catalpa bow; spirit bow
A bow used in Shinto rituals to summon spirits or purify spaces, traditionally made from Japanese cherry birch, catalpa, or similar wood. The term is primarily encountered in religious or historical contexts.
The Shinto priest twangs the catalpa bow to summon the deity.
The term combines 梓 (azusa, 'Japanese cherry birch' or 'catalpa') and 弓 (yumi, 'bow'). The exact origin of the ritual use is uncertain, but the bow has long been associated with Shinto practices for summoning spirits.