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Title
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Ordinary Crossbow Mechanism
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Collection Location
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Shanghai 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 Shanghai 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. In this photo, the mechanism is positioned upside down. Thus, the long rectangular protrusion at the bottom of the mechanism is the sight, or wangshan (望山). There are two small hooks that stick out in front of the sight which are a part of the same component as the wangshan and serve as the nut, or ya (牙). The rectangular handle protruding from the top of the mechanism is the trigger, or xuandao (悬刀), and within the bronze casing, or guo (郭) there is a sear, or gouxin (钩心), which hangs exposed from the mechanism in this photo, connecting the sight and nut and the trigger. The mechanism is held together by two bronze axle pins with square ends. The top surface of the bronze casing which is oriented at the bottom in this image has a groove that goes down 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 surface of the mechanism has been corroded and oxidised.
On the casing of the crossbow mechanism there is text engraved which would typically indicate the date and location of manufacture as well as potentially the name of the craftsman and owner of the crossbow. On this specimen, the text is not clear enough to be completely decipherable.
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Source
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Shanghai Museum
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Crossbow Top Measurements
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Measurements not listed
