China Archery

Archaeological discoveries proved that archery in China dates back 20,000 years. Practical archery takes three conditions: a bow strong enough to propel arrows, arrows that are sharp enough to kill, and a technique to ensure the stability of arrows in flight. The bow and arrow in ancient China fully met the three conditions. Archaeologists have unearthed finely made arrowheads in a site of the Paleolithic Age in Shanxi Province. Made of stone, the arrowheads were sharp and pointed, and could be mounted on a shaft. No bow was found at the site, since bows were usually made of wood,  bamboo and perhaps tendon of animals and could not remain intact for so many years. But the arrowheads were enough to prove the existence of bows.

As for how to keep the arros stable in flight, Kao-Gong-Ji, the earliest work on science and technology in China, writes under the item of THE ARCHER: “Decide the proportions of the shaft to install the feathers.  The feathers at the end of the shaft are installed in three directions, and then the arrowhead is mounted. An arrow thus made will not lose its balance even in strong winds.” It also says, “When the feathers are too many, the arrows will slow down; when the feathers are too few, the arrow will become unstable.” Later on, ancient Chinese developed bronze arrowheads and the crossbow, upgreading archery to a new height.

Picture of using archery with feet in ancient China:

Gao Xiang (1971-), a famous and excellent traditional bow-maker in China. He was born in Anda City of Heilongjiang Province in 1971. Now he is worked in foreign affairs office of Anda Travel Bureau.

Making traditional bow, arrows and accessories of archery is his only hobbie. For his outstanding skills of making Chinese traditional archery, Mr. Gao Xiang was invited to attend 2009 CTAS (Chinese Traditional Archery Seminar).

His fine works won the high praise of all the seniors, collectors, connoisseurs of Chinese traditional archery and other experts of Chinese archery who attended 2009 CTAS. These seniors and experts are: Mr. Xu Kaicai, Mr. Xie Sufang (Stephen Shelby – Hongkong), Mr. Zhang Yuhua (Yuhua Jang – Taiwan), Mr. Yi Degang, Mr. Yang Fuxi and etc. (more infomation, please visit 2009 CTAS)

“I won’t do the same bow! Do the same bow will not arouse my enthusiasm” , Mr. Gao said that. So the archers should wait for about 10~13 month to get one unique traditional bow which made by Mr. Gao Xiang. “It is worthy of waiting so long, ” one archer said that, “All we know that, Mr. Goa Xiang only make 10 traditional bows each year, this is one really excellent bow which suit for shooting and hunting.”

Fine works from Mr. Gao Xiang-Arrows with tail feather of eagle
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Brief introduction of Zhang Li:

Zhang Li (Pin Yin: zhang-li), a lative of Fuyang, Anhui Province. One famous bow-maker of China. And called by archers as Arlee (pinyin: ar-li) in Chinese.

In ancient China, archery techniques were divided into Han archery and Hu archery. Han archery means the original Chinese archery; Hu archery means the archery techniques from other nationalities living in the west region of China.

Arlee is good at making Han Archery (Han Bow), this type of the bow are the favorites of Chinese archers. Most Han bow which made by Mr. Zhang li have been collected by people around the whole China.

Mr. Zhang Li dedicated to the art of Chinese traditional “Han” archery rescue and recovery for many years. In 2009, Mr. Zhang was invited to participate the third WTAF (2009 World Traditional Archery Festival) in Korea.

“Han bow” which decorate with oxhide, fine works from Mr. Zhang Li:

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