Higoyumi of samurai armor
弓胎弓 Higoyumi
What is Higoyumi of Samurai Armor?
Higoyumi is a representative bow used during the Sengoku period. It is made by combining 3 to 7 pieces of wood or bamboo as a core (bow fetus: higo), and sandwiching both sides with wood. The name changes depending on the number of cores combined, such as ""three-piece bow fetus"" and ""five-piece bow fetus"". With the advent of the Higoyumi, the shooting distance is said to have significantly increased. The maximum shooting distance is over 400m. It is also used in modern Kyudo.
Note: Until now, it was widely believed that it was used after the Edo period based on literature. However, a lacquered Higoyumi from the 15th to 16th centuries was excavated at the site of Odawara Castle (article from February 2011), suggesting that it was already in use during the Sengoku period.
See more terms related to samurai armor in this samurai armor glossary