-
Title
-
Qin Crossbow Mechanism
-
Collection Location
-
Shaanxi History Museum
-
Date
-
Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE)
-
Location
-
China
-
Description
-
This crossbow mechanism held by the Shaanxi History Museum is dated to the Qin dynasty. The specific location of its unearthing is not listed.
From the angle in the photo, only the sight and nut, or the wangshan (望山) and ya (牙), and the top of the bronze casing, or guo (郭) is visible. There is a groove that goes down the middle of the casing's top surface which continues onto the wooden stock of the crossbow. This groove would be where the arrow rests during drawing and aiming. The crossbow mechanism is nested in what is likely a replica of a crossbow design from the time. In this replica, the two prongs of the nut are shown holding back the crossbow string, with the sight upright and poised for aiming. It is not visible from the photo here, but a mechanism like this likely includes the sear, or gouxin (钩心) and the trigger, or xuandao (悬刀) working in tandem to allow the nut to lock the crossbow string in place.
-
Source
-
Shaanxi History Museum
-
Crossbow Top Measurements
-
Length: 16.2cm
Width: 15.3cm
Thickness: 3.5cm
