The slides of a talk I presented on the First Folk Archery Tournament in Ledu, Qinghai, People's Republic of China. The subject is researching a style of Qing dynasty archery.

1. Manchu archery
From research to practice

2. Contents

3. Contents
Introduction
The Manchu bow
Recreating a style
Future of Manchu archery

4. Introduction
The Manchus

5. Ming 1368 - 1644

6. Qing 1644 - 1644

7. Victory of the Khorgos, 1758

8. The Manchu bow
Design and performance

9. Characteristics

10. Characteristics
Highest amount of stored energy for a given draw weight
At the expense of arrow velocity
Designed to shoot heavy arrows with great force

11. Force-draw curves
English longbow Manchu bow Manchu actual buildup
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0 Full draw
Half draw
Initial tension

12. Recreating a style
of Manchu military archery

13. Manchu archery / Qing archery?
Qing archery combines a$ styles of the Qing.
Not a$ styles of the Qing were military.
To learn, we must zoom in on one style.
I chose the Manchu style.
A$ “high Qing” Manchus were in the military.

14. Pillars of military archery
Accuracy
The ability to inflict damage
The ability to strike %om a distance
The ability to strike quickly
The ability to protect one’s body

15. Sources for study
Qing texts on archery
Artwork and photographs
Living traditions of related cultures
Period eye-witness accounts
Antique artifacts
Oral transmission

16. Qing manuals

17. Early photographs
(By H.R. Kress, courtesy of Stephen Selby)

19. (Living) traditions of other cultures
More oblique stance / canting / leaning postures

20. Japanese Kyudo Korean Gungdo

21. Foreign observers
George Fleming Etienne Zie
Anonymous

22. Meeting Ku Ku, a Manchu archer

23. Imperial guard, 1722 Ku Ku, 1957
Continuity

24. The future
of Manchu military archery

25. Now
Knowledge is becoming more and more complete
A training group in Bad Krozingen, Germany.
A lively Facebook group: “Traditional Manchu Archery”
Interest around the world is picking up!

26. Future plans
Seminar in the USA. (March)
(Hosted by Jaap & Kay Koppedrayer. With talks by Justin Ma, Jie Tan, and myself.)
Manchu archery as a sport at a Chinese school
Training groups in the Netherlands Argentina, Sweden and South Africa?
Two books

27. Conclusion

28. Conclusion
Using a mix of various sources one can come a long way in reviving an old style
Chose one style, and examine its purpose, interactions with other cultures, etc.
Stay open-minded & avoid dogma!

29. Thanks!
For having me here!
Stephen Selby for paving the way for us through ATARN.org
A$ the %iends and supporters around the world that help us grow.

30. ? Questions?