china’s Lisu community aims to preserve their crossbow culture

Deep in the mountains that align the Chinese-Myanmar border, a 26-year-old Lisu villager, surnamed Zhang, sharpens his crossbow’s arrows to prepare for a hunt.
Despite a decades-old hunting ban, law enforcement remains lax, and Zhang and his friends still hunt birds and rodents for sport. Before the ban was enacted, however, Lisu hunters traditionally went for larger game such as bears and wild boar.
For Zhang and many other ethnic Lisu, a mostly Christian minority that inhabit the border region, the crossbow is an indispensable part of their culture dating back to 200 BC.
In a country that often places bans on the sales of kitchen knives during political summits, it’s still ordinary to see ethnic Lisu openly carrying the weapon in public.
Lisu owners technically must have a crossbow license, which are regulated by district crossbow associations.
With more young people moving to urban areas for work, however, Cha Hairong, the Liuku Township Crossbow Association of Lushui city, fears the crossbow culture is dying out.
Cha is buying time to preserve the tradition. He aims to expand crossbow shooting’s popularity as a sport far beyond the reaches of the Nu River Valley.
“Our people’s crossbow culture must enter the National Games of China. It must enter the Asian Games. It must enter the Olympic Games! So that people all over world will understand our people’s culture,” said Cha.
Cha and his friends who practice frequently at the local crossbow shooting range speak of the sport’s rich health benefits.
“(Shooting crossbow) is a natural way to rid yourself of gastric disease. Also, both of my shoulder bones are in great shape. They don’t ever hurt. I’m 60 years old and they don’t hurt. My body is in great shape,” said retiree Mo Xipa.
The Lushui government has said it is “committed” to the preservation of crossbow culture. For the past few years, crossbow shooting tournaments that offer cash prizes have been held. Nevertheless, for some, such tournaments aren’t all about the competition.
“This is just a time when we come here to chat and tell stories. If not for this then we wouldn’t have time to gather,” said Zuo Zhenfu, 27, who attended a crossbow tournament in late March.