebuilt. However, it was demolished again in 1623, and its site now houses the tomb of Emperor Meiji. A replica of the castle was constructed nearby in 1964.
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Odawara Castle
Odawara Castle, located in the city of Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, is a reconstructed historical site with roots dating back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333). The current donjon (main keep) was rebuilt using reinforced concrete in 1960 on the stone foundation of the original structure, which was dismantled between 1870 and 1872 during the Meiji Restoration.
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Shinpu Castle
Shinpu Castle was a Japanese hirayama-style fortress from the Sengoku period, situated in what is now Nirasaki, Yamanashi Prefecture. It served as the main stronghold of warlord Takeda Katsuyori. Designated as a National Historic Site in 1973, the castle occupies a strategic position on a mountain with steep cliffs, overlooking the Kamanashi River to the west of Kofu, where Takeda Shingen’s Tsutsujigasaki Castle once stood.
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Takato Castle
Takato Castle, located in the city of Ina in southern Nagano Prefecture, Japan, was a notable stronghold during the Sengoku period. By the end of the Edo period, it was the residence of a cadet branch of the Naito clan, the daimyo of the Takato Domain. Also known as Kabuto Castle, it was originally constructed in the 16th century and is now mostly in ruins.
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Takatenjin Castle
Takatenjin Castle was a yamashiro-style fortress from Japan's Sengoku period, situated in the Kamihijikata and Shimohijikata districts of Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture. Designated a National Historic Site in 1975, with an expanded protected area in 2007, its ruins remain a significant historical landmark.
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Yoshida Castle
Yoshida Castle is renowned worldwide, particularly through the intricate woodblock prints by Edo Period artist Hiroshige. His famous series, depicting the 53 stages of the Tokaido—the historic route between Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo)—includes the 34th print, which shows workmen repairing a castle overlooking a wooden bridge crossing a wide river. This scene captures the Toyokawa River at Toyohashi in southeast Aichi Prefecture, and the castle is Yoshida Castle.
