Bow and Arrow

The Bow and Arrow (弓と矢) (more generally the Arrow (矢)) is a powerful item introduced early in Part IV.

In Part IV, it becomes a major plot-driving force for its role as the source of many new Stand users; and it is revealed that its influence extends back to Part III.

Some of the Arrows or fragments of Arrow-heads also bear influence on the events of Part V and Part VI; where further previous influence is detailed.

History
The Arrows (a known total of 6) are forged from a meteorite that crashed in Greenland circa 50,000 BC.

Even before the creation of the Arrows, the meteorite's material properties were understood and utilized by humans.

Stand-awakening property
The stone that the meteorite consisted of will catalyze and awaken the Stand of any living creature it cuts.

However, if the target of a cut lack sufficient spiritual strength, they will die from the resultant spiritual strain. On the other hand, the Arrows normally only seek out (and cut) those who can handle the strain to begin with.

One could argue that the arrow-stone meteorite sought out Earth with its many strong spirits, rather than striking the planet by chance.

Other physical effects of piercing
In certain cases, such as with Ken Oyanagi and Stray Cat, with neither of them being exposed to regeneration or regenerative abilities, the wound caused by the arrow will heal and leave a hole about the size of an average coin.

As the origin of Joestar Family Stands
The Arrow's effects are also transferable down bloodlines, generally without exception as the Arrow that pierced Jonathan's body taken over by Dio awakened Stands in the rest of the Joestar family, with certain people without the necessary spiritual strength suffering from the strain (such as Holy Kujo and Josuke Higashikata).

"Requiem" Stands
When a Stand user is pierced by the Arrow, as in the case with Yoshikage Kira, the Stand in question doesn't change, but instead gains a new power. The user himself/herself changes in appearance as well.

But, if the Arrow hits the Stand instead of the Stand User, the Stand, then known as a Requiem Stand, completely changes form and its powers become drastically greater than usual.

Breaking an Arrow-head; Fragments
It is possible to break an Arrow and render it ineffective. This is largely implied to be related to the insect-like carving on the flat face of an arrow, which, if intact, will be usable.

It can even retain its effects and seek out potential Stand users in the form of an amulet that Jotaro gave to Jolyne, as long as the insect carving on its face is intact and it is able to pierce its target.

The Arrows
Six Arrows have been found so far. All of them were originally stolen from an excavation team in Egypt by Diavolo in the year 1986 and all but one were then sold to Enya Geil. They are as follows:


 * 1) Possessed by Enya Geil and used to awaken DIO's Stand, also causing Stands to awaken within those of Joestar blood. Knowledge of this arrow was retrieved by the Speedwagon Foundation thanks to a picture of Enya with it and a bow. This Arrow is most likely the one (with an accompanying Bow) seen on DIO's wall in the anime adaptation of Stardust Crusaders. Since Jotaro thought that there was only one arrow after hearing Angelo's story, it was not retrieved at the end of Part 3. Hole design.
 * 2) Given to the Nijimura brothers' father by Enya. Used by the brothers to create Stands in order to discover one able to kill their father. Later stolen by Akira Otoishi who tried it on two rats, then was taken into Speedwagon Foundation's custody. Hole design. Probably the source of the shard that Jotaro gave to Jolyne's mother when they divorced and that Jolyne receives 2 or 3 years later at the beginning of Stone Ocean, though the shard's arrow design can not be identified.
 * 3) Given to Yoshihiro Kira by Enya. He used it to awake his son's Stand and years later used to create other users to protect him. Its whereabouts after powering up the Stand Killer Queen with Bites the Dust are unknown. Hole design. It might have been destroyed when Yoshihiro's picture exploded.
 * 4) The arrow that Diavolo did not sell to Enya. Given to Polpo and merged with Black Sabbath to test new members of Passione. Hole design. It was shattered with the death of Polpo and Black Sabbath's destruction.
 * 5) Complete arrow recovered by Polnareff in Egypt, and used to awaken the Requiem abilities of Silver Chariot and Gold Experience. Later entered the possession of Giorno Giovanna. This is the only shown arrow retrieved by Diavolo with an insect figure on it instead of a hole, though one of the 6 arrows' design is unknown since hidden behind another.
 * 6) Possibly the arrowhead given to Enrico Pucci by DIO himself, though its whereabouts are unknown as it seemingly disappeared (or returned somehow to DIO) after Pucci was pierced. Insect design. If not the sixth Arrow, then it could likely be Polnareff arrow before the head was placed on a complete wood piece, or be the origin of Jolyne's shard.

Chain of events as described in Part V


(Translation)

People shot with the Bow & Arrow
By Enya Geil: By Keicho Nijimura: By Akira Otoishi: By Yoshihiro Kira: By Polpo: By Polnareff: By Jolyne's amulet: By Pucci's piece:
 * DIO
 * Anjuro Katagiri
 * Tamami Kobayashi
 * Toshikazu Hazamada
 * Yukako Yamagishi
 * Kishibe Rohan
 * Akira Otoishi
 * Koichi Hirose
 * Mushikuidenai
 * Bug-Eaten
 * Yoshikage Kira
 * Ken Oyanagi
 * Mikitaka Hazekura (possibly no effect)
 * Yuuya Fungami
 * Toyohiro Kanedaichi
 * Terunosuke Miyamoto
 * Giorno Giovanna (no effect)
 * Koichi Hirose (no effect)
 * Diavolo
 * Old Janitor (caused death)
 * Narancia
 * Silver Chariot
 * Gold Experience
 * Jolyne Cujoh
 * Gwess
 * Ermes Costello
 * Enrico Pucci

Steel Ball Run
A similar case happens in the alternate universe, in a desert along the trail of the Steel Ball Run.

In this case, a meteorite crashes into the desert and forms a mobile formation of land known as the "Devil's Palm" that would change location every time and was feared by the natives near the area.

As was the case with the Arrow, it was rumored that the "Devil's Palm" sought out future Stand users, and like the arrow, imposed a heavy affliction upon them from which the person would survive and obtain a Stand.

JoJolion
After the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake, the Wall Eyes sprout up in locations corresponding to the Stand users.