#90 Manchu bow stringing and drawing
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- In this video we demonstrate traditional technique for stringing heavy Manchu bows without any external aid and try drawing 90 lbs strength bow in the fashion of the Qing dynasty martial examinations.
The bow used is #90@30" imperial strength bow from Alibow. These bows are based on strength bows of the imperial martial examination in the Qing dynasty of China. The participants of the examinations were required to draw these large and heavy bows to a full draw as a part of proof of their strength and technique. Strength bows weren't intended to shoot arrows, but naturally the imperial archery examinations also included archery on foot and horseback.
I was watching unreal world videos and quite surprised when I happened to find this video. As a Manchurian, I think I need to thank you for introducing Manchu bow to more people, which is quite an ethnic symbol of us
Thank you for leaving a comment. It's all the more interesting to know you.
Among traditional archery enthusiasts there's a great number people specifically interested in Qing/Manchu archery. Very significant portion of my archery interest is also towards Qing/Manchu traditions - and the gear.
With often massive design and big ears there's actually something strikingly similar in ancient finnish/finno-ugric bows and Manchu bows.
I have the same bow 145lb@33.4 it cannot be strung this method in my opinion. You need asiatic waist cable or English method
Yes of course there's upper limit for each. With Manchu bows it's a common thing to be able to shoot heavier bows than you could string without any aids.
Jack have you tried the waist cable method? Since our bows are about the same draw weight I'd love to know if it can be done on my own
@@blakegundry yes it works
holy crap this looks so much more effective than the way I been doin it using mostly arm strength,,, jus got an 85# and wasnt sure how I was goin to manage stringn it
This is indeed a lot less effort than step-through method. And with super heavy bows, say #150 or so, step-through isn't often even plausable.
However, you may want to confirm from the bow manufacturer that the bow structure can endure this kind of stringing. Most should be okay, but there may be exceptions.
this is the H1 heavy draw From Alibow,, thanks for the advice@@UgriArcher
Thanks for posting. I have a lighter weight Manchu bow and it flips when I string it without using the stringer.
You're welcome. Just be sure that your bow can withstand this kind of stringing. For proper hornbows it should be ok by default, but some manufacturers of modern material bows don't necessarily guarantee their designs can be bent in this fashion.
This detailed description helped a lot. Took me half an hour until I risked it... It feels like the lower limb get a little tilted on the knee so I tried very slow and carefully and it just works out fine. The 80 lbs manchu strungs so smooth and soft. I had heard it is much harder to strung such a manchu bow cause of the missing leverage during stringing. My 74 lbs hybrid longbow is a pain to string with step thru method so I am happy that this works so well. For heavier bows 90+ I use a stinger but it really is confusing with reflex limbs, windings and leather on the limbs.... Just great instructions it is more easy to strung the 80 Manchu this way than a 50 lbs short turkish or mongolian bow in conventional style.
Good to hear the video has proven useful for you. Once you get the idea of this stringing method it starts to feel really practical. However, it should be noted that most of the modern time bowmakers, including Alibow, do not recommend this sort of techniques to be used on their products. It's for an individual archer to decide whether to use it or not. From my personal experience there's no harm done for any of the bows I've strung like this, but it's important to be careful with the bow positioning in order not to twist it in misfortunate ways.
Beautiful bow!
This method easily work in battlefield instead of waistband stringing method because waistband method take time.
Didn't expect finnish 😅 nice looking bow!
Heh, I've heard that a few times before.
Welcome aboard, fellow countryman.
Does it take a lot of strength to do this technique, could an averagely strong guy manage it on 100lb+ bows?
Hmm, not a lot, but some strength is required. However, it's a lot about the technique too - the middle body strength is more important here than arm strength.
清史稿记载，乾隆弓箭手的最低标准是5个力。嘉庆的弓箭手最低6个力。这些大力的弓，不是实战用的，是武举角力用的。
Fantastic to see the blue, I've been considering getting the 100lb@28 model, my 90@28 suffered a malfunction on the weekend shooting and now I have to shorten the siyahs to balance it out.
I've been shooting 12mm shafts from the 90lb model without issue until this weekend just passed.
Alright! I haven't yet tried to actually shooting with this one, but maybe one day.
Is it okay to put ur hips on the limb when you bend? I thought you have to bend as the handle as pivot point? BTW im hearing Turk, Mongolian, Korean, Russiam at the same time in your language. A pleasant surprise. lol
Yes it's completely okay and does no harm for the bow. Just make sure you don't twist the limb. Handle is often used as a pivot point, but for the bows of this side and strength it's plain impossible.
Hmm interesting, I didn't know they used special bows not made for losing arrows for their tests, thanks for the info! And the stringing technique is interesting as well, seen it being done without the core force explanation.
Thank you, Rorik. Core force is essential with this stringing. If you use it, everything else follows smoothly and without effort.
Mahtavaa . Kiitos jälleen kerran opetuksesta. Luulin aluksi että olit jo hankkinut Mancun josta oli puhetta. Heh olikin kyse harjoitus jousesta. Näen jo rivien välistä että näyttää olevan hankinta listalla:). Ja testin mukaan näyttäisi että armeija kutsuu Kiinassa:D
Hehe. Vaikka tuo jousen jännittäminen onnistuukin niin vielä on matkaa siihen että ampuminen näillä paunamäärillä sujuisi mallikkaasti. Voisi jäädä ura tositoimissa aika lyhyeksi :)
Yksi huomattavasti kevyempi Manchu-jousi minulta kyllä jo löytyy, itseasiassa tuossa kanavan kuvassa näkyy vähän. Haastava ja hyvin kiehtova jousityyppi.
Great video. Even if these bows are intended for strength training/exams rather than for shoot, can they still be used to shoot arrows if the arrows are heavy enough? Or are they very inefficient for doing so?
You can shoot arrows with these, and indeed heavy arrows are required, but as the they aren't tuned for that purpose I wouldn't expect eg. decent accuracy. They still can deliver a lot of force though.
Great video. I have the same bow, 130# @30. Can't string it with this method but I will practice.
There's upper limit for each, of course. Try carefully if you feel it could be possible.
Well done! And tha was a very nice explanation. I had to try this stringing method. It is adopted!
Alright! Thanks.
Great video 80 lbs
Interesting technique. Do you plan to show us footage of you shooting with this bow?
I have a bow I consider a "strength bow" also because it's #85 and I rarely use it for shooting. I use it to draw with no arrows(as you did in the video) and it helps strengthen the muscles in my back and shoulders.
Maybe in the future I'll try shooting with this one also, but for now it's for strength exercise. These bows aren't actually made for shooting, although it can be done, but the performance compared to real shooting designed bow isn't all that good.
However, the heaviest of my bows I can shoot reliably and in good controlled form is #70, so I need to train a bit more as I don't want to do sloppy shooting just for the sake of heavy bow shooting. We'll see.
So, this is how I string my Kheshig. Because it has a very agressive flex. The step through method doesn't work for me. I have been advised not to put pressure on one limb only, but it has worked for me for 2 years now.
So you would say the trick is to alternate the bottom and top limbs?
As usual, another great insight into archery. I love your videos.
Thanks for the compliments. And this indeed suitable stringing for many different bows. The bottom limb actually also bends with this method, even though you would think it doesn't, so this is completely okay for the bow. If you want to experiment try filming yourself stringing your Kheshig this way and you should see the bottom limb bending as well.
@@UgriArcher Yes, I thought so 😁 Thank you for the answer, my friend. How is the yumi training going?
@@gizmonomono Yumi training is proceeding alright, starting to find the right muscles and moves and mindset. I guess I'll be posting new video quite soon.
@@UgriArcher Awesome. Looking forward to it!
Now draw it three times on the other side... For training symmetry...
Do you know what weight range would have been standard for battlefield use?
From records we know during Qing troops used bows from #80 up to #170 or so, but also lighter and heavier poundages occasionally. Even though #80 was minimal in the tests, and battlefield qualification was thus acquired, for example to participate in hunts (with the Emperor) #130 was required.
@@UgriArcher Thank you as always for the detailed research and responsiveness!
@@ettonabo My pleasure.
Important to note that they recommended strength training with a bow that was twice as strong as the bow they actually use to fling arrows. They were training with 200 lbs strength bow if they were shooting a 100 lbs bow...
Intresting Flexing
And it's very comfortable way also for other kind, and lighter, asiatic bows as well.
With the high initial tension and size this heavy bows can't be strung eg. with the regular step-through method.
You must be a teacher!
Hehe.. Well, I'm horseback archery instructor and been teaching and studying traditional archery for years, so I guess you can call me that :)
It is qinghai bow, not manchu bow
How come? If you refer to Alibow Tibetan "Qinghai" model, this is a different bow. The Qinghai surely shows some influence from Manchu bows, though.
✋👐⚡🏹🔥💪👍👍👍👍