KOREA

The Korean bow was of unique and singular design which, today, seems geographically out of place, being situated between the long cumbersome Chinese composites and the long, seven and a half foot Japanese bow.

More so than the other composites, the Korean bow had the greatest reflex concentrated just above and below the grip. The central part of the limbs was almost straight, and the recurve was pronounced. The core and ears were mulberry. The bridges were of hard (chrometanned) leather covered with red cloth. The horn of buffalo, left uncovered, extended out to the ears, but the back was covered with birch bark or thin leather. One broken bow, the core exposed, showed the surface to be flat and smooth. These bows were very unstable and had to be perfectly balanced before use.

Though all the bows obtained for my collection were old and showed defects which made them unsatisfactory for use, one new bow was obtained about twenty years ago. This was warmed overnight in an electric blanket, aligned, balanced and shot a number of times. For this study, this bow was warmed over a heating element, balanced, and braced. However, when drawn, it reversed, and the horn broke near the grip. Three other bows were braced, but each one let down at the site of the reflex, the sinew lifting off the core or pulling the core apart. The damage was easily repaired by running in some thin synthetic glue, increasing the reflex and wrapping with a rubber band for a day. Then the area was wrapped with linen cord, gut, or sinew and the bows braced with no repeat of the separation. It was noted that some other Korean bows were similarly wrapped, showing that the original owners had much the same troubles. Being unable to obtain an energy storage curve, dependence on the word of others and photographs demonstrate what seems to be the superiority of the Korean bow.

In Korea, at archery meets, a man who wishes to brace a bow sits in a cross-legged position with the recurve over one thigh and the grip under the other. They grasp the ears with their hands and pull the bow to position for placing of the string. This bracing was similar to the step-through method of the Chinese, Scythians, and others, but in a sitting position. A charcoal brazier stands close

Korean bow relaxed. Profound reflex near center section, long recurve, short siyahs, bridges or shoulders at angles.

Same 50" bow at full draw, 32". This is the most flexible of the composite horn bows. Mongolian release with thumb ring.

By over which to warm the bow to correct any imbalance or twist. The bow is then handed to the archer who returns it after the shooting is over.

The usual target range is 161 yards, with a 33 inch arrow. One photograph shows an archer at full draw with the arrow elevated only about 20 degrees. The same bow will cast the 33 inch arrow over 600 yards, according to the late Col. Milan Elott. The bow seems to uncoil just like a spring.

Archery was important to the Koreans, as archery clubs persist to this day. Members of the Imperial Court wore a belt with a small ornate quiver of beautifully made arrows and a bow case containing a miniature bow of about half size.

JAPAN

Though the contemporary bows of Japan contain no sinew-backing or horn facing, they are truly composite bows with single strips of bamboo replacing both horn and sinew. The lamination between the two layers of bamboo consists of small sections of bamboo with strips of mulberry wood on the outside edges. About six inches at the ends of the bows are of solid mulberry. The mulberry used for bows is special, and is not the type cultivated commercially for silkworm food (mulberry is botanically related to Osage orange).

In contrast to the short Korean bow, the Japanese bows are seven to seven and a half feet long. One old bow, dated 1839, was almost eight feet long. All were recurved and mildly reflexed when at rest. The grip is located about one-third the length of the bow, measuring from the lower tip. The reason for this is obvious, considering the length of the entire bow. It would appear that such asymmetry might make for poor delivery of the arrow. However, the draw is smooth with little stacking and the arrow flight is flawless.

Japanese composite (see also Laminated All-wood Bows, Vol. 3).

One step in shaping the bow during manufacturing process (Handbook of Japanese Archery and Horseback Riding, Edo, 1787).

Bracing bow, two-man method. One end of string is held in mouth, ready to slip over nock when bow is bent (All About Laws of Shooting, Masashika Asano, 1689).

Mounted Japanese archers (All About Laws of Shooting, Masashika Asano, 1689).

The laminated bows are thought to have been in use for 800 to 1000 years. The earliest bows, of which there are surviving examples, were fairly simple round staves of a variety of yew or syringa.

The draw is Asiatic, or a thumb draw. The release is unique in that the wrist of the hand holding the bow is slightly extended so that, upon release of an arrow, the entire bow rotates in the grip until the bowstring rests on the back of the forearm.

Japanese Rimankyu set, 20" long. Used as a sidearm in Sedan chair. Bow and rack all of baleen. Note belt hook on back of rack.

EGYPT

Wallace E. McLeod has examined and defined the structure of Egyptian composite bows from the ancient tombs, some dating from about 1500 B. C.

Most types showed horn facing and sinew-backing on a wood core. The wood was a single strip or as many as four strips glued together. Some bows had several horn strips incorporated into the belly. Birchbark covering over the entire circumference of the bows suggests that they were imported, possibly from Assyria, though McLeod concluded that the bows were later manufactured in Egypt. Most bows were angular in configuration, with a deflex at the grip and straight limbs.

Replica of Egyptian horn composite angular bow by Edward McEwen. Deflexed, recurved, at rest, string on backwards.