Bows and Arrows
The bow is one of the oldest weapons, playing a major role in legends depicting the birth of Japan:
like God, the bow despatched death from a distance and the victim was unable to see his killer.
The bow was the hallmark of the early warrior aristocracy, giving rise to the expression
"the way of the bow and horse”, kyûba no michi. The bow also had links to religion.
Whistling arrows were shot in order to repel evil spirits or gain the attention of the gods.