1 Topic by adalta (edited by adalta 2017-02-04 06:17:49)

  • Registered: 2017-02-04
  • Posts: 2
  • User Karma: 1

Topic: Master bowyer Kim Sung-rak reproduces a Joseon military bow

The jungryang bow was a Joseon-era bow used exclusively for war and military examinations.

http://i.imgur.com/7v7anJR.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/g7AQt3P.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/AhCnDvM.jpg

It's been recorded that some of the soldiers' shoulders were injured while attempting to use the bow.

http://i.imgur.com/mMWwEgh.jpg

Comparison to a normal horn bow.

http://i.imgur.com/ifzpNz0.jpg

The reason for its size was that it was used to shoot an arrow that weighed 225 grams or half a pound.

http://i.imgur.com/inJPfIC.jpg

Back at his workshop, 3rd generation bowyer Kim Sung-rak goes to work.

http://i.imgur.com/BEvE8Ob.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Sl88Tgj.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1a3wD0h.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/4ycHnAq.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/8KoCa2M.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/rNLGOk5.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5Xd5v56.jpg

Air bladder of a nibe croaker used as adhesive.

http://i.imgur.com/9Pl9whI.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/a1y9Ezx.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/j6a4OGs.jpg

Horn of a water buffalo cut, shaped and tempered.

http://i.imgur.com/WHsuVmU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/6ChAu2Y.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/niFYllM.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/4EKUusw.jpg

Applied to the bow.

http://i.imgur.com/i3TUExB.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/jYSrvcr.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/wOmOOoP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Jj0CwDo.jpg

After 8 months, the bow is complete...

http://i.imgur.com/KCSwgIf.jpg

The jungryang bow (top) compared to a normal horn bow.

http://i.imgur.com/WDqc7IZ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/tp1Kv9Z.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/StMl95P.jpg

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2 Reply by Pedro C (edited by Pedro C 2017-02-04 11:29:10)

  • From: SoCal
  • Registered: 2015-08-12
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Re: Master bowyer Kim Sung-rak reproduces a Joseon military bow

Nice!
Do you know what'd be the difference between 예궁 and 정량궁?
Must've been very heavy to cast the 3000+ grain arrow nearly 100 meters
I'd like to see a warbow like in the thread http://www.koreanarchery.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=619

Pedro C's Website

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  • Registered: 2017-02-04
  • Posts: 2
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Re: Master bowyer Kim Sung-rak reproduces a Joseon military bow

Pedro C wrote:

Nice!
Do you know what'd be the difference between 예궁 and 정량궁?
Must've been very heavy to cast the 3000+ grain arrow nearly 100 meters
I'd like to see a warbow like in the thread http://www.koreanarchery.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=619

I must admit my interest in Korean archery was fairly recent, about the time when War of Arrows came out. I'll have to do more reading on the 예궁!

Yes the bowyer commented on how his shoulder almost let out, and the women's gold medalist modern archer couldn't even draw the bow. I found it interesting that a person could elevate his status depending on his proficiency with this bow.

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  • Registered: 2010-10-15
  • Posts: 860
  • User Karma: 82

Re: Master bowyer Kim Sung-rak reproduces a Joseon military bow

A former Korean bowyer--a friend of mine--Geuk-hwan Park (박극환), produced a 예궁 many, many years ago.  I helped him at some stages.  After he finished, he was extremely worn out, and not long after had a brain aneurysm that paralyzed him.  As far as I know, the bow is still in his possession, although he was, at one time, planning to put it up for sale. 

Here is a FB album on the making of that bow (It's "public", so everyone should be able to see it).  Also in the album is a 목궁, which is now in my collection.

https://www.facebook.com/thomas.duverna … amp;type=3

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