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. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Weapon Class Introduced Year Classification
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Weapon Class (category) Connections
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Source Wikipedia: Gakgung
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Gakgung
- Weapon class classified from the entity's own sourced description text.
- Weapon class (bow-crossbow) is a pre-industrial/melee weapon type by its own nature per the entity's own sourced description text; not carried in current active military service.
Article text
The reflex bow had been the most important weapon for Koreans in wars with Chinese dynasties and nomadic peoples, recorded from the 1st century BC.
In Group: Ancient Bows and Thrown Weapons, Lead sentence
The gakgung (Korean: 각궁; Hanja: 角弓), also called Korean bow, is a water buffalo horn-based composite reflex bow, standardized centuries ago from a variety of similar weapons in earlier use.
View the SourceWikidata: Gakgung
Wikidata Q768373, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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