Chinese Archery

Another Confucian statesman, historian, and poet was Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072). Among his prolific output of essays, he jotted down the rules of an archery game which seems to have been based on a system of entropy. The players who scored best had to down a cup of wine. Through advancing intoxication, all the players descended into an equal state of blissful incompetence. The final rules were decided by those still left standing at the end. Readers are advised not to try this game on their own at home.

"Nine Division Target" has nine target-circles. Make one larger circle surrounded by eight(smaller) target-circles. Place a picture of a bear in the center, a tiger at the top, a deer at the bottom, a snipe, pheasant, and ape in the right hand positions and an eagle, rabbit, and fish in the left hand positions, and make counters corresponding to each animal.

Whoever hits a particular target-circle takes a drink if he is holding the corresponding token. Archery is a communal pastime. In the old days, gentleman used to compete at "Nine Division Target" as a drinking game.

Rivalry leads to trouble. Competing for fun is different from participating in a non-competitive entertainment; so there should be no winners or losers and no prizes or demerits. He who scores a hit gains nothing by it, and will therefore not fall victim to arrogance due to being bent upon winning. He who misses loses nothing by it, and will not be the butt of caustic remarks about his lack of skill. If you pick a token and have to drink, at least what you drink is not an overflowing flagon: so you will not lose face. So you shoot, and the one who scores a hit is not allowed to get away without drinking; and anyone who keeps scoring hits is not allowed to get away with bowing out of the competition. Any form of entertainment which can carry on all day without loss of face or rivalry is truly a gentlemanly entertainment.

Scoring method: Three tokens are required for each target-circle. Make sure you have tokens prepared according to the number of guest competitors shooting. If it so happens that the number of guests and hosts is exactly nine, then each one picks one of the tokens. If there are eight, then leave aside the bear token; and if there are even less than eight, you can have each person pick one of the tokens and put aside the rest. Or you can add in the other tokens and each person picks one: either method is allowed.

From time to time, the host may give an instruction, and then every contestant puts aside his bear token. Thereafter, if anyone hits the bear, then every one present has to drink. If anyone hits one of the target-circles a second time, then depending on the ability of the one who draws the counter to hold his drink, and the size of the wine cup, the host again decides on what should happen. If someone has drawn two tokens for the same target, the same rule applies.

Every time the participants shoot a full round, they have to drain the cups, then they hand in their tokens and draw again. The tokens are new and different from the last round.

If the arrow hits, then no emotions are aroused. Either it is your turn and you are caught out, or you may just be lucky and avoid [having to drink]. This way you get entertainment which is all fun and no upset.

The Archer's "Ten Commandments": Mental control and keeping in shape.

The classical method says: "Set up your shot in you mind, then carry it out with your hands." So if your mental control goes, your shot has no basis for hitting the target. In archery, there are "Ten Commandments":

1. thou shalt not let your mind wander;
2. thou shalt not be distracted by worries;
3. thou shalt not arrive [for your archery session] in a rush;
4. thou shalt not be drunk;
5. thou shalt not be hungry;
6. thou shalt not shoot after overeating;
7. thou shalt not be angry;
8. thou shalt not shoot when you don't want to;
9. thou shalt not be so engrossed in shooting that you don't want to stop;
10. thou shalt not compete aggressively.

Don't plan on taking up archery if you can't break these bad habits! If you score a hit, don't be happy, otherwise your mind will turn contrary on you. If you miss, don't be unhappy, otherwise you will lose your concentration and it will be beyond control. Normally, when you grasp the bow and the string and you nock your arrow, you should concentrate naturally on your target, and use the power of your mind to carry the shot. In your daily life, make an extra effort to control your breathing, regulate your intake of food and drink, avoid extremes of temperature, control excesses of joy or anger and restrain your interests and desires. This is very important in archery.