Chinese Traditional Archery (7)

10. Advanced Archery Techniques

Unified Method

Unified method requires that when shooting, all parts of the body must move in a unified manner. A unified movement is a unified whole movement. If the movements are unified, each part will function flexibly and precisely, the arrow will fly smoothly, and the posture will be beautiful. For example, when building a house, from the foundation to the pillars, beams, rafters, bricks, and tiles, all parts must be tightly connected and the whole body solid so that the house can stand firm. Similarly, when building a gun emplacement, the gun carriage must be stable to fire accurately. The standing posture for archery, like the emplacement and the gun carriage, must have a unified, whole movement to be used effectively.

Unified method can be roughly divided into three categories: top-bottom unity, right-left unity, and overall unity.

Top-bottom unity: This category begins with the feet. Plant both feet firmly on the ground and push down with force. Keep your knees facing each other, squat with your back slightly like a horse stance, and keep your chest and back naturally upright. Look straight ahead, turning to the left before drawing the bow, but not necessarily simultaneously. The waist should be held firmly in place, the hips and shoulders should be tucked in, the sternum open and the scapula closed, allowing the internal organs to assume their natural positions without any pressure. The gaze is focused beyond the left fist, piercing the heart. Left-right Unity: As the bow is drawn to full strength and the arrowhead reaches the bow handle, before releasing, ensure that the left and right arms are aligned. Align the left shoulder with the right shoulder, the left hand with the right hand, and the elbows and arms must be level. Push the left hand forward, flex the right elbow and pull it back, supporting each other. The center of force for both arms should be balanced with the head upright. The head and shoulders should be perpendicular, without any deviation. Overall Unity: Overall unity unites the right, left, and upper and lower systems into the central support of a cube. All parts of the body are tightly integrated, centered and firmly in place, like a cannon emplacement. Their connections correspond to various points, such as the left shoulder corresponding to the left knee and left foot, the right shoulder corresponding to the right knee and right foot, the left shoulder corresponding to the right knee and right toe, and the right shoulder corresponding to the left knee and left toe. The spine forms a perpendicular line with the ground, and the elbows correspond to the knees and feet at a distance. If a straight line were connected vertically and horizontally, it would form a cube. This is roughly similar to the support used in a cannon emplacement. Therefore, the horse stance is more stable for archery, and the principle is the same.

Qi-Nourishing Methods

The key to learning archery is to nourish qi first, and nourishing qi is based on a righteous mind. Li Chengfen said, "The way to be a general is to first control your mind. Don't be pleased by praise, don't be angry by provocation, don't be arrogant in victory, and don't be intimidated by defeat. Don't be startled by the collapse of Mount Tai in front of you, or shocked by the appearance of a tiger or rhinoceros behind you. Don't be moved or show any emotion. Harmonize your limbs, regulate your breath, and unify your mind and will. By combining these five qualities, you can achieve your goal. If you miss the target, look for the cause within yourself." This is an excellent method for nourishing qi. The methods for nourishing qi are divided into three parts, as described below: 1. Qi nourishment in daily life, 2. Qi nourishment during archery, and 3. Qi nourishment during competitions.


Qi nourishment in daily life: Cultivating qi in daily life is no different from the methods we practice in daily self-cultivation. We should cultivate the righteous and righteous energy of heaven and earth. In daily life, we should be content, restrain our emotions, avoid violent anger, avoid excessive indulgence, and control our food and drink to protect our health. We should be kind to others and peaceful in our dealings with others to cultivate our character. One should also constantly contemplate distant objects, such as the weather in the sky, the stars, the sun and the moon, the majestic forms of the mountains, and the flowing currents of the great rivers. This allows one's spirit to be resonant with nature, connecting the heavens above and the earth below, gradually broadening one's mind and making it vast and boundless. This kind of effort is not something that can be achieved by chance; it depends on the practitioner's cultivation. Through gradual accumulation, each practitioner will achieve his or her own unique accomplishments.

Methods for Cultivating Qi During Archery: Cultivating Qi during archery can be divided into two parts: before and after. Before shooting, one must remain calm and composed, and be composed, resolute, and steady. Afterward, one must avoid showing emotions and be patient and courageous. If one cannot remain calm before shooting, one will fail to achieve the desired result, becoming competitive, exaggerated, and frivolous, displaying a flawed appearance. This will lead to hasty bowing and careless preparation, and the arrow will miss its target. If one maintains a calm, resolute, and steady mind, not only will one's demeanor be aesthetically pleasing, but the arrow will also be more likely to hit the target. Even if one misses, the difference will be minimal. Only by learning archery in this way can one realize the essence of the exquisite quality of the object (exercise the body and cultivate virtue). Otherwise, one's mind will be careless and one's movements will be crude. Even if one succeeds in hitting the target, it is not worthwhile. Cultivating Qi after shooting is even more important. Don't be overjoyed if you hit the target, and don't be anxious if you miss. Never let your emotions show on your face. If you are happy if you hit the target, you will become arrogant and fall; if you are anxious if you miss, anxiety will lead to anxiety, and anxiety will disrupt your technique, further preventing you from hitting the target. Therefore, the more you miss, the more patient and courageous you must be. Shoot slowly and resolutely, one arrow at a time, and perhaps you will be able to turn defeat into victory. Otherwise, if you panic and get anxious after repeated misses, you will exhaust yourself and suffer a crushing defeat, from which you will never recover.


Cultivating Qi during competition: Maintaining composure is crucial during competition. If you are impulsive and your attitude is weak, no matter how accurate your archery skills are, you will not be able to hit many targets, or even miss at all. Therefore, before a competition, you must cultivate Qi, and cultivating Qi starts with calmness. But within composure, one must also possess courage. Never shrink. Slowing down will lead to discouragement and diminished self-confidence, greatly hindering competition. If you are confident in cultivating your qi in daily life, you will naturally remain calm during competition. During competition, one should avoid distractions, and even more so, avoid jealousy. If one does, the mind will be distracted, hindering precise aiming. Jealousy will breed timidity, and timidity will lead to cowardice in battle, which will naturally diminish one's strength. Competition and striving for excellence are certainly appropriate attitudes in competition, but avoid jealousy and discouragement. One must compete within oneself and strive within oneself. The ancients said, "If one loses the target, look within oneself; this is the way of a gentleman." Those who are adept at cultivating qi will be able to look within themselves.

The nobility of archery competition lies not in the brutal competition for trophies, but in the peaceful examination of virtue and morality. Therefore, competition also contains a sense of courtesy and yielding. Confucius said, "A gentleman has nothing to contend with except archery. He bows and yields before ascending, and bows and yields before drinking. His competition is that of a gentleman." Bowing and yielding is a form of courtesy in competition, not pretense. Letting the older and more virtuous shoot first, letting the skilled archer shoot first, is a form of humility and jealousy. The more competitive one is, the more polite one becomes, and politeness cultivates one's spirit. Competition and bowing and yielding are not contradictory. Indeed, archery competitions are characterized by precision and accuracy; the superiority of technique can be determined at the first try. Therefore, compared to any other sport, it is easier to officiate. Any disputes over officiating are even less likely to occur.