Archery - Moral Education

The more national something is, the more global it is. In contrast to German gymnastics, Swedish ice skating, and French fencing, there's a traditional sport that's closely connected and inextricably linked to Chinese culture: archery. Archery originated from hunting in ancient times and developed during the Zhou Dynasty, becoming one of the "Six Arts" required for scholars throughout their education, a discipline that permeated every aspect of their lives.

After completion, archery was practiced in various settings within the nobility's lives, and the state used archery competitions as a key means of selecting talent. The Confucian classic "The Book of Rites" states, "In ancient times, the emperor selected princes, ministers, officials, and scholars through archery." Essentially, the Chinese viewed archery as the ultimate art for cultivating both civil and military virtues. Its value lies in cultivating the emotions, cultivating inner self, and instilling cultural and moral values ​​within the martial arts. Therefore, archery has become an excellent method for cultivating virtue in the Chinese people, and for two thousand years, it has conveyed the belief that "archery can reveal virtue."

How can archery reveal virtue? First, let's examine the ancients' research into archery. Wang Ju's "Shooting Classic" from the Tang Dynasty listed fourteen archery techniques, becoming a classic in the field. The Ming and Qing dynasties saw further developments. For example, Liu Qi's "Guanzhiche (Compass Cart) for Imperial Examinations" from the Qing Dynasty, divided into twenty-eight external techniques, eight internal techniques, and four practice techniques, strictly enforced from the feet upwards across 24 body parts: the knees, hips, abdomen, waist, hips, ribs, chest, shoulders, front and back elbows, wrists, palms, thumbs, index fingers, neck, mouth, eyes, and finally the top of the head. Furthermore, specific requirements for several key body parts are added during the four steps of holding the bow, nocking the arrow, releasing the arrow, and landing the arrow. This totals to twenty-eight techniques, which must be executed seamlessly and seamlessly to achieve an accurate shot. This is the external technique.

Even more difficult to achieve is the cultivation of inner methods. One should make in-depth cultivation in four aspects: rectifying the mind (no evil in the mind, no distracting thoughts), sincerity (focusing on the present, thinking about both inside and outside), concentrating the spirit (being at ease in movement and stillness, eliminating restlessness), and nourishing qi (forgetting gains and losses, not showing joy or anger). One should regulate the flow of qi throughout the body, grasp the relationship between emotions, mind, cultivation and qi channels during the archery process, and with the help of the regulation of the mind and qi, achieve sudden enlightenment, completely eliminate distracting thoughts, and surrender to the unity of mind and arrow. Only in this way can one reach the high and sublime realm of perfection. The great Ming Dynasty scholar Wang Yangming offered a brilliant analysis of this, stating, "A gentleman's learning seeks to acquire knowledge from within his heart. Similarly, a gentleman's archery practice seeks to preserve his heart. ... Therefore, a righteous heart leads to an upright figure; a respectful heart leads to a solemn demeanor; a calm heart leads to a relaxed spirit; a focused mind leads to a careful eye; an open mind leads to timely order; a pure mind leads to yielding and respectful behavior; a broad mind leads to victory without exaggeration, and to a burden without laxity. When these seven qualities are complete, the virtue of a gentleman is complete." Wang Yangming placed the fundamental importance of archery cultivation within one's heart. Only by striving to cultivate these seven qualities perfectly can one achieve unwavering success; any slight deficiency in one's heart and spirit will inevitably reveal itself during the shooting process.

In the first half of the 20th century, the renowned German philosopher Eugen Herliger traveled to Japan to study under the renowned archery master Awa Kenzo, dedicating himself to the art. He became the foremost European master of the Eastern art of archery. He said, "It is not a skill achieved through physical strength, but a path to liberation achieved through the mind. This is the Zen realm of enlightenment and seeing one's true nature." ("Archery and the Zen Mind"). This "Zen realm" tolerates no trace of impurity or hypocrisy. The principle of "shooting to observe virtue" resonates deeply with the human heart, transcending time and national boundaries. Furthermore, to curb the competitive spirit that often arises during archery, the ancients established a set of rituals to regulate the entire process: the archery ceremony. Archery rituals are a crucial part of Chinese etiquette, with each step detailed in the Book of Rites, one of the Five Classics. An analysis of the ritual reveals that the ancients, through the practice of three consecutive rounds of shooting, imbued every gesture with rich etiquette and morality, gradually achieving a state of harmony and tolerance. The perfect synchrony between the arrows and the rhythm of the drums and music fully embodied the archer's "virtue of tolerance." The frequent bows and reciprocations between archers conveyed a sense of respect and affection, while the meticulous handling of the bows and arrows by the performers imbued them with a reverent respect for the weapon. The statistical method of grouping and calculating wins and losses aimed to dispel individualism and foster team spirit and a sense of community.

While the entire ritual may appear elaborate, only those who consistently cultivate inner and outer strength, possessing refined moral character, profound cultivation, and a righteous mindset, can emerge as the winner. Chinese archery meets the demands of contemporary society. Understanding this principle, let us revisit the thought of Coubertin. He said, "Character is not primarily formed by the spirit, but by the body. The ancients understood this, but we have only discovered it with great difficulty." ("Reconstructing the Olympic Games"). The study of archery proves this point to be undeniable. Coubertin hoped to "apply one of the most distinctive principles of Greek civilization and make physical education a primary element of moral education" ("The Inevitable Trend of Reconstructing the Olympic Games"). Chinese archery aligns perfectly with this spirit. If it were more ritualistic, it would be a necessary element in Coubertin's revival of the Olympics. And no other sport in the world could surpass the sophistication of Chinese archery rituals.

Chinese archery has long since transcended borders, influencing the entire East Asian cultural sphere. Today, it has become a world-class sport. We were shocked by the fact that Ms. Li Shulan (1944- ) broke eight world records in women’s archery 17 times in the 1960s. We were also delighted when Ma Xiangjun (1987), Zhang Juanjuan (2008), and Chen Wenyuan (2009) won gold medals in world-class archery competitions. In today’s rising China, do we realize that by giving full play to the potential functions of Chinese archery, we can make great achievements and show our talents in improving the physical fitness, emotional cultivation, and even moral character of the whole people?