-
Title
-
Crossbow Mechanism with Silver Inlay and Bronze Cap
-
Collection Location
-
National Palace Museum
-
Date
-
Warring States Period (475-221 BCE)
-
Location
-
China
-
Description
-
This crossbow with silver inlay held by the National Palace Museum is dated to the Warring States period. The specific location of its unearthing is not listed.
The mechanism is made of bronze and comprises the typical parts of a Chinese crossbow mechanism. The long rectangular protrusion at the top of the mechanism is the sight, or wangshan (望山). A part of the same component and hidden within the casing is the nut, or ya (牙), partially visible from the top of the mechanism as the small hooks inside the casing. The rectangular handle at the bottom of the mechanism is the trigger, or xuandao (悬刀), and within the casing there is a sear, or gouxin (钩心) connecting the sight and nut and the trigger. The mechanism is held together by bronze axle pins and held within a rectangular bronze casing called the guo (郭). The top of the bronze casing—the part visible even when inserted into the stock of the crossbow—has a groove in the middle which would continue onto the wooden stock of the crossbow. This groove would be where the arrow rests during drawing and aiming. The top of this bronze casing has also been inlaid with silver with flowing cloud-like designs.
Found with this mechanism is a bronze cap similarly inlaid with silver in flowing cloud-like designs. This cap was likely affixed to the butt of the crossbow stock as both protection for the butt of the crossbow during drawing and rest as well as decoration. Part of the silver inlaid design on both the top of the bronze casing and the bronze cap have been corroded off.
-
Source
-
National Palace Museum
-
Crossbow Top Measurements
-
Length: 12.5cm
Width: 10.5cm
