What kind of pith/bark was used on Qing bow grips ?

Alam ed Din, Adnan · Post by **Alam ed Din, Adnan** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:18 pm

Anyone know? It doesn't seem to be the same kind of pith made from mediteranean oak trees that is availiable in the western countries. Anyone know? Is it availiable? The Qinghai made Tibetan modern bow on Atarn.org seems to have that very pith as well, so it must still be availiable somewhere.
What is it's name?

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:40 pm

It is cork from the cork oak tree. They grow in Korea. I have one old Qing bow and there is no doubt of the material. The grip could also be wrapped with leather over the cork. I have seen a wrapping like that attached to a bow of the Qianlong Emperor.

The cork is essentially the same as the European tree's product.

I saw some in Seoul today at the Seonjeongneung, which is a small tomb complex near my hotel. I have attached a picture of the trunk of the tree.

Alam ed Din, Adnan · Post by **Alam ed Din, Adnan** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 7:42 pm

Thanks for your reply, Bede. I didn't expect it to be of the same cork oak. It looks so smooth, maybe there is a special way of cutting/processing it...??

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:37 am

Alam,
It might be in the way they sliced the inner bark into layers. I haven't seen any descriptions of the processing. I assumed the smoothness was from wear and tear in use, but it might have been original. Perhaps Peter Dekker has some original information.

Alam ed Din, Adnan · Post by **Alam ed Din, Adnan** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 1:12 am

Thank you Bede, I have been Peter Dekker site recently, I loved it.