chinese self longbows

Justin Ma · Post by **Justin Ma** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:35 am

A picture on page 15 of Stephen Selby's "Archery Traditions of Asia" shows a reproduction of a Warring States (475 BC -- 221 BC) long self-bow.

Where I can purchase such a bow?

jiao · Post by **jiao** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:46 am

picture ?

Justin Ma · Post by **Justin Ma** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 4:54 am

jiao wrote:picture ?

Haha, I'm not inclined to reproduce the picture without Stephen's permission. But I have a tough time finding the image on Google. The Chinese terminology would be "战国代单木长弓" or "战国代单木弓".

jkekoni · Post by **jkekoni** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:17 am

Is it similar to this bow? (ATARN.NET DECEMBER 2000 )

warring states -475 to -221

This is supposed to be:
Western Han Dynasty -206 to + 8

Justin Ma · Post by **Justin Ma** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:27 am

jkekoni wrote:Is it similar to this bow? (ATARN.NET DECEMBER 2000 )

Yes, though the picture from the book showed a finished and strung replica.

jkekoni · Post by **jkekoni** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:46 am

If the dimensions exists, that one does not look like hard to make. It is not hard to make without the dimensions either, but the dimensions might help making one more like original.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:55 am

The 11th century scroll sometimes called The Chingming Festival on the river shows a bow shop with a customer drawing a bow. The bow is either a self bamboo longbow or a bamboo laminated bow. The archer is putting his back into drawing it.

The painting was of the Northern Song capital of Kaifeng. Details are accurately observed and there is no reason to doubt the painter saw a similar bow. The bow is a single arc and looks very strong.

Justin Ma · Post by **Justin Ma** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:18 am

Bede wrote:The 11th century scroll sometimes called The Chingming Festival on the river shows a bow shop with a customer drawing a bow.

Which segment of the scroll is the bow shop located? I have a hard time finding it.

However, I do notice just to the upper-left of the big bridge is an open dirt arena where people are doing mounted archery before a local magistrate. In the middle of the arena, a rider is shooting at a wooden structure that looks like a set of American Football goal posts. The bow seems to be relatively long.

Justin Ma · Post by **Justin Ma** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 4:00 pm

http://www.atarn.org/letters/ltr_sep01.htm

Found it! The replica was made by Nigel Burras of Llanbedrog.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 10:24 am

Justin,
Are you looking at the original or the colour copy?

Justin Ma · Post by **Justin Ma** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 2:05 pm

Bede wrote:Justin,
Are you looking at the original or the colour copy?

I'm looking at a color copy.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 2:47 am

I am not sure of the colour copy since it has a number of scenes not in the original. In the latter, there is a bow shop with several bows leaning against the rear wall. I have to unroll the scroll to find the right place. I will do it later today if I can get enough space. It is a facsimile copy printed in China years ago.