Archery or Shooting an Arrow

射箭

Archery in the War

射箭技术在战争中的应用

Bows and arrows can be used to hunt animals,and humans,too.With the development of wars of human beings,bows and arrows turned into weapons in the war from the tools to gain food.

弓箭既可用于射猎野兽，当然也可用于射人。因此，随着人类争夺战争的展开，弓箭便从一种获取食物的主要手段演变成为一种战争工具。

In the times of Shang and Zhou dynasties,war-carts were the main equipment in the war.On the cart there were only two men except for the driver,one of whom was a soldier in charge of the bow and arrows.

商周时期，战车是战场上的主力，每辆战车上除了驾车手，只坐两个人，其中一个就是弓箭手。

During the periods of the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States, the scrambling wars became more and more serious and brutal,so people began to pay more attention to the training of shooting.

春秋战国时期，争夺战争越来越激烈、残酷，人们对射箭技术的培养也进一步重视起来。

In the period of the Warring States,horsemanship and archery appeared with the birth of the cavalry.

战国时期，随着骑兵在战争中的运用，人们还发明了骑射这种射箭方式。

Wushu juren examination was given since the Queen Wu Zetian in the Tang dynasty, and archery was the main one in it.

唐朝自武则天统治时开始设武举，射箭便是其中重要的考核项目，

It is no doubt that this action promoted the development of the archery.When it came to the Qing dynasty,the Eight Banners still emphasized the training of shooting,though the guns were used more and more widely.

此举对推动射箭技术的发展无疑产生巨大的推动作用。至清朝，虽然火器在军事上的应用范围越来越广，但八旗兵对射箭技术的训练仍十分重视。

However, after the middle years of the fling dynasty, especially with the breakout of the two Opium Wars,the Qing government suffered great loss from the Western guns, and the bow and arrows retired from the battles.

不过，清朝中期以后，尤其是随着两次鸦片战争的爆发，清政府在洋枪洋炮面前吃尽了苦头，弓箭才最终退出了战场。

Archery and Recreation

射箭与娱乐

The retirement from the battles of bows and arrows does not mean the disappearance of archery in the daily life because it is not only applied in the army but also as a means of recreation.

弓箭退出战场并不意味着射箭在日常生活中的消失。因为在中国历史上，射箭不仅用于军事战争中，也是一种娱乐活动。

For instance, early in the periods of Wei, Jin,the Southern and the Northern dynasties, there was a custom to drink and shoot in the Double Ninth Festival.

Besides,there was a willow-shoot game, which means to shoot the willow twigs.

除此之外，古代还有一种名为射柳的游戏。所谓射柳，就是用箭射柳枝。

Though there is a long history of archery in China, and the shooting methods are diverse,it does not develop into an official competitive sport.

中国的射箭活动虽然有十分悠久的历史，射箭方式也丰富多彩，但它始终没有发展成为一种正式的体育比赛活动。