Gakgung

The gakgung is a Korean composite reflex bow built from a bamboo core, sinew backing, water buffalo horn on the belly for power, and an oak handle, drawn with a thumb ring rather than a finger draw. Known as Korea's national bow, it was standardized centuries ago from earlier similar weapons and was recorded as the most important weapon for Koreans in wars against Chinese dynasties and nomadic peoples from as early as the first century BCE. It served as a primary military weapon for centuries before transitioning to a recreational sport in 1899, when Prince Heinrich of Prussia suggested to Emperor Gojong that it be formalized as a national sport, and it remains a standardized competitive discipline today.