Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 2.djvu/161

 pageant, indeed, rather than a genuine military exercise. When dogs became the targets, skill of a more genuine type was required. This kind of archery had its origin in the hunting of wild cattle on the moors, but ultimately dogs were substituted, a hundred or fifty being let loose in an arena of fixed dimensions, where they were pursued by thirty-six archers on horseback. Here again the dominant idea was sport and spectacular effect. For really earnest archery it is necessary to turn to the unmounted bowman, but his method of practice need not be described further than to say that his favourite targets were a suspended ball, a stag made of grass, or strips of paper hanging from a stick.

In very ancient times the bow was supplemented by the sling, and in the ninth century a catapult came into use. But these implements never had wide vogue. A fire arrow was occasionally employed. Japanese soldiers used it in their Korean campaign in the sixth century, and after the introduction of fire-arms it was discharged from a barrel by means of gunpowder.

Sometimes, but very rarely, stone-throwing occupied the soldier's attention. Kiheiji, nicknamed Hatchō Tsubute (the eight-hundred-yard thrower), a follower of the great archer Tametomo, became famous for skill of that kind, but it is noteworthy that the Japanese were never infected by the passion of their neighbours, the Koreans, for stone-throwing as a mode of fighting.