The origin of the Manchu bow design is unknown. It was first recorded in the 17th century but had probably existed for some time, unrecorded, between the fall of the
Jin dynasty and the rise of the
Later Jin. The first description of something resembling a Manchu bow was in the
Wubei yaolue (Essentials of Military Affairs) by
Cheng Ziyi () in 1638, known as the
dashao gong (big ear bow). The bow was used by the
Nine Garrisons of the Ming dynasty. The Manchu bow follows the same basic layout as other Asian composite reflex bows. The bows were formed using frames of either wood, or a mixture of wood and bamboo, to give shape to the bow. Strips of
horn were then glued, using a collagen-based, extremely durable glue made from fish bladders, to the compressing side of the working limbs. The Manchu bow has long, rigid ears to help the archer bend its thicker and wider limbs. There are also distinct string bridges made of either wood, bone, or antler that catch the string once it has been released. This design and the resulting contact causes the draw and release to become a two-stage process: the archer pulls what is effectively a shorter bow that pulls from bridge to bridge as the string leaves the bridges. Once released, the arrow has a second burst of velocity as the string hits the bridges. Because of its greater weight in the extremities, the Manchu bow does not snap back as quickly as the shorter-eared designs. The long ears are also more susceptible to becoming damaged from twisting and require more maintenance. == References ==