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Title
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Incomplete Han Dynasty Bronze Crossbow Mechanism
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Collection Location
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Shaanxi History 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 Shaanxi History Museum is dated to the Han dynasty. Its specific location of unearthing is not listed.
The mechanism is made of bronze and it comprises most of the typical parts of a Chinese crossbow mechanism. From the low angle given in the photo,the sear or gouxin (钩心) of the mechanism can be seen, which is the part that connects the sight and nut to the trigger. Attached to the sear, what appears to be a broken trigger, or xuandao (悬刀), can be seen as well. The sight, or wangshan (望山) and the nut, or ya (牙), are not visible in the photo, and could possible be missing given the title of the mechanism. The mechanism is held together by two bronze axle pins within a rectangular bronze casing called the guo (郭). The top surface of the bronze casing is not visible, but it would have 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.
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Source
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Shaanxi History Museum
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Crossbow Top Measurements
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Length: 6cm
Weight: 0.030kg
