Bow and Arrow

The Bow and Arrow (弓と矢 Yumi to Ya) (more generally the Arrow (矢 Ya)) is a powerful item introduced early in Diamond is Unbreakable.

In Part 4, 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 Stardust Crusaders.

Some of the Arrows or fragments of Arrow-heads also bear influence on the events of Vento Aureo and Stone Ocean; where further previous influence is detailed.

Profile

History

MeteoriteSurvey — Surveyers discover virus from Meteorite crater

Approximately 50,000 years ago, a meteorite crash landed on Earth around an underpopulated region of Cape York^W, Greenland^W. In 1978, a mineral excavation team uncovered an unknown virus within the rocks of the surrounding area and determined that it had been laying dormant inside the meteorite that hit Earth long ago. Despite extensive research, government doctors were unable to determine the alien virus' purpose outside the total elimination of human life. Akin to the theory of evolution, it was discovered that certain people possessed a quality that would enable them to survive when exposed to the virus, additionally granting them supernatural abilities.^[1]

Several hundred years before the discovery of the virus, a man who wished to acquire the power of gods took the rocks and fashioned them into Arrows. These Arrows had since been lost until 1986 when an Egyptian ruins investigation team that included a young Diavolo uncovered six of them from underneath the Egypt desert. The Arrows were eventually stolen by Diavolo, who sold five of them to Enya the Hag. The Arrows allowed the wielder to unlock Stand abilities in those who had the potential to awaken one, essentially acting as the aforementioned trigger. The six Arrows were eventually distributed between various people, among them were Keicho Nijimura, Yoshihiro Kira, and Jean Pierre Polnareff.^[2]

Stand-awakening property

Stand Creation — The Arrow's power awakening a Stand

The Arrows fashioned from the meteorite will catalyze and awaken the Stand of any living creature they pierce.

However, if the target lacks sufficient spiritual strength, they will die if the wound is fatal. On the other hand, the Arrows normally only seek out (and pierce) those who can handle the strain to begin with.

It is theorized that the meteorite sought out Earth through the will of its many strong spirits, rather than striking the planet by chance.

^{[citation needed]}

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 Joestar'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 at the time). A family member without the spiritual strength to control a Stand will be slowly overwhelmed by it as if they were suffering a severe fever as it happened with Holy Kujo and Josuke.

Arrow piercing Stand users or Stands

When a Stand user is pierced by the Arrow, as in the case with Yoshikage Kira, the Stand in question gains a new power. It should be noted, however, that in the only known example of this, the Arrow has had to move by itself and pierce the Stand user willingly.

If the Arrow hits the Stand instead of the user,^[3] the Stand completely changes form and its powers become drastically greater than usual. In the two instances where this form was achieved, Requiem was added to the end of the Stand's name. Gold Experience has been pierced twice by Arrows but only once did it evolve into a Requiem Stand; why this phenomenon happens and how it works are unexplained.

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 revealed to date. All six were originally stolen from an archaeological site in Egypt by Diavolo in the year 1986. Five of them (including the Arrow with the beetle design) were subsequently sold to Enya the Hag. The following Arrows have been identified:

The Arrow that Diavolo did not sell to Enya, presumably used to awaken his Stand King Crimson. Later given to Polpo and merged with his Stand Black Sabbath in order to create Stand Users for Passione. Cuts Gold Experience's hand in battle, but does not grant it Requiem abilities.^[4] Shattered with the death of Polpo.^[5]
Obtained by Keicho Nijimura, who learned of Enya through her relation to DIO and thus his father.^[6] Used by the Nijimura brothers in their attempts to create a Stand User capable of killing their father. Later stolen by Akira Otoishi, who used it to grant Stands to two rats. Taken into the custody of the Speedwagon Foundation after his defeat.^[7]
Given to Yoshihiro Kira by Enya.^[8] Used to awaken his son's Stand and to create Stand Users to protect him from the Joestar Group. Later pierces Yoshikage Kira a second time, awakening his Stand's third ability, Bites the Dust. Possibly shattered with the destruction of Yoshihiro's photograph.^[9]
An Arrow possessing a unique beetle design recovered by Jean Pierre Polnareff in Egypt, and used to awaken the Requiem abilities of Silver Chariot and Gold Experience. It later enters the possession of Giorno Giovanna.

Two of the five Arrows sold to Enya are missing.^[10] However, there are several instances in the series where an unidentified Arrow appears:

An Arrow given to Enrico Pucci by DIO.^[11] It is used to awaken Pucci's Stand Whitesnake as well as his brother's Stand Weather Report^[12]. Its whereabouts afterwards are unknown, though it bears a highly similar design to the Arrow recovered by Polnareff.
An Arrow shard possessed by Jotaro Kujo, who gives it to his ex-wife, and eventually Jolyne at the beginning of Stone Ocean. Used to awaken her Stand Stone Free.
An Arrow seen on DIO's wall (with an accompanying Bow) in the anime adaptation of Stardust Crusaders.

Whether these Arrows belong to the missing two or the identified four is currently unknown.

Chain of events as described in Part 5

(Translation)

People shot with the Bow & Arrow

By Enya the Hag:

DIO (Possibly Others)

By Keicho Nijimura:

By Akira Otoishi:

By Yoshihiro Kira:

By Diavolo:

Himself
Coco Jumbo

By Polpo:

Giorno Giovanna (no effect)
Koichi Hirose (no effect)
Old Janitor (caused death)
Narancia Ghirga
Guido Mista

By Jean Pierre Polnareff:

Silver Chariot (created Chariot Requiem)
Gold Experience (created Gold Experience Requiem)

By Jolyne's amulet:

By Pucci's piece:

Enrico Pucci

Similar phenomena in SBR & JoJolion

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.