Engineering:Azusa Yumi

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Short description: Sacred bow that dispels ghosts and evil spirits in Shinto rituals
Azusa Yumi
Classification String
An azusa yumi (梓弓) is a sacred bow (yumi) used in certain Shinto rituals in Japan , as well as a Japan ese musical bow, made from the wood of the Japanese azusa () or Japanese cherry birch tree (Betula grossa).[1] Playing an azusa yumi forms part of some Shinto rituals; in Japan, it is believed that merely the twanging of the bowstring will frighten ghosts and evil spirits away from a house. In Japanese poetry, the word azusa yumi functions as a makurakotoba ("pillow word", a kind of epithet).[2]

The story is told in Japanese mythology that a golden bird perched on the bow of Emperor Jimmu, the great-grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, and the first human ruler of Japan. This was seen as an extremely good omen; Jimmu's bow developed the power to dispel evil by the mere plucking of its string. His bow was made of azusa wood.

See also

  • Apotropaic magic
  • Amulet
  • Talisman
  • Omamori (御守 or お守り)
  • Ofuda (御札/お札) -- a paper charm, similar to a Taoist/Daoist Fulu.
  • Hama Ya (破魔矢) -- an "Evil-Destroying Arrow".
  • Hama Yumi (破魔弓) -- an "Evil-Destroying Bow".
  • Saigū Yumi (祭宮弓) -- a "Ceremonial Bow".
  • Kabura-ya (鏑矢) -- a "Turnip[-headed] Arrow".

References