Description
This type of arrow is called a kabura arrow, after the bulb (kabura) just below the large triangular arrowhead. The animal-horn bulb is perforated with six holes, and makes a loud sound when the arrow is fired. The arrow nock, which holds the arrow steady on the bowstring, was carved from an animal tooth. The bamboo shaft is coated with a thin layer of lacquer.
Data source
ColBase
"ColBase: Integrated Collections Database of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan" is a service that enables a multi-database search of the collections in the four national museums (To...
Contents holder/Provider
Aggregator
National Institutes for Cultural Heritage
The National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH) comprise four National Museums (Tokyo National Museum, Kyoto National Museum, Nara National Museum, and Kyushu National Museum) and two National Research Institutes for Cultural Properties (Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, and Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties), as well as the International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (IRCI) in Sakai City, for a total of seven institutions.
Last updated
October 5, 2026