Chinese Archery-lost martial art

[YangLiCheng]

For the Unitiated, read Chinese Archery by Stephen Selby

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

basic facts about the history of Chinese archery listed by eras

late neolithic/early bronze age (Xia, Shang dynsaties)

1. Chinese archery is as old as Chinese history itself. late neolithic and early bronze age Chinese religions often based around archery shaman cults like that of Yi the archer
2. the composite recurve bow is thought to have been invented in China since Shang pictographs offer the first written evidence for this type of bow. Composite bows have existed before Shang China but a composite bow of recurve design does not show up outside of China until the first millenium B.C
3. Chinese recruve bows of this era were asymetrical, long (over 55 inches) and had extremely heavy draw weights up to 160 pounds. Chinese recurve bows will be known for their incredible draw weight until the Ming dynasty. bow weights were meant to fascilitate the ability to penetrate 7 layers of toughened leather from 90 yards away
4. made from horn, woodcore (usually bamboo or mulberry) and sinew with fish glue. this is the way pretty much all composite recurve bows are made up of.

Feudal age up to warring states era(western and eastern zhou)
1. Invention of the crossbow
2. Archery is considered the 6 arts of the Jun Zi(gentleman). Emphasized by Kong Zi (most likely an archery instructor himself at one point in his life). ritual archery is created
3. via Confucian principles and the warrior nobility that has existed since China's beginnings, the Wu Shi (warrior gentleman or "knight") class develops. archery is considered the most important skill.
4. Horse archery is adapted from the Xiong Nu nomads by King Wujiang of Zhao. Soon all the warring states adopt it. it will be considered among the most important (if not the most important) military skill up until the late Qing dynasty

Early Imperial (Qin, Han,Three kingdoms,Wei-Jin, Age of fragmentation, Sui, Tang)

1. ritual archery reaches its peak of popularity during early Han dynasty.
2. Emperor Han Wu Di makes cavalry the main striking force in the Chinese military making Horse archery skills even more important
3. crossbow declines in popularity during the North-South dynasties due to popularity of heavy cavalry
4. ritual archery vanishes by age of fragmentation slowly replaced by sport archery
5. Emperor Tang Tai Zong allows archery practice to occur right in his palace(hundreds being trained right in his palace). He joins them frequently
6. Empress Wu ZeTian formalizes archery examinations (mounted, standing, sitting)
7. sport archery becomes China's most popular sport during Tang
8. Wang Ju's famous archery manual is written. archery instruction in the form of poems

late Imperial (5 dynasties ten kingdoms, Song, Jin/Liao.Xi Xia, Yuan, Ming, Qing)

1. crossbow becomes popular again
2. automatic crossbow and divine siege crossbow invented in Song
3. constant incursions of people skilled with bow like the Qidan and NuZhen during Song make archery skills even more important
4. after Mongol conquest. the traditional Chinese recurve bow is re-evaluated and adapted to Mongol style. shorter bow length, lower draw weight enabling faster shooting as well as the string bridge
5. by the Ming dynasty, 200 schools of archery styles exists
6. Manchus re-introduce popularity of long heavy draw weight bows
7. by 20th century, Chinese archery dies.


now i proudly display my own bows

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...azulbow008.jpg
this one above is a typical Ming Chinese/Mongol bow. 60 pound draw weight

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...azulbow001.jpg
this one above is more typical of pre-Yuan era Chinese bows. long length and heavy draw weight. this one is 110 pounds of draw (shown unstrung)

[YangLiCheng]

oh, forgot to mention

famous Chinese archers or those known for archery skills

1. Yi the archer, Kong Zi(Confucious), Yang Youji, General Li Guang, Emperor Tang Tai Zong, Wang Ju, Lu Bu, Qi Ji Guang, Yu Dayou, General Yue Fei, King Wuling of Zhao, Li Chengfen, Gao Ying...and soon

myself

[Liokault]

Asian (to call it chinese covers to much area) archery has not died out totaly. There is at least one country that still valuse skill with a bow, its just that I cant remember who they are.

I saw a documentory on them a while back. They send a guy to the olympics with an old fashioned "normal" type bow.

[GeneChing]

YangLiCheng is right - China has an extraordinary archery heritage, but the only place you'll see it nowadays, for the most part, is in the sale of jadeite and nephrite archer rings at Chinese tourist and 'antique' stores. It's too bad really. I'm not sure why it's not more popular in China. I hear that some of the minorities still practice archery, but that's a pandora's box when it comes to CMA research. China did capture two silvers in archery at the Olympics, Li Lingjuan 1984 and He Yang in 1996.

As for other Asian nations that still practice archery, Japan has taken kyudo to a unique Zen practice. South Korea has an exemplary archery tradition - in fact, they've dominated Olympic archery for years.

[Liokault]

Im thinking hyper trad, Like in Bhutan etc....ill look latter.

[Oso]

YLC, sweet bows !!!

Did you make them or buy them?

Thanks for the info. I shot a bunch as a kid/teen and taught basic archery to Scouts.

Been looking to get back into.

[Liokault]

Yeah, here you go. Archety, national pass time of Bhutan

It was bhutan I was thinking of.

Nice pics here

[YangLiCheng]

people like stephen selby and myself are working to bring more awareness and interest in Chinese archery and ancient Chinese military culture in general. i've gotten my girlfriend into archery but she uses a Korean/Scythian style recurve bow (much more suited to women and children anyways so its perfect for her)

i'm getting tested for my horse riding certificate some time in the next year. then i'll be able to join the International Horse archery federation

i'm already known in my local archery club for being able to draw a 110 pound bow.

[GeneChing]

YangLiCheng
If you're "working to bring more awareness and interest in Chinese archery and ancient Chinese military culture in general" perhaps we can work together. See this post.

[David Jamieson]

Scythian Archery is a lost martial art. lol

People in China still practice archery like anyone else though don't they?
I mean all history aside, no one uses a celtic recurve anymore either.

Bow and Arrow technology is ancient no matter where you go.

[GeneChing]

Bow and Arrow technology is ancient no matter where you go.

Oh I beg to differ. Pick up a modern hunting bow sometime. The technology in modern bow hunting is anything but ancient. Bow hunting is fairly popular here in the states. Bowhunter Magazine is probably bigger than any MA mag - I'll have to look through the newsstand stats to confirm this.

The practice of traditional archery is like the practice of any traditional weapon. I only dabbled in archery, mostly because I was horrible at it, but I have a lot of respect for it, especially kyudo since that's the form I'm most familiar with. Anyway, you gotta have skillz. Numchuk skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills… girls only want boyfriends who have great skills.

[David Jamieson]

Originally Posted by GeneChing

Oh I beg to differ. Pick up a modern hunting bow sometime. The technology in modern bow hunting is anything but ancient. Bow hunting is fairly popular here in the states. Bowhunter Magazine is probably bigger than any MA mag - I'll have to look through the newsstand stats to confirm this.

The practice of traditional archery is like the practice of any traditional weapon. I only dabbled in archery, mostly because I was horrible at it, but I have a lot of respect for it, especially kyudo since that's the form I'm most familiar with. Anyway, you gotta have skillz. Numchuk skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills… girls only want boyfriends who have great skills.

Hey G~ I doubly beg to differ as there is a segment of traditional bow hunters out there who do not use compound bows and opt for super quality recurves.

These can get upwards of 60lbs test or so and have no pullies, no fancy sites and no technology that hasn't been available for at least a few thousand years, although I would think some of the polymer resins are likely a little stronger.

My last bow was one of these fine pieces. My Dad has it now, so I'll probably get it again one day , but despite all the tech leaps in Bows and arrows, there is that group of traditionalists out there is all I'm saying.

Now those Kyudo guys in japan, well that bow is funky but the art is all about zen.
Mind you, any sort of weapon like darts, bows and arrows, spears and anything else that leaves your hand to strike a target has some zen involved.

[YangLiCheng]

Originally Posted by GeneChing

YangLiCheng
If you're "working to bring more awareness and interest in Chinese archery and ancient Chinese military culture in general" perhaps we can work together. See this post.

hmmm no offense gene but the reason i joined was because people on the sword forum were mad at your article about the supposed "wei jia broadsword"(no such thing)

how much ancient weapons or modern weapons made the ancient way have you handled personally

[YangLiCheng]

Originally Posted by David Jamieson

Scythian Archery is a lost martial art. lol

People in China still practice archery like anyone else though don't they?
I mean all history aside, no one uses a celtic recurve anymore either.

Bow and Arrow technology is ancient no matter where you go.

actually, no. people still practice scythian style archery. Korean archery is actually very similar to Scythian style.

widespread practice of Chinese archery is pretty much dying or dead. i'm one of the few left dedicated to this art form. once i get my horse riding certificate and become good at horse archery, i'll be able to represent my people's ancient glory on the battle field at the International horse archery festival

[GeneChing]

hmmm no offense gene but the reason i joined was because people on the sword forum were mad at your article about the supposed "wei jia broadsword"(no such thing)

Excellent! Then perhaps you can help rectify the situation by setting us straight, in print. Do you want to help? Does anyone at sword forum want to help?

how much ancient weapons or modern weapons made the ancient way have you handled personally

I worked as a full-time swordmaker for about five years at The Armoury, a division of American Fencer's Supply - we made replicas for use in stage combat. We weren't a forge; we bought blades from old European forges and fashioned fittings and such. During that time, I supplemented my income dealing in antique and modern-made swords at gun shows and by word-of-mouth. I've continued to work full time in the CMA field, now for over a decade, and for two separate companies. Part of my job at both companies was to look at samples, both modern and antique, also to seek out new suppliers, so I've personally inspected a few forges and such. My position as a buyer has allowed me to see a lot of unique stuff. So I've had some experience, more than most if you'd call over a fifteen years of professional work in the industry more. How about you?