Chinese Composite Bow

Timeline

1. c. -1300–-771Central Plains region during the Shang and Zhou · Central PlainsOracle bone inscriptions of the Shang dynasty and bronze inscriptions of the Western Zhou already record bows and arrows. The Kaogong ji (Records of Trades) of the Rites of Zhou systematically described the six materials of composite bow manufacture, specifying seasonal material collection and drying cycles (the entire bow-making process taking up to three years), showing that by the Western Zhou the Chinese composite bow was already highly standardized and was the core ranged weapon of chariot formations and mounted archery.
2. c. -206–907Chang'an (capital of the Han and Tang) · GuanzhongThe Han dynasty established dedicated workshops (kaogong) to manufacture composite bows uniformly, issuing the horn bow (infantry bow) as standard infantry equipment and a slightly shorter bow as standard cavalry equipment, with bow strength graded by the unit 'dan'. Building on the Han system, the Tang standardized bow strength grades (one to three dan) and made mounted archery a required subject in the military examination, laying the foundation for archer training systems of subsequent dynasties.
3. 1451–1460Beijing capital camps and the Nine Frontier garrisons · ChinaAfter the Tumu Crisis of 1449, the Zhengtong Emperor was captured, and Yu Qian led the successful defense of the capital. During the Jingtian to Tianshun era the Ming court vigorously reorganized its armaments; the manufacture of composite bows and the training and testing of archers were comprehensively strengthened in the Three Great Camps of the capital and the garrisons of the Nine Frontier towns, making it the core ranged weapon of Ming cavalry mobile operations and border defense. Although firearms had been issued to some units, the bow's rate of fire and reliability kept it dominant throughout the mid-Ming period.