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Title
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Gold-plated 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 left 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, but both are missing from this specimen. 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 parts of the mechanism (namely the gouxin, trigger, front of the casing, and base of the sight) there are specks of gold that indicate the mechanism was gold-plated. However, most of the gold-plating has been corroded off.
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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
