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
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.
In ancient China, a whistling arrow was shot to signal the start of battle.
This work is considered the dawn of modern literature in Japan.
That small protest became the beginning of a large social movement.