#manchu archery

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Portrait of a 9th-Rank Military Official

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Many today take it for granted that Manchu arrows all had very long feathers. But as we can see in this painting (as well as others in this album- https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.273645592719131&type=3) from the beginning of the dynasty, thru the Conquest period, right up to the end of the Qianlong period, feathers on Manchu arrows easily fit in the brace height of the bow. In other words, for the first half of the Qing dynasty, Manchu arrows were fletched with feather around 9" in length. (Painting is of the Minister of Guizhou).

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集瓊藻—院藏珍玩精華展【清 乾隆 犀角嵌金銀絲扳指】(陳列室：106) #集瓊藻　#犀角　#板指

Permanent Exhibit-【Set of rhinoceros horn archer's rings with gold-and-silver filigree inlay】(Gallery: 106) A Garland of Treasures: Masterpieces of Precious Crafts in the Museum Collection Qianlong reign (1736-1795), Qing dynasty

文物賞析： 　　扳指原是套於拇指上，在射箭時用以勾住弓弦，以防拇指勒傷之用，到了清代逐漸演變為裝飾功能，舉凡玉、瓷、金屬、牙角、木等各種珍貴材質都可用於製作扳指。 　　這一套乾隆時期製作的犀角扳指，原有九件，現存四件，表面皆以金、銀絲鑲嵌如蟠螭、異獸、雲紋、龍獸紋或其他幾何紋樣為裝飾，犀角深褐色為地，在金、銀絲交錯運用下，或勾勒、或交錯，或陪襯，顯得沉穩大器，每件器上皆有四個雙圈圖案，以篆書鑲嵌金絲「乾隆年製」或「乾隆御用」款。不僅材質珍貴，其嵌工精細，充分展現錯金銀工藝之美

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The Five Levels in Manchu Archery-

According to the "Bridge to Art of Archery" there are Five Levels: - eyebrows - nipples - chest - back - arms According to the Qing Novel, "Fleeting Encounters" the Five Levels are: - two shoulder - two elbows - point between the eye Source: Chinese Archery, pg. 378

Regarding the Five Levels, reading any of the Qing era classics of Manchu archery, one finds a clear  focus on internal strength over the external. As with many other martial arts of the period, Manchu archery puts a great deal of stress on proper body mechanics based in correct skeletal alignment. For example, the texts refer to using jin, strength derived from the ligaments and bones, often in concert with qi, in place of muscle strength.

The Five Levels refer to the body position necessary to achieve proper joint alignment. Take the elbows for example. If they are not level,  because the bow arm elbow is rolled up, pointing to the side instead of downward, this rotates the arm out of the shoulder joint such that the arm will not align with the socket. With the arm in such a position, the shoulders will also not be level and the stress of drawing the bow has to be dealt with by the shoulder muscles instead of being borne by the skeleton. This misaligned position puts unnecessary stress on the joints while also creating muscle tension.

Taken as a whole, the "Five Levels" describe the outward appearance of correct body alignment where the internal strength of the ligaments and bones can replace muscle tension. -Scott M. Rodell

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The Archery starts just 16 seconds in. Compare the method of this archer from 1933 with the method I recreated from period manuals- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdh2InvIfL4 Note how close they are in technique and body position. To learn more about Manchu Archery, please see: https://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Manchu-Archery-Imperial-Guard-ebook/dp/B00O4FFDT0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1419275961&sr=1-1&keywords=manchu%20archery

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The Qianlong Emperor Hunting from Horseback by Giuseppe Castiglione

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castiglione_-_Hunting_of_Emperor_Qianlong.jpg

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Qing General with Attendant, 19th century.

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正心 Rectify the Heart

心為身主。正則不偏不陂。不偏謂之中。不陂謂之平。非言射也，適於射合。

The heart is the master of the body. To be correct is to not be leaning and not be uneven. Not leaning means to be centered. Not uneven means to be leveled. This is not speaking about archery, but the same principles applies to archery.

射有求勝恐負之心。心即偏於所求而不中。陂於所恐而不平矣。患莫大焉。

When you shoot, your heart has the desire of success and the fear of failure. Thus your heart is leaning from the desire, and thus not centered. It is uneven from the fear, and thus not level. This is a great peril.

故射之為義， 先期正志。志者心之謂也。心得其正，則無偏陂之私。

Thus, for archery to achieve right conduct, you must first correct your will. Your will is your heart. When your heart is correct, then there is no leaning or unevenness.

性情自然和平，念慮自然精一。可以命中，可以觀德。

Your disposition will naturally be peaceful, and your thoughts will naturally be single-minded. Then you can hit your mark, you can examine your principles.

古云，君子無爭，平之象也。仁者如射，中之道也。反求諸心，焉徃而不得哉。

As the ancients say, a gentleman has no conflicts, this is the sign that he is at peace. If a principled person shoots, then he is sure to hit the mark. On the other hand, if his heart is filled with various desires, then he will seek, but not achieve.

Quoted from 射的 Shooting the Bull’s-eye by Naran Changgiun, published 1770, during the 35th year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign. Translated by James Yu with Scott M. Rodell

for the complete text please see: https://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Manchu-Archery-Imperial-Guard-ebook/dp/B00O4FFDT0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1419275961&sr=1-1&keywords=manchu%20archery