Description

Stunning set of ten Japanese Ya (arrow) Yumi hawk feather and reed arrows with gold gilt lacquer and iron tips. Once used to shoot long distances by long bow primarily before the main introduction of firearms by the Portuguese in 1543. The “no” (shaft of the arrows are made from yadake bamboo and can have different shapes – straight, or tapering, these being straight.

Typically they use bamboo from the Kanto area. This is for a purely practical reason: bamboo will not grow fast enough in a cold area and the joints are too close together, whereas in a warm area the bamboo grows too fast and the joints are too far apart. Kanto’s moderate climate allows the joints to be a perfect distance apart.

Presented in a splayed fan on antiqued bronze plates and armature wire bases.

Meiji Period 19th Century

Dimensions: 35″ L (arrow from tip), 27″ x 4 1/2″ on splayed fan display