Arrows - Yaawase

Japanese: 矢合 - やあわせ

In the Middle Ages, enemies would shoot arrows at each other on the battlefield. This marked the start of combat between the two sides. Generally, a battle began with the two sides facing each other and raising a battle cry. This was an act of raising spirits and inspiring oneself, but then the commanders of both sides announced themselves, and the verbal battle and yaawase began. In this sense, yaawase was a declaration of war, marking the start of the battle. In yaawase, a kabura arrow was shot first at the enemy camp. This was called the yaawase kaburahajime. A kabura is an oval attachment made of wood or bamboo root that is attached to the base of the arrowhead, the tip of the arrow. It is hollow inside and has several holes on the surface to emit a sound to intimidate.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中世，戦場で敵味方相互に矢を射合う行為。これにより両軍の戦闘が開始される。一般に合戦は両軍対陣し，まず鬨（とき）をあげる。これは気勢をあげて己をふるいたたせる行為であるが，次いで両軍の主将が名乗りをあげ，口合戦，矢合となる。その意味で矢合は開戦の口火を示す宣戦布告の表現であった。矢合にさいして，まず敵陣に向かって鏑矢（かぶらや）が射られた。これを矢合の鏑始めと称した。鏑とは矢の先端にあたる鏃（やじり）のつけ根につけた木･竹の根製の長円形の付属物で，威嚇のための音響を発するように内部は空洞になっており，表面に数個の孔があけられている。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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