Ceremonial Arrowhead (<i>Yanone</i>) 1645

This ceremonial arrowhead, or yanone, was created in Japan by Umetada Motoshige, sometime between the late 16th and late 17th centuries. It is wrought from iron, copper and silver. The yanone's imagery of deer and foliage speak to an important shift in Japanese culture at this time. With the decline of centralized imperial power, the samurai class rose to prominence, codifying their culture in rituals such as archery. But while the image could evoke the honor of hunting, the elaborate and precious materials of the yanone also display a culture of wealth and display. The deer were believed to be messengers of the gods, which would reinforce the sense of samurai authority with the divine right of kings. To better understand such cultural objects, historians look to a variety of sources to better understand the ritual practices, economic systems, and belief structures of the time. In this way, we come to see art as bound to the conditions of its creation.