How to Make Chinese Arrows

Archery has played a pivotal role in Chinese history for millennia. With the use of readily available bamboo, quality arrows were crafted in a similar fashion over the centuries and proved to be an extremely effective weapon in various conflicts. With a few commonly found materials, you can build your own bamboo arrows you can adjust to fly straight and true, just as the ancient Chinese fletchers made. Just remember that such arrows are not toys and should be handled with care and respect.

Things You'll Need

  • Bamboo shoots (1/4 to 3/4 inch thick)
  • Saw
  • Gas burner
  • Sinew string
  • Fletchings
  • Glue
  • Arrow heads
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut 12 lengths of bamboo to about 30 inches with a saw.

    • 2

      Light a gas burner, and heat the joints of each bamboo shaft. Heating the joints will allow the bamboo to become slightly malleable and straighten the shafts as best as possible. Check the shafts by rolling them on a flat table; straight shafts will roll without a wobble.

    • 3

      Notch the ends of your arrow shafts by sawing a single line at each end for the arrows to sit on the bow string. Reinforce this end by wrapping the shaft with a length of sinew, tying it off flush to the arrow shaft. As this is the part of the arrow that endures the most force when firing, it should be reinforced for durability.

    • 4

      Add two or three feather fletchings. Cut a feather down the quill to create two fletchings. Attach these to the arrow shaft by applying a bead of glue along the quills and then tying the tip and tail of the quills to the shaft by wrapping sinew around all installed fletchings.

    • 5

      Connect your selected arrow heads. This step may require mounting the arrowhead into the hollow core of the bamboo or cutting a notch in the tip of your bamboo arrow and inserting a flat, pointed stone or metal head. Reinforce this end of your arrow with a length of sinew wrapped around the shaft to give strength against breakage. Find an appropriate testing range, and enjoy.