Pyeonjeon

Origins

Archery held a central place in Korean warfare and culture. The powerful Korean horn bow, the gakgung, was the main weapon of both infantry and cavalry, and skill with the bow was tested in the military examinations of the Joseon dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910. Alongside ordinary arrows Korean archers developed the pyeonjeon, a very short arrow shot through a guide. Its exact origin is uncertain. Some writers trace it to the Goryeo period, but it is best recorded under the Joseon dynasty, when it appears often in court records and military manuals. Joseon archers used it on the northern frontier against Jurchen raiders, and it was regarded as a Korean specialty that was not to be shown to foreigners.

Design & Construction

The pyeonjeon itself was a short, light arrow, often described as roughly 30 to 45 cm long, with a small iron head and fletching. It was far too short to be drawn on its own in a full-size bow. To shoot it, the archer used a tongah, a half-pipe or split tube of wood or bamboo about the length of a normal arrow. The short arrow was laid in the groove of the guide, and the guide was nocked on the string and drawn back with it. A cord tied the guide to the archer's wrist or finger. When the string was released, the arrow slid out of the tube and flew on, while the guide stayed behind attached to the archer's hand. The whole energy of a full draw went into a much lighter projectile, so the arrow left the bow at high speed. Accounts claim ranges well beyond those of ordinary war arrows, though exact figures vary and are hard to confirm. Because the arrow was small and fast it was very hard to see in flight, and an enemy who picked it up could not shoot it back without a guide of his own.

Combat Use

Joseon soldiers used the pyeonjeon both on foot and from horseback, and in the defense of walled towns. Its range and penetration made it valuable against armored opponents and against enemies at a distance, while its small size meant an archer could carry many. During the Japanese invasions of 1592 to 1598, known in Korea as the Imjin War, Korean archers relied on bows while the Japanese had large numbers of matchlock guns, and the pyeonjeon was one of the few Korean weapons that could reach beyond the effective range of a musket. Korean forces also used rockets from the Korean Hwacha and cannon, and the Korean navy under Yi Sun-sin won famous victories at sea. The short arrow was used again during the Manchu invasions of 1627 and 1636, where Korean archers faced some of the finest mounted bowmen in Asia.

Legacy

The pyeonjeon remained in the Korean arsenal until firearms finally replaced the bow in the late nineteenth century. Military manuals continued to describe it, and shooting the short arrow was part of military training and examinations under the Joseon state. Traditional archers in Korea today still practice with the pyeonjeon and tongah, and the technique has attracted interest among archers in other countries. Similar arrow guides were also known in the Middle East and elsewhere, but the Korean form is the best known. For the wider tradition of arms in the country, see Korean Arms & Weapons and the general article on Bows.