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 fight. 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, 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 arrow stable in flight, Kao Gang 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 arrow will become unstable.” Later on, ancient Chinese develop bronze arrowheads and the crossbow, upgrading archery to a new height.
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The Mongolian method of arrow release shows up on the Great Plains of North America:
Google --"The Aboriginal Bow and Arrow of North America and Eastern Asia" or chinesediscoveramerica.com
Most people are unaware of the structural advancements of the bows used by the ancient
Chinese. Archery was serious business. National defense depended on having the best
available equipment. Therefore, except for the most primitive people the "Composite Bow"
made of horn and sinew as well as wood was the bow of choice for all progressive civilizations long before the Common Era began. Would you believe that Asian composite
bow technology has been found in North America? Google "Composite Bows" for more information.
Hendon Harris III
Dear Sirs, I believe that its most interesting that the archer's horse on this page has a
crupper belt as do all ancient Chinese horse saddles. What interests me is that I have
found a very large ancient picture in North America of a Tang Dynasty style horse. Not only does this horse image have a crupper belt but it also has the Asian style saddle as well as
the shortened and groomed Asian style horse's tail as well as a stirrup and a cinch belt. If you want to view this image please go to http://www.chinesediscoveramerica.com/geoglyphsmaps/the-harris-horse/
Let me know what you think. With this much detail could this be anything but a VERY VERY
OLD CHINESE HORSE.
Hendon Harris