Kabura-ya (Japanese Signal Arrow)

Kabura-ya (Japanese Signal Arrow)

Signal arrows, kabura-ya (鏑矢?) (turnip-headed arrow), a type of arrow used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Kabura-ya were arrows which whistled when fired and were used in ritual archery exchanges prior to formal medieval battles. The sound was created by a specially carved or perforated bulb of deer horn or wood attached to the tip. In English, these are often called "whistling-bulb arrows", "messenger arrows", or "signal arrows." Kabura literally translates to "turnip", and thus the Japanese term technically means "turnip-shaped arrows." The Chinese xiangjian (sometimes pronounced and written mingdi) was quite similar, and up until the end of the Warlord Era were commonly used by bandits to announce the gang's approach.