This book, the first research publication on China’s archery culture to appear in the English language, introduces the historic development, key concepts, and research methodologies for archery studies. Archery was the most important weapon of war in pre-modern China; at the same time, archery practice was intimately tied to Confucius’ cultural and pedagogic ideals. Chinese archery was divided into the domains of military archery (wushe) and ritual archery (lishe), and may be further distinguished into han (Chinese) and hu (barbarian) archery traditions. Bringing together the leading scholars in this field, including Ma Mingda, Stephen Selby, Ma Lianzhen, Peter Dekker, and others, this book presents the most comprehensive statement on archery studies to date. In particular, it provides an in-depth survey of archery development during the Qing period and offers a unique cultural perspective to understanding China’s last imperial dynasty―through the lens of Manchu archery.
Author(s): Hing Chao, Lianzhen Ma, Loretta Kim
Series: Martial Studies, 1
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 362
City: Singapore
Acknowledgments
Notes About Language, Measurements, and Time
Introduction
Contents
Editors and Contributors
Background: Theory, Material Culture and Literature
Toward a Framework for Understanding Traditional Chinese Archery Culture
1 Introduction
2 Military Archery (Wushe), Archery Rites (Lishe), and Archery Examination (Shishe)
3 Han Archery and Hu Archery
4 Conclusion
References
Archery Books in China
References
The Bows of China
1 Introduction
2 Archaeology
3 Geographical Range and Ethnonyms
4 The Period up to 1000 BCE
4.1 Scythian/Saka Bows of the Eastern Zhou Period
4.2 Proto-Xiongnu/Xiongnu Bows
4.3 Eastern Region Han Chinese Simple Horn Composites
4.4 Self-bows
4.5 Bows of the Mongolian Imperial Period
4.6 Chinese Bows in the Ming Dynasty
4.7 The Manchu Bow
5 Conclusion
References
Rituals and Transmission: Archery in Ancient China
A Socio-political Study of the Chinese Archery Rituals of the Zhou Dynasty
1 Introduction
2 Ritual as a Phenomenon in Social Anthropology
3 The Historical Backdrop to the Time of Confucius and the Development of Ritual
4 Sources for the Archery Rituals
4.1 Shang Dynasty Oracle Bones
4.2 Inscriptions on Bronze Vessels
5 The Actors
6 The Actions
7 The Implements
7.1 Bows
7.2 Arrows
7.3 Target
7.4 Thumb Rings and Bracers
8 The Music
9 The Hymns
9.1 Zouyu
9.2 The Raccoon’s Head
9.3 Gathering the Ping Herb
9.4 Gathering the Fan Plant
10 Sights, Sounds and Smells
11 Conclusion
11.1 Social Outcomes
11.2 Political Outcomes
References
Archery Masters in Ancient China
References
Diplomacy and Exchange: China’s Foreign Relations Through the Lens of Archery
Banquet Archery at Yujinyuan Garden in the Song Dynasty
References
Chinese Archery’s Historical Influence on Japan
References
Archery in Manchu China: Diversity and Unity
Manchu Archery
1 Introduction
2 The Manchus
3 The Role of Archery
4 The Manchu Bow
5 Origin of the Design
6 Bow Decoration
7 Arrows
7.1 Needles and Blades
7.2 Specialized Arrows
7.3 Whistling Arrows
8 Manchu Archery
9 Specifics of the Style
10 Conclusion
References
The Imperial Hunt in the Qing Dynasty
1 Archery as a Unique Method of Hunting
2 The Functions of Archery
3 Two Exemplary Imperial Hunters: Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong
4 Imperial Patronage for Hunting
References
The Institution and Administration of Imperial Bowyers and Fletchers During the Qing Dynasty
1 Official Positions of Bowyers and Fletchers
1.1 Roles and Responsibilities
1.2 Roles and Responsibilities of Fletchers
2 Administration of Bowyers and Fletchers
2.1 Promotion and Sacking
2.2 Salary
2.3 Reward and Punishment
3 Conclusion
References
Markers of Ancestral Heritage: Manchu Arrowheads
1 A Whistling Arrowhead
2 Huangchao liqi tushi
3 The Place of the Bow
4 Markers of Manchu Identity
5 The Imperial Hunt at Mulan
6 The Range of Manchu Arrowheads
7 Whistling Arrowheads
References
Solon Archery Tradition: Forgotten Martial Arts of a Qing Elite Force
1 Mystery Solon Arrows
2 In Search of the Solon
3 Solon Before the Banners
4 Solon Martial Culture and Archery Tradition
5 Solon Banners
6 Manchu Influence on Solon Archery
7 Solon and Sibe Archery
References
Contemporary Revival and Development of Traditional Asian Archery
Archery Rites: Remaking Confucian Rites
1 Introduction
2 Ritual Archery and Confucian Rites
3 The Reenactment of Ritual Archery in the Re-making of Confucian Rites Project
4 The Archery Rites and Intangible Cultural Heritage in China
5 Reenactment and the Archery Rites
6 Rites of the Provincial Archery Competition Xiang She Li
7 Recording the Rites of the Provincial Archery Competition
8 Transmitting Ritual Embodied Acts
9 Aesthetic Transcription Through the Annotation of Ritual Movement
10 Exhibiting the Rites of the Provincial Archery Competition
11 Immersive Visualization Platforms
12 Conclusion
References
Korean Archery: Modern Transition and Development
1 Introduction
2 Beginning of Modern Traditional Archery (1899–1910)
3 Development of Modern Traditional Archery (1910–1945)
4 Rebuilding and Development of Modern Traditional Archery (1945–2010)
4.1 Rebuilding
4.2 Adoption of Western-Style Archery and Coexistence
4.3 Development
5 Conclusion
References
Three Fundamental Conditions for the Revival of Traditional Chinese Archery
1 The Bow
2 Arrows
3 Shooting Method
References
Glossary of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Manchu Terms
Index
