The Art of A Samurai Bow – How ancient Japan mastered this weapon

In the documentary “The Art Of A Samurai Bow | Ancient Japan |” the narrator discusses the unique design and construction of the samurai bow, as well as its importance in Japanese culture.

The bow has been used on the battlefield for thousands of years and continues to be an important part of Japanese culture. However, bows have also been used throughout history in other parts of the world, such as the English longbow, which is also considered a masterpiece.

The documentary compares the two bows to determine which one is superior. Both bows are tested using state-of-the-art equipment to measure their speed and power.

While the Japanese bow, called the Yumi, is a recurve bow that is made of different materials, the longbow is generally made from a single piece of wood. The Yumi bow shoots its arrow at 34 meters per second, while the longbow shoots its arrow at the same speed.

However, the Yumi bow has more punch for the same draw weight due to the weight of the arrows being longer and heavier.

The narrator goes on to discuss the history of the samurai and the role the bow played in their culture. In the early years of the samurai, the bow was their primary weapon, and it was their most highly valued and prized weapon.

The samurai were elite fighters who were paid by the Shogun or feudal lords and were given riches, land, and fame in return for their allegiance. The samurai soldiers were not afraid to die, and their martial training made them almost invincible.

The documentary also discusses the philosophy behind the samurai bow, which was built to kill but was used to achieve an honorable death at the hands of an equal.

Samurai were trained to fight other samurai of the same standing, hoping to achieve an honorable death. If a samurai killed a worthy opponent with the Yumi, it was considered an honorable death.

Overall, the documentary provides an interesting look into the history and culture of ancient Japan and the role the samurai bow played in it. It also offers a comparison between the Yumi and the longbow, two weapons that were important in their respective cultures.