Way of Archery, The: A 1637 Chinese Military Training Manual

This book is just excellent in all ways.The original text is provided alongside the translations for those who might want to read it and perform their own interpretations (I cannot read Chinese so not me) but there is really no need, Justin Ma and Jie Tian provide insight into the reasons for their translations based on years of practiced and accomplished archery. The book itself has original illustrations from Gao Ying's work and modern photographs demonstrating the finer details. Anyone interested in traditional archery at all should grab this book not just those interested in Chinese archery - it sits in my collection alongside Roger Asham's Toxophilus and Arab Archery by Nabih Amin Faris.If I have to make one minor quibble it is that the book is an unusual shape, being rather wide so it might struggle to fit on some people's bookshelves unless they are deep.

If you are interested in Chinese archery - of the Ming Dynasty especially - then please do not hesitate to buy this book. It's chock full of illustrations & photographs. The book gets the message across; it's an ACTUAL TRAINING MANUAL, after all. I'd have given it 10 stars if such a thing was possible. 👍👍👍

Provides in depth practical details on how to shoot a bow with thumb draw.Also very interesting historical reference. Have learnt a lot and am sure it will improve my technique.

Written at the end of the Ming dynasty, the author wrote a treatise in a time of war an upheaval because he saw skill in archery disappearing. He was really worried and the text is rather driven, but very clear. If you are interested in thumb shooting- buy this. There are lots of other books on the topic but this is well put together with great illustrations. Well dome Justin and Jie, you bring Gao Ying's words to life

Great service to add to a great book

There have been lots of manuals translated or renewed for contemporary trad archers, but this guide is hands down the best and most detailed guide with the best pictures, page quality, and layout.The work of Justin Ma may not be new to anyone reading this, and so if you've seen his video on "The Way of Archery" YT channel, you know how meticulous and clear he is. His book is just like this, alongside the help and knowledge of Jie Tian.P.S. not to say you shouldn't read any other manuals, read them all, all the historical knowledge is wonderful and necessary to become the best archer in my opinion - just that this guide is the best renenwal of all of them, and hence why there are so many new Ming inspired trad shooters propping up these days! Buy it :)

The key difficulty for those of us that aren't happy just shooting modern recurve bows, compound bows or even longbows i.e. those of us that crave something authentic but different in our archery lives, is that, Kyudo and GukGung excepted, there are, in effect, no coaches out there. Thankfully, Justin Ma and Jie Tian have produced a fabulous, practical shooting manual for those wishing to try archery in the 'authentically different' late medieval Ming Chinese style. I mean, who wouldn't want to have a go! Taking and presenting the original 17th Century shooting manual of Gao Ying as it's core, this beautifully presented and surprisingly entertaining book is packed with easy to follow advice thoughtfully illustrated with photographs; essential I would say for any practical guide.Whether you wish to try out this specific style, apply some of Gao Ying's advice to more modern archery, or are just interested in learning about other, long forgotten archery methods then this book is a very worthwhile purchase.

This is a really great practical archery manual. the teachings of Gao Ying apply as much today as ever. weather you are trying to recreate Gao Yings style or are just interested in the universal laws of archery you will find plenty here, the layout of original text alongside Justin and Jie's translation insight and commentary make for an easy to use and above all practical book.