Shigehto Yumi

The is a sacred bow used Japan. The tradition of Shigehto Yumi began four hundred years ago in the days of Oda Nobunaga, one of the greatest of all Samurai Warlords. During that time Japan was divided into 64 separate states, each ruled by a powerful Daimyo (samurai lord). There was a constant state of war in Japan as each Daimyo was eager to expand their territory. Within such division lies an inherent weakness and Nobunaga seized this historical opportunity to wage a war of unification. Within a few years he had gained sufficient power to rule over most of Japan.
He was followed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi who continued the fight for a unified Japan and finally by Tokugawa Ieyasu who brought a lasting peace and established the Tokugawa Shoganate, which ruled Japan for nearly 300 years. The first Shigehto-yumi was given by Oda Nobunaga to a powerful lord whom he had defeated in battle as a symbol of peace and unity. Shigehto-yumi, which symbolizes "Bow of Unity", together with two arrows were then displayed by many of the great lords who were loyal to Nobunaga and the ideal of a unified Japan.
Since that time these magnificent bows have remained powerful symbols of the honor, courage and dignity of the "warrior for peace" and are displayed in people's homes or offices in order to rouse these qualities. Shigehto-yumi are real, full-sized, usable bows coated with black urushi and wrapped in rattan. There are sixty-four wrappings which signify the sixty-four states that were unified under Nobunaga. The grip is purple leather and the top and bottom are gold-leafed.

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