嚆こう矢し

noun

whistling arrow used to signal the start of battle

Historical term for a special arrow that made a whistling sound when shot, used to signal the beginning of a battle. Now mainly encountered in historical or literary contexts.

See also: 鏑矢

• 古こ代だい中ちゅう国ごくでは、戦いくさの開かい始しを告つげるために嚆こう矢しが放はなたれた。

  In ancient China, a whistling arrow was shot to signal the start of battle.

noun

start; beginning; dawn

Figurative extension from the whistling arrow sense; used to refer to the very beginning of something, especially a movement, trend, or era. Often appears in formal or literary writing.

• この作さく品ひんは日本にほんにおける近きん代だい文ぶん学がくの嚆こう矢しとされている。

  This work is considered the dawn of modern literature in Japan.

• その小ちいさな抗こう議ぎが、大おおきな社しゃ会かい運うん動どうの嚆こう矢しとなった。

  That small protest became the beginning of a large social movement.