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Title
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Hanoi Crafting Office 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 (202BCE - 220CE)
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Location
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Hanoi (formerly a territory of the Han dynasty)
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Description
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This crossbow mechanism held by the Shanghai Museum is dated to the Han dynasty. The specific location of its unearthing is not listed, but it can be inferred that it was likely made in Hanoi when it came under the jurisdiction of the Han dynasty.
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). 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 the 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 severely.
The museum was able to identify the origin of the crossbow as being from the Hanoi crafting office. This could be because of an engraving on the mechanism itself that is not visible in the photo, or could be from 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
