"...However, most 侍 did not use their sword as a primary weapon; they used a bow first, a spear next, and only then the sword. Drawing the sword was like letting the soul blaze free when down to the last straw. To have fought until nothing but a surrender is possible was described as 「剣折れ、矢も尽き」 (lit. 'with swords broken and without an arrow'), used as a proverb."

—Wikipedia.org