The Mughal Bow – A Weapon of Empire

Known for their excellent archers, the Mughals forged an empire incorporating the Indian sub-continent, Afghanistan in the west, Kashmir to the north, and Bangladesh in the east.  The Mughals would dominate this region for most of the 16th to 19th centuries with the help of their archers. The Mughal bow is a relatively short Asiatic reflex bow. The key feature of the Mughal type is the large limb tips (siyahs) that overlap when the bow is unstrung.

The Turkish Bow: A Culmination

The Turks crafted the most sophisticated and powerful bows of the ancient world. They constructed their weapon from materials typical of Asiatic recurve bows – a wooden core,  horn on the belly, and sinew on the back. However, the Turkish bow had the most extreme curvature because, when unstrung, the outer limbs would curve forward in a “C” shape and would often touch or overlap. Turkish archers used a thumb draw to operate their bows and frequently wore a thumb ring, or “zihgir,” to protect the digit and assist with the draw. 

A traditional Turkish bow is a relatively short bow measuring between 41 and 44 inches from tip to tip when strung. The extreme reflex of the bow limbs, as well as the materials, results in extremely efficient bows. Flight archery (distance shooting) was widely practiced throughout the Ottoman Empire. Distances of 800 meters or more are recorded.

Traditional Chinese Bows

Traditional Chinese archery incorporates a variety of bows. Archeological and written records indicate the use of mainly wood/horn/sinew composite bows were the primary bows used, but wood composites and selfbows were also used. Some of the bow types used in ancient China include:

• Scythian Horn Bows. Scythian style bows have been found in burials in China some dating to around 600 BCE. It is surprising to find these style bows so far east as the bow was more well known to the Greeks and other areas of Western Europe. Nevertheless, the shape of the Scythian bow is unmistakable and these bow discoveries in China are a testament to the geographical widespread use of this style of bow.
• Longbows (selfbows). Longbows and bows constructed from composites of wood were known and used more extensively in more humid and warmer areas of Southern China. Humidity is not good for horn bows and the humidity could affect the adhesives that held the layers of material together.
• Long-siyah Horn Bows. Many later model traditional Chinese bows have relatively large siyahs (the siyah is the non-bending end section of an Asiatic recurve). Later Chinese bows also feature prominent string bridges.
• Qing Dynasty Bow (Manchurian Bow) – The Manchu bow is a large long-siyah horn bow with prominent string bridges. The emphasis of placed on shooting very long and heavy arrows with maximum penetrative effect. Modern Mongolian bows such as those used in the Nadaam festival are heavily influenced by the Qing bow.

Gakung – extreme reflex horn bow

The Gakung is similar to construction to other Eurasian composite bows such as the Mongolian and Turkish bows; the core is bamboo with water buffalo horn joined to the belly. The siyahs are usually made from mulberry wood. The bows varied layers and parts are glued together with a natural adhesive derived from the swim bladders of particular fish.

What really sets the Korean bow apart is its geometry. When strung, it is relatively small and unassuming at first glance, but lurking within the bow is raw power and relentless efficiency. Unstringing the bow reveals the extremity of its reflex. The Korean bow nearly forms a circle with the tips of the siyahs nearly touching. Due to this extreme reflex, the Gukung has a long draw, with archers drawing well past the ear. The targets for traditional Korean archery are at a distance of 145 meters or greater. Modern Olympic distances range from only 30 to 90 meters.