From the 'Illustrated Guide to Archery Method' by Liu
Qi (Qing, 1722)
Instructions for Horseback Archery
Since
ancient times, horseback archery has lacked any supporting literature. All that
is said is that "the rider and his horse must practice together".
Even if you survey the literature on general horsemanship, all you find is
"six reins in the hand", "like a troupe dancing together" etc[bd1].
"The rider and his horse must practice
together" means just this: the rider must know the habits of the horse,
and the horse must understand the intentions of the rider. The two should not
be [in a relationship of] one driving and the other resisting[bd2].
"Like
a troupe dancing together" just means that the rider must make all his
actions fluid and harmonious; fast and slow pace should proceed appropriately,
not in fits and starts.
These
two phrases sum the whole thing up, and you can use them as a basis to follow
up from.
Is it
not true that the heart of the matter is in skill in galloping? Those who have
such skills are 'in the know' while those who haven't are 'outsiders'. Isn't it true that those who can't shoot on
horseback are just those who lack skill in galloping? Those who are afraid
panic and get flustered into making errors. People who are frightened do not
dare to gallop. Then how can they practice together with their horse? People
who are panicked are not in control; then how can they make their actions fluid
and harmonious[bd3]?
Who has
ever heard of a capable horseback archer who suffered from these two disabilities?
There
is a saying: "The people of the South go about on boats; the people of the
North go on horseback." Now Manchu and Han people are called upon to
become close to one-another; yet the Han people cannot reach the standard of
the Manchus. Why is that? Because the latter practice their own method right
from childhood. Starting from childhood, horse and man naturally become as one.
How can they but be alone in extending their natural abilities?
Moreover,
they are in the habit of making regular visits to the camps of their princes.
They travel over very wide areas. As
they interact with their peers, they absorb their traditional knowledge more
and more deeply. This is in fact not more than what is expressed in the two
terms "practicing together" and "like a troupe dancing
together", and is a completely different kettle of fish from "fear
and fluster." It has almost become an immutable rule[bd4].
So I
shall describe horseback archery so that our generation can rid themselves of
this weakness. If we can rid ourselves of this weakness, everyone will receive
enormous encouragement and apply themselves assiduously to the task.
Furthermore, who will fear that their horseback archery skills are imperfect? I
am therefore setting out the following twelve explanations so that my
exposition of horseback and infantry archery will be complete.
There
is nothing difficult about riding a horse: it's just a matter of becoming
accustomed to it. Naturally, there are some special skills involved. In this
volume, I reckon nervousness to me the main source of faults. There are
centuries' worth of ironclad evidence to support this.
The organization of this work
There are twelve sections to this work. The
main premise is that the horse must be well-trained. If the horse is
well-trained, the movements of the body with be fluid. Practicing horseback archery
is not difficult[bd5]! So I have set out riding method first,
followed by shooting method. This approximates to the idea of 'proceeding from
the more difficult subject to the easier one'.
Selecting your horse
A horse must possess inherent quality
before it can be ridden. A stubborn or inadequate horse has no place in a
battle: even less should you want such a horse to display your prowess [in the
Examination]? Any horse that possesses inherent quality doesn't necessarily have
to be a champion. It just has to respond correctly to the rider's intention to
start and stop, go fast or slow. Of course, there's no harm in champion
qualities if you can get them. (Some horse-owners may learn something new here[bd6]!)
Training your horse
There are more good horses in the world
than bad ones. But how can people just
care for them when it suits them? The key to everything is avoiding irregular
feeding and watering[bd7]. Even more important is systematic
training and practice. Whatever sights the horse has not seen before, it must
be exposed to regularly; whatever sounds the horse has not heard before, it
must be exposed to regularly. It must be brought into close contact with the
things that will normally be around it and kept away from the things that will
normally not be present[bd8]. The best training starts with training in
its nature, and then training its strength. Like this, every horse will be
good. (Everyone who owns a horse must realize this!)
Riding a Horse
Once
you get up on a horse, your attention must never wander away from the horse.
(Not letting your mind wander away from the horse is a trade secret of
horsemanship.) You must co-ordinate the use of reins and the crop. Whether
going fast or slow, you must keep easy, without using force. When you make the
horse gallop, apply equal pressure with both knees. If you relax pressure on
one side, the horse will veer towards that side. If you have the reins in your
hands, you use them to steer the horse; and if you have to let go the reins,
you use your knees for the job. That is the general approach. With a strange
horse, you need to estimate how hard his mouth is before you start to ride it[bd9].
Mounting
Mount your horse quickly and lightly[bd10]. Try always to mount from a block[bd11]. If none is available, then hold the reins
and the mane with your left hand and gripping the pommel with your right, get
your left foot into the stirrup close up to the saddle[bd12]. The special skill is in finding the right
stirrup when you are on the saddle[bd13]. (The original comments that the textual
note at this point makes no sense.) With plenty of practice you will be light
on your feet and quick, and look good. Moreover, this looks orderly and dignified[bd14].
Body position
The rider's main aim in his body position
should be to maximize the strength in his hips. Secondly, you want to get your
crotch firmly settled around the saddle. If your crotch is firmly settled
around the saddle, your waist will naturally be straight and firm. The most important remaining skill is to
avoid flopping about[bd15]. For example, you need to get both knees
firmly gripping the front of the saddle, both calves gripping the horse's
flanks and pressing into the stirrups with the feet. But you should not insert
you feet too far into the stirrups[bd16]. Your grip on the reins should be lively -
not insensitive[bd17]. Your bottom should not be pressing down
on the horse's spine and your heels shouldn't be clamped around the horse's belly[bd18]. In this way, you body position will be
correct. It's not difficult once you have practiced it.
Getting the horse into a gallop
Don't try getting the horse into a gallop
while you are still in the starting circle. You should hold back on the reins
and the bridle and get the horse into the runway first. Move your horse on a
few paces to get the movement of the hooves even, then gently give the horse
the bit[bd19]. How many people know 'The rider at ease,
the horse going smoothly, and from within this the bow and arrow are
controlled.' (Actually, only the old hands know this.)
Reining in the horse
How you rein in the horse depends on the
horse’s mouth; but it mustn't be done in too much of a rush. Don't bring the
horse's head up[bd20]. You need to make sure the reins and
bridle are controlled evenly: hold the reins firmly on each side of the mane[bd21]. Pull both arms in to your side and apply
even pressure through your arms, waist, knees, hands and feet. Don't keep your
limbs loose or move them around. Don't lean forward or backward. Be natural,
firm and without unnecessary movement. (This is really the expert's method.)
Dismounting
You should dismount effectively and
conveniently. 'Effectively' means you should get your feet out of the stirrups
quickly. 'Conveniently' means being able to twist you body around quickly. The
former should be achieved without getting stuck and the latter without getting encumbered[bd22]. Every element of horsemanship, from
mounting to dismounting, has its own things you should get accustomed to, then
shooting will present no problem.
Normal riding and riding off-centre
Normal riding and riding off-centre are two
different things. In normal riding, the main force is taken on the crotch. This
method is used for shooting level. When riding off-centre, you have your bottom
slightly off-centre. This method is used for shooting at the ground. You use
level shooting for shooting at a target set up on the wall of runway. You use
shooting at the ground for shooting at the ball on the ground[bd23].
Shooting at a target set up on the wall of runway
When shooting at a target set up on the
wall of runway, the left side of your ribcage should be sideways on [to the
target]. Extend your left upper arm outward slightly. That means you can draw
the bow easily from the chest. This should be achieved with a heroic action[bd24].
As regards aiming, every archer has his own
instincts. On the one hand, you don't want to be inflexible; on the other, you
don't want to put an arrow through your horse's leg!
(Attain stability.)
Shooting at the ball on the ground.
Shooting at the ball on the ground, you
should lean forward onto you left knee, and let your left upper arm extend down
slightly. Then your back will be stretched and you will be firm in the saddle.
The arrow should go out with sufficient force[bd25].
As regards aiming, you should take account
of the horse's speed. You should mainly rely on your instinct, but you want to
avoid shooting straight down onto the top of the ball [which would fail to
dislodge it from its holder[bd26].]
(Attain stability.)
Some things to avoid
·
With the
horse at the gallop, when you let go of the reins, don't use the crop too much[bd27].
·
Don't use
your feet in the stirrups to slap the horse's flanks[bd28].
·
Don't stand
up in the stirrups as you attempt to keep facing the target[bd29].
·
Don't feel around
or look at the string or the nock when nocking your arrow[bd30].
·
When drawing
the bow and looking back at the target, don't let your chest or knee get in the
way of the string[bd31].
·
When shooting
level at the target, don't release too soon or too late.
·
When reining
in your horse after shooting, don't hang you bow over your shoulder[bd32].
·
Don't cant
your bow as you draw[bd33].
·
Don't yank on
the string as you release[bd34].
(All of this is good advice.)
The previous twelve sections are all things
you need to pay attention to during practice sessions. Internally, you can gain
power, while externally you will look better. You can't avoid making yourself
completely familiar with all of them.
Once you on your horse and at the
examination ground, drawing the bow and releasing the arrow should be like a
flash of lightning; quick as a sudden storm[bd35]. Moreover, you should take these words
from the 'flying general' as the spirit of horseback archery:
"A nerve of iron, a cautious heart,
easy in your breathing, flexible in your strength, quick of eye and skilled of
hand."
Although the eighteen characters above are
something the horseback archer cannot afford not to know, I have left them
until last so that if I have left anything out, they can make up for it.
…
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|
Bringing the Horse onto the Course In this illustration, note how he is
bringing the horse onto the course without nervousness or fluster. The
position of his hands, arms, hips, knees, and feet are also correct: none of
these points should be overlooked. |
|
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Practicing the position for level shooting In this illustration, note these
important points: how he has his hips sideways to the target and his buttocks
are immobile; he is extending his arms forward and his shoulders are at ease.
When the bow is fully drawn, it is vertical. And once again, his weight is
spread between his knees. You should observe this model carefully. |
12A13
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Shooting Down at the Ball on the Ground In this illustration, note how he has his
knees flexed and is bent forward at the hips, and he has raised the string to
his chest to get a view of his target.
This is the style that the Manchus are accustomed to: the stance that
gives the facility usually to be able to hit. Learning it is easy; but do not
let your right foot leave the stirrup and do not relax your grip on the top
of the saddle with both knees. This is an important method. |
12A14
|
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Bringing the Horse Back in After Shooting. In this illustration, note how he is calmly
reining in the horse, both upper arms pressed into the ribcage, his strength
distributed over his whole body, leaning neither backward nor forward,
driving forward with each step. Besides having the appearance of being at
ease, it keeps the four hooves regular, thus permanently avoiding errors of
shying or stumbling on the part of the horse. |
The foregoing four mounted archery
positions are all closely based on the style of the Royal Bodyguard. That they
are extremely reliable and conversant [with the art] is beyond any doubt.
Starting from our own generation, they have been selected for their excellence
from among all candidates in the Imperial examinations. The only thing you need
is complete familiarity and ease with your horse and your bow. This is
something that you can acquire on your own: it does not need to be covered in
this volume.
Ren-yan Year of Kang Xi (1722).