The history of Mongolian archery is so ancient and integral to their culture that there is debate amongst historians over which technological advance came
first in the region, the Mongolian bow and arrow or the wheel. Traditional Mongolian archery was integral to the nomadic lifestyle they led. As well as being used for hunting, it was their main weapon when fighting neighbouring tribes or when raiding the rich lands of China (and when faced with the retaliatory expeditions from the Chinese that followed).
Ancient Archery in Mongolia
From the third century BCE, sources tell of raids into China by a tribe called the Xiongnu, who predominantly fought with mounted archers. Their tactics must have impressed the Chinese as they
adopted them and used them to pursue the Xiongnu across the Gobi Desert.
So successful were
the raids of these ancient archers that in a bid to keep out the tribesmen of what is now Mongolia, previously build fortifications were connected making the beginnings of the Great Wall of China. Despite this, raids and wars would be waged against China by the largely nomadic tribes using mounted archers on and off right up to the
modern era.
Mongolian children were taught archery techniques from a young age and the art was so
ingrained in their culture, it was not only a weapon of war but also practised as a sport with tournaments being held regularly in the nomadic camps and at the courts of the Khans. The most important use for the bow on a day-to-day level was hunting and in this,
the Mongol people also excelled. A source from China during the Tang Dynasty (c.618 - 907 CE) stated, “Steppe inhabitants can hit at full tilt a running hare with a single
arrow.”
Female members of the tribes were also prolific with the bow which they used for
hunting and defending the tribe when the soldiers were away. In some cases women could themselves be part of the military, even fighting on the front line as archers alongside their male
counterparts.
Genghis Khan and the Mongolian Empire
Under the leadership of Genghis Khan and his descendants, archery was instrumental in building one of the largest empires the world has ever seen as they swept away most who faced them (with the notable exception of Japan).
A story from a chronical known as the Blue Sutra from the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368) in China, demonstrates just how prolific the Mongol warriors were with a
bow.
Genghis’s progress was barred one day by Magnagt, ruler of the Merkits, who
stated:
Even though you are viewed as the son of the heavens, I am still not convinced about the abilities of your soldiers. If any one of them hits with a single arrow a small red flag from a distance of 100 num (one num equals the length of a bowstring, which is almost 1.5 metres), I will become your ally and friend – if not, we will be enemies.
On
hearing Magnagt’s challenge Taitsuu, one of the Khan’s generals, laughed and stated, “You offer us the warrior’s standard exercise.” He then ordered one of his men, Chuu Mergen, to comply with
the challenge who, according to the Blue Sutra, hardly needed to aim. Another of the
Mongol marksmen, Khavt Khasar, then stepped forward proclaiming, “It’s no challenge to hit a motionless target,” then raised his bow and with a single arrow pierced the neck of a drake flying
passed. As the slain bird hit the ground, he hit it with another arrow. Needless to say
that Magnagt was impressed by this, so much so that he not only let the Mongols pass without a fight but also enlisted nine thousand of his own men to Genghis Khan's cause.
Mongolian Archery Techniques, Equipment and Tactics
Each warrior would carry two bows, one for long-range shooting and one for fighting at close range. Mongolian bows were made from ten different materials including birch bark, fish glue, bamboo, deer antlers, natural silk threads and animal tendons, all of which could be found within Mongolia itself. The design of the longer-range bow allowed them to fight at a distance while maintaining accuracy. This meant they could hit opposing forces with salvos of arrows while themselves being out of range, even against enemy militia on fortress walls.
Another Mongolian archery technique often employed was to ride towards their enemies in continuous waves shooting volleys of arrows, often laced with poison, before retreating to get themselves out of range of their enemy’s arrows. While shooting arrows on horseback, a traditional Mongolian archer would dramatically increase his accuracy by timing the release of the arrow to the moment when his horse's hooves were all off the ground which would prevent the motion caused by them hitting the floor from disrupting his aim.
They manufactured several different types of arrow, the composition of which depended on their purpose of use and would often carry two or more quivers with them into war or on hunting expeditions, with each quiver carrying different types of arrow. The most powerful arrows were capable of piercing thick armour and their metal tips could measure 15 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. They also designed some intended for short-range, long-range, double-tipped and arrows designed to be lit on fire.
Amongst the most inventive arrows in archery history was the whistling arrows, which had holes in the tips that made a whistling sound while in flight which would intimidate forces that faced them. They were also useful in hunting as the whistling sound of the arrow shot high in the air could distract the animal, making it look up with curiosity giving the hunter time to shoot a more powerful arrow to bring down the stationary prey.
The Decline and Resurgence of Traditional Mongolian Archery
After the reign of Genghis Khan and his descendants, the nations they conquered would gradually brake away from the empire and life returned largely to the way it had been in earlier phases of Mongolian history. Numerous warring nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes would turn their bows on each other bidding for power and dominance over the region.
From the seventeenth century, both the Russians and the Chinese began to encroach on the lands of Mongolia and they would soon come under the control of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, inevitably changing their way of life and affecting many of their customs and traditions.
A low point in the history of Mongolian archery followed as it was officially banned due to its military applications. However, it did live on and when the country again became an independent nation in 1911, the practice of traditional archery regained its popularity among the people in just a few years, re-established itself as an integral part of their daily lives and culture.
Written by Andrew Griffiths – Last updated 19/07/2023. If you like
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Further Reading:
Jones, J. [Internet]. 2012. The Late Middle Ages. West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Available from: http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his101/misc/latemid.htm [Accessed February 22, 2018].
Mongol Archers. [Internet]. 2013. Warriors and Legends. Available from: https://www.warriorsandlegends.com/mongol-warriors/mongol-archers [Accessed February 22, 2018].
Oestmoen, P.I. [Internet]. 2002. The Mongolian Bow. Coldsiberia.org. Available from: http://www.coldsiberia.org/monbow.htm [Accessed February 22, 2018].
Storey, J. [Internet]. 2000. What Came First in Mongolia - the Wheel or the Bow? Atarn.org. Available from: http://www.atarn.org/mongolian/mn_nat_arch/messenger.htm [Accessed February 22, 2018].
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