2012 Volume 57 Issue 2 Pages 501-513
This study investigated Korean traditional archery in the 18th century by reference to the Eosagopungcheop (records of the old custom of King's archery) of King Jeongjo, who was known for both literary and military accomplishments in the Joseon era. Through these records, we were able to obtain information on the types of archery, the variety of targets and arrows, the methods of scoring and recording, and the features of traditional archery. The findings were as follows:
1. The arrows employed were Yuyeopjeon (willow-leaf arrow), Soso (small arrow), and Cheoljeon (iron arrow). All of them featured in examinations for military officers.
2. In terms of quantity and frequency, the willow-leaf arrow was used most commonly.
3. The small arrow was considered the piece arrow, which was a weapon unique to Korea.
4. It became clear that the iron arrow, which was very heavy and thick, was used to break shields. It seems that this type of arrow was considered the most important for military officer examinations, because it played an important role in breaking down the enemy's defense in Korea, depending on the archery tactics.
5. The targets employed included cloth targets, leather targets and a variety of other types.
6. It was clarified that in terms of accuracy, targets were ranked in order of size. On the pierce leather target standard, the other targets appeared to be named ‘Fragment’, ‘Small’, ‘Palm’ in descending order of size.
7. Each type of arrow was paired with a specific target. The willow-leaf arrow was paired mainly with leather targets. The small arrow was paired with both leather and cloth targets, and the iron arrow was paired with shield or club targets.
8. According to the records, a practice session comprised basically 10 sequences, each involving the shooting of 5 arrows.
9. The scoring system differed depending on the type of target. For leather targets, the score was separated into two hit zones: the center and the surrounding area. However, the score was not separated in this way for cloth targets.
10. The willow-leaf arrow used on leather or club (cudgel) targets was the item to compete in accuracy. The small arrow, used mainly on cloth targets, was used in contests held on shooting ranges. The iron arrow, used mainly on shields or clubs as targets, was used for determining destructive power and accuracy.
11. The inscriptions in the records are divided as to whether the shooting sequence was single or multiple.
12. The records reveal that Korean traditional archery was still widely practiced at the end of the 18th century, when firearms had become common in all parts of the world.
