Yumi is the japanese term for longbow. The samurai were very skilled in the art of kyūdō, or Japanese archery.
Components[]
The yumi is most commonly made out of laminating bamboo, wood, and leather. The techniques for creating the yumi hasn't changed at all.
Shape[]
The yumi was created for use in mounted combat, where the wielder could easily move the bow for different targets. The grip is positioned at about one-third the distance from the lower tip of the bow with the lower and upper curves of the bow different. The shape is also for kneeling while shooting.
String[]
The string (tsuru) of the bow is traditionally made of hemp in the time of samurai. Now most string for the yumi is made up of kevlar, which will last longer.The strings are not replaced until they break. This is healthy for the yumi, because this results in the yumi flexing.
Bow Lengths[]
| Height of Archer | Arrow Length | Suggested Bow Length |
|---|---|---|
| < 150 cm | < 85 cm | Sansun-dsume (212 cm) |
| 150 - 165 cm | 85 - 90 cm | Namisun (221 cm) |
| 165 - 180 cm | 90 - 100 cm | Nisun-nobi (227 cm) |
| 180 - 195 cm | 100 - 105 cm | Yonsun-nobi (233 cm) |
| 195-205 cm | 105 - 110 cm | Rokusun-nobi (239 cm) |
| > 205 cm | > 110 cm | Hassun-nobi (245 cm) |
History of the Yumi[]
| Time Period | Type of Bow | Bow Formation |
|---|---|---|
| Prehistoric | Maruki | Single piece of wood |
| c.800-900 AD | Fusetake | Wood with bamboo front |
| c.1100 AD | Sanmaiuchi | Wood with bamboo front and back |
| c.1300-1400 | Shihochiku | Wood surrounded with bamboo |
| c.1550 | Sanbonhigo (Higoyumi) | Three-piece bamboo laminate core, wooden sides, bamboo front and back |
| c.1600 | Yohonhigo (Higoyumi) | Four-piece bamboo laminate core, wooden sides, bamboo front and back |
| c.1650 | Gohonhigo (Higoyumi) | Five-piece bamboo (or bamboo and wood) laminate core, wooden sides, bamboo front and back |
| c.1971-Modern times | Glass fiber | Wooden laminate core, FRP front and back |
References[]
- The Korekawa bow at Nara National Museum
- Michael, Henry N. (1958), "The Neolithic Age in Eastern Siberia", Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, New Series (Philadelphia: The American Philosophical Society) 49 (2): 1–108, April 1958, doi:10.2307/1005699, http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0065-9746(1958)2%3A48%3A2%3C1%3ATNAIES%3E2.0.CO%3B2-I, retrieved on 2008.02.13