About the Mongolian Composite Bow

The ancient Mongols of the Eurasian steppe lived in a harsh environment. Hunting and survival skills were vital in order for these tribesmen to flourish. The development of the Mongolian composite bow was largely a result of this necessity. This bow, however, would develop into arguably the finest projectile weapon of its day; an even more effective weapon than the best that Europe had to offer, the fearsome English longbow. The bow is still used today in competitive Mongolian archery.

  1. Use

    • The Mongolian composite bow was used both for hunting and as a weapon of war. In either circumstance, the Mongols were incredibly skilled in its use. Hunting and frequent archery training made the Mongols highly effective archers both on the ground and while riding on horseback. In warfare, most mounted soldiers would carry two bows; one for short distances and one for long distances. Each soldier would also carry a variety of different arrow types.

    Bow Construction

    • The Mongolian bow is constructed around a wooden frame, typically made from birch. The inner curve of the bow is covered with a layer of horn or bone. The outer side of the bow is covered with a sinew layer. The combined effect of these composite parts creates a resilient bow with great “snapping” power. The curvature of the bow, which is different from the European style, also enhances the weapon’s overall accuracy and power.

    Glue

    • The composite parts of the bow are held together with fish glue. This glue dissolves in water; for this reason, an added layer of birch bark is applied to the bow in order to protect it against moisture. The bow itself would generally be kept in a leather case to further protect it from damp or rainy conditions.

    String

    • Without a good string, any bow will be ineffective. The Mongolian composite bow was traditionally strung using animal hide. Horse skin was often used due to its continued suppleness during extremely cold conditions. All the fat would be removed from the hide before being tautened and twisted. Strings made in this manner would continue to remain taut even after long periods of continuous use.

    Release

    • Mongol archers developed a release technique different from that used in Europe. This technique is known as the “Mongolian release.” The bow is pushed forward while the string is pulled back to behind the ear. Due to the great strength needed to draw back the bow for long range firing, the archer would hold the string with his entire hand, forming a fist around the string. Furthermore, a thumb ring was often worn. This could be hooked around the string in order to gain greater stability and grip.

    Range

    • The maximum range of the Mongolian composite bow made it an even more deadly weapon. While smaller than the English longbow, the Mongolian bow could nonetheless attain greater distances than its European rival. The longbow could achieve a maximum range of approximately 230 m; the Mongolian bow could shoot over 320 m. Some contemporaneous Mongolian sources have recorded astonishing distances of up to 536 m.