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Title
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Twenty-first Year of Jian’an Crossbow Mechanism
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Collection Location
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Shanghai Museum
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Date
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216CE
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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 216CE. 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. The long rectangular protrusion at the top of the mechanism is the sight, or wangshan (望山). Not visible in this photo, the two 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). The rectangular handle at the bottom 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. The top surface of the bronze casing 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.
The museum has dated this crossbow mechanism precisely to the twenty-first year of Jian’an (216CE). This could have been done using an engraving on the crossbow mechanism itself that dates the specimen or using archaeological context.
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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
