Bow by Yang Wentong
One of the last bows by Yang Wentong, father of Yang Fuxi.
On weight and balance
In researching antique arms -or any kind of material culture for that matter- it is of paramount importance to actually feel and handle pieces.
Very good hudiedao set
With fine carved hilts, substantial bronze D-guards, and subtle signs of heat treatment on the blades.
An unusual minority dao
The wide blade with clipped tip mounted on a riveted wooden grip.
Chinese target arrow
With snake skin nock. Probably made by Ju Yuan Hao in the 1950s.
Gōng jiàng yíng (弓匠營)
The bow and arrow maker's quarters in Beijing.
Yáng Fúxǐ (杨福喜)
Manchu bow maker of the Jù Yuán Hào (聚元號) shop, Beijing. Active 1998-present.
Yáng Wéntōng (杨文通)
A 20th-century Manchu bow maker of the Jù Yuán Hào (聚元號) shop, Beijing.
Yáng Ruìlín (杨瑞林)
A Manchu bow maker. Owned Jù Yuán Hào (聚元號).
Jù Yuán Hào (聚元號)
A famous bow making shop in Beijing, still active.
Bow by Ju Yuan Hao of Beijing
Made by the last operational bowyer of China, probably for the Mongolian market.
Wōdāo (倭刀 / 窩刀)
Chinese term for a Japanese sword, or a large saber with strong Japanese influence.
Miáodāo (苗刀)
Chinese name for a slender, curved saber. Often associated with large two-handers.
Iron mounted Qing bowcase & quiver
With iron mounts with golden overlay of dragons.
Bàojiàn (骲箭)
Chinese name for a class of arrows with a large, non-ferrous head. Many are whistles, some are blunts.
Liùdàomù (六道木)
Chinese name for a strong and heavy wood used for staffs and arrow shafts.
Republican period whistle arrow
Dating from the revival period of Chinese archery in the 1930s.
Gim (劍)
The Cantonese word for the Chinese straightsword.
Chángdāo (長刀)
Chinese term for "long saber".
Chinese lòukōng sword guard
The archetypical Chinese sword guard that gave rise to the Japanese genre of "nanban tsuba".
Hūshǒu (護手)
Chinese for the handguard of a weapon.
Qing openwork saber guard
A very rare Chinese saber guard dating from the height of the Qing dynasty.
Chinese hùshǒu with lantsa script
A Chinese sword guard from the 18th century with a Buddhist mantra in lantsa script.
Chinese sword guards in Japan
The Chinese saber guard is called dāo hūshǒu (刀護手), or hùshǒu pán (護手盤) in Chinese. This literally translates to "saber handguard" or "disc handguard". At some point, the Japanese got quite a taste for them. Over the years a number of them have turned up from Japanese sources that exhibit alterations that indicate they were used by Japanese on their swords.
Malachite Manchu archer's ring
Such rings were worn by Qing dynasty "bannermen" as a sign of their status as a conquest elite.
Tongzhi period ceremonial halberd
A bronze processional piece with reign marks attributing it to the year 1864.
Heavy Sino-Vietnamese dagger
With a very thick and heavy blade and nicely worked brass mounts.
A fine late Qing jian
A step above the norm in quality for this period, with nicely pierced mounts.
Cantonese saber
With brass mounts and ray skin covered scabbard.
Southern Chinese saber
Of typical southern form with a very slender, pointy blade.
An early form niúwěidāo
With good, layered blade, mounted in forged iron mounts.
Kuī (盔)
Chinese word for helmet.
Jeyen
Manchu word for the tip of a saber.
Teišun-i giyan
Manchu for a brass or bronze mace.
Xián gé dā (弦挌搭)
Chinese term for the knot in a bowstring.
Gōng xián (弓弦)
Chinese term for the bowstring.
Gōng miàn (弓面)
Chinese term for the face of a bow, usually made of buffalo horn.
Huà huà pí (畫樺皮)
Chinese term for the "painted birch bark" often covering composite bows.
Gōng nǎo (弓腦)
Chinese term for the "knee" of a composite bow.
Gōng diànzi (弓墊子)
Chinese term for the string bridge on some types of composite bows.
Kòuzi (扣子)
Chinese term for the string notch on each bow tip.
Shāo tóu (弰頭)
Chinese term for the tips on either end of a bow.
Jiàn liūzi (箭溜子)
Chinese term for the spot on the bow where the arrow slips by.
Lòukōng (鏤空)
Chinese term for openwork.
Gōng shāo (弓弰)
Chinese term for "bow ear".
Wǔkē gōng (武科弓)
Chinese term for heavy bows, often used for strength testing and training.
A Qing strength bow
A very heavy Manchu bow used for strength training and military examinations.
A deconstructed Qing bow
For the bowyers, a set of parts of an authentic 19th century Qing bow.
Qing folding bow
A short-eared composite bow with an iron hinge in the handle so it folds upon itself.