The whistling sound was also believed to chase away evil spirits, and to alert friendly kami to lend their support. It was not uncommon for archery exchanges to be performed for quite some time, and in the 1183 battle of Kurikara, for example, fifteen arrows were shot by each side, then thirty, then fifty, then one hundred, before these hundred samurai on each side actually engaged one another in battle.
The whistling sound was also thought to ward off malevolent spirits, and to signal friendly kami to provide assistance. It was not unusual for archery exchanges to be prolonged, and in the 1183 battle of Kurikara, for instance, fifteen arrows were fired by each side, then thirty, then fifty, then one hundred, before these hundred samurai on each side actually clashed in combat.