18th-19th century A.D. A group of three ya arrows, of closely related type, two with pyramidal iron heads each notched to two edges and whipped to the shafts with partially red-lacquered shafts no, made of yadake bamboo with the still preserved feather triple fletchings hane. Cf. Bryant, A.J., Samurai, 1550-1600, London, 1994, pp.16-17, 49-50; Haubner, J., Die Macht des Bogens: Japanische Bogenschützen im Spiegel alter Holzschnitte, Ludwigshafen, 2014. 142 grams total, 93-99.5 cm (36 5/8 - 39 1/4 in.). Acquired from an Essex, UK collector by exchange. Property of an Essex gentleman. Shagei (perfection in the use of the bow) or kyujutsu (the art of the bow) was one of the most developed martial arts in Japan. For the Bushi war and bow and arrow (yumi-ya) were synonymous and the god of war, Hachiman, was called yumi-ya no Haciman. Even today the left hand is called yunde, in Japan and the hand of the bow (yumi-no te). A noble and aristocratic weapon par excellence, it was used both in hunting and in warfare by high-ranking warriors, and starting from the 15th century also by the Ashigaru infantry. [3, No Reserve]