how are these seven foot-long bows constructed? i've seen one picture
in the december 2003 issue of national geographic where a bowmaker
pegs strips of bamboo tied to the long body of what would become the
bow. do these strips also become part of the bow or are they just
there to help contour the bow? aside from this i also observed that
the bowmaker also uses his feet to add tension to the would-be bow.
They are a composite of bamboo and other woods. What you saw was used to
shape the bow and then removed at a later time. The feet, hands or other
external devices can be used to help shape the bow. Techniques would vary
from yumi (bow) maker to yumi maker.
Tom J.
-----Original Message-----
From: samurai_dokoro [mailto:samurai_dokoro@...]
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 9:55 PM
To: samuraihistory@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [samuraihistory] the japanese bow
how are these seven foot-long bows constructed? i've seen one picture
in the december 2003 issue of national geographic where a bowmaker
pegs strips of bamboo tied to the long body of what would become the
bow. do these strips also become part of the bow or are they just
there to help contour the bow? aside from this i also observed that
the bowmaker also uses his feet to add tension to the would-be bow.
The core is 4 sections of smoke cured bamboo sandwiched on the sides by
wood. ( haze or yellow sumac is preferred, but it's difficult to find these
days). The faces are bamboo cut during the winter and then aged. It's split,
shaved, and glued. Then shaped. Shaping is done in a wooden form and with
wedges hammered under the binding.
I'm currently searching for the haze as I have everything else for my 4
sun nobi 20k takeyumi. It's a pain.
M.J.Peters
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