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Title
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Han Bronze Crossbow Mechanism
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Collection Location
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Zhejiang Provincial Museum
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Date
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Han Dynasty (202 BCE - 220 CE)
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Location
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China
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Description
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This crossbow mechanism held by the Zhejiang Provincial Museum is dated to the Han dynasty. 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).The small hooks sticking out in front of the sight are a part of the same component as the wangshan and serve as the nut, or ya (牙). It appears that on this specimen, one of the ya has been broken off. 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) which has a groove that goes down the middle of its top surface which would continue onto the wooden stock of the crossbow. This groove would be where the arrow rests during drawing and aiming.
Although the mechanism is made of moving parts, it appears that for this specific specimen, corrosion has impacted the mobility of the mechanism as can be seen from the partially sealed gaps between component parts.
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Source
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Zhejiang Provincial Museum
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Crossbow Top Measurements
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Length: 18.6cm
Width: 12.5cm
