Formosan bows, arrows and quivers

varta · 23rd June 2013, 05:36 PM

A small post about bows, as there are not many here.
Formosan bows are made of bamboo or wood. When people are not hunting the string is released. The bowstring made of ramie, is tied to the bottom tip and passed through a hole in the upper tip.The bowstring has normally two holes for adjusting the tension.

Arrows shafts are made of metal or wood. Quivers from bamboo or leather, according to the tribe. The longer one is Atayal, the smaller Tsou.

Hunting scale and method range widely.

VANDOO · 25th June 2013, 06:52 AM

ITS GOOD TO SEE SOME NON TOURIST EXAMPLES OF THE BOWS FROM FORMOSA/TAIWAN. THE ONLY ONES I HAVE SEEN PREVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN MORE RECENT TOURIST ITEMS. THEY WERE MADE LIKE THE WIDER SPLIT BAMBOO BOW YOU SHOW. THE QUIVER WAS ATTACHED TO THE FRONT OF THE BOW. IT LOOKS GOOD HANGING ON A WALL BUT I HAVE NEVER TRYED TO SHOOT IT. I LOOKED FOR PICTURES OF FORMOSAN PEOPLE WITH BOWS BUT FOUND NONE.

varta · 6th July 2013, 11:42 AM

some:

KuKulzA28 · 7th July 2013, 07:51 AM

Nice examples varta! I have never seen authentic old examples, but they are still used to hunt now and then... the split bamboo type is effective up to a certain poundage but doesn't usually last as long as conventional wooden self-bows. I've tried fletch-less arrows, and they fly ok with heavier tips and at short distances... I think it's a very interesting feature of Taiwanese archery traditions.

majacobson · 25th July 2022, 02:12 AM

Recently got this quiver as part of a grouping but was most into the quiver, despite the splits in the bamboo.

Also there is an image of an Atayal quiver in the following (hard to access) reference: Formosan Tribes, Nelly Frize’s Collection Volume 1 where it is called a “bhuvnig”

Ian · 28th July 2022, 03:10 PM

majacobson,

Thanks for showing another old example of Taiwanese weapons. The quiver is a great find.

23rd June 2013, 05:36 PM	#1
varta Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Berlin-Paris Posts: 37	Formosan bows, arrows and quivers A small post about bows, as there are not many here. Formosan bows are made of bamboo or wood. When people are not hunting the string is released. The bowstring made of ramie, is tied to the bottom tip and passed through a hole in the upper tip.The bowstring has normally two holes for adjusting the tension. Arrows shafts are made of metal or wood. Quivers from bamboo or leather, according to the tribe. The longer one is Atayal, the smaller Tsou. Hunting scale and method range widely. Attached Images

6th July 2013, 11:42 AM	#3
varta Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Berlin-Paris Posts: 37	some: Attached Images

25th July 2022, 02:12 AM	#5
majacobson Member Join Date: Jul 2022 Posts: 5	Another Atayal quiver Recently got this quiver as part of a grouping but was most into the quiver, despite the splits in the bamboo. Also there is an image of an Atayal quiver in the following (hard to access) reference: Formosan Tribes, Nelly Frize’s Collection Volume 1 where it is called a “bhuvnig” Attached Images

25th June 2013, 06:52 AM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	ITS GOOD TO SEE SOME NON TOURIST EXAMPLES OF THE BOWS FROM FORMOSA/TAIWAN. THE ONLY ONES I HAVE SEEN PREVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN MORE RECENT TOURIST ITEMS. THEY WERE MADE LIKE THE WIDER SPLIT BAMBOO BOW YOU SHOW. THE QUIVER WAS ATTACHED TO THE FRONT OF THE BOW. IT LOOKS GOOD HANGING ON A WALL BUT I HAVE NEVER TRYED TO SHOOT IT. I LOOKED FOR PICTURES OF FORMOSAN PEOPLE WITH BOWS BUT FOUND NONE.

7th July 2013, 07:51 AM	#4
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Nice examples varta! I have never seen authentic old examples, but they are still used to hunt now and then... the split bamboo type is effective up to a certain poundage but doesn't usually last as long as conventional wooden self-bows. I've tried fletch-less arrows, and they fly ok with heavier tips and at short distances... I think it's a very interesting feature of Taiwanese archery traditions.

28th July 2022, 03:10 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,198	majacobson, Thanks for showing another old example of Taiwanese weapons. The quiver is a great find.