Traditional craftsmanship of the bow and arrow
Title
Traditional craftsmanship of the bow and arrow
Alternative Title
Үндэсний нум сум урлал
Publication Type
Language
mon
eng
Location
Mongolia
Keywords
Bow
Arrow
Craftsmanship
Hunting
Traditional technique
Relevance to ICH Safeguarding
ICH Genre
Description
One of the places where the bow was made with the use of bones and horns is the territory of Mongolia, in terms of time, which is related to the Xiongnu period. As the use of the bow and arrow, which was the main weapon of the nomadic warfare of the nomads, improved, so did the design of the bow, which by the thirteenth century had become a “classic” for the Mongolian bow. According to researchers, the Mongolian bow of that time could shoot twice as far compared to the bows produced in Europe, and the arrow penetrated almost all types of shields and armor. Mongolian bows and arrows varied depending on hunting, festivals, competitions, war campaigns, and what they were dedicated to. The three main elements of the bow, or the main structure, are made of horns, bamboo, and the tendon of the large cattle. Compared to many other countries in the world, the Mongolian national bow differs by the use of the tendons. Before the archer, the bow is “stretched.”. Stretching means adjusting the stiffness and softness of the bow. This prevents the tendon from losing its physical properties. One bow contains 12-13 types of materials and a lot of detailed work. It can take 4-6 months to prepare the raw material and make the bow and arrow. It has a sophisticated process of gluing and sewing. After bamboo and horns are glued and dried, the tendons are placed. The glue dries in at least four to six months. It takes a whole year for it to dry completely. The slower the drying of the bow, the better its strength. Production is usually carried out in the cold season. Because all materials are of animal origin, the bow does not dry out in extreme heat in the summer, when raw materials are scarce. Bow and arrow components include bow sight and grip, bowstring and stave, arrows and finger guard, wrist scarf (forearm bandage), loop clips, and arrow heating towels. The bow case consists of a handle, a chisel, an inner side, a back, a bowstring, a sight, a string, etc. Archery is distinguished by local craftsmanship and technology, such as Alingar bow and archer, Buryat bow and archer, and Uriankhai bow and archer. The heritage element “Traditional craftsmanship of the bow and arrow” is registered in the “Traditional handcrafts” domain of the National Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mongolia.
Publisher
National Center for Cultural Heritage
Place of Publication
Mongolia
Date of Publication
2022
Academic Field
heritage management
Community/Ethnic Group
Mongolia
Active Contribution
Mongolia, FY 2024