PolyU Kung Fu Festival: Traditional Chinese Archery

PolyU Kung Fu Festival

It is no understatement to say that for millennia, archery has played a pivotal role in Chinese society. In the earliest Chinese royal dynasties, archery had an important place both in mystic ritual and in war. It was a compulsory subject, together with ritual, music, charioteering, reading and arithmetic, in the schools which trained the Chinese nobility. Some 1,000 years later, over 2,000 years before our times, archery was still an important part of imperial court ritual. Confucian scholars transformed the ancient shamanistic ritual into a shooting ritual designed to symbolise Confucian virtue.

The functions, techniques and equipment of archery have changed rather significantly over the course of history. Around 2,500 years ago, as a result of a major technological development, archery was put into the hands of the ordinary infantryman, rather than the noble archer. Chinese archery again underwent another transformation. Confronted with the steppeland tribes, who were skilled archers on horseback, the Chinese army had no choice but to learn to shoot with a bow from horseback.

Mr Stephen Selby, in addition to being a leading expert on intellectual property, is a sinologist, adjunct professor at PolyU, and practising archer and instructor. He has authored two publications on archery: Chinese Archery and Archery Traditions of Asia. Mr Selby will shed light on the long and eventful history of Chinese archery in the talk to be held on 23 March 2018. You may even be able to try your hand at traditional Chinese archery under the supervision of Mr Selby, and another instructor Mr Lam Hing-kit, in the two-day class for beginners to be held on 7 and 8 April.

1. Talk on Traditional Chinese Archery

Speaker
Mr Stephen Selby

23 March 2018 (Friday)
7:30 pm
Change of venue: Tsang Sze Ho Wah Lecture Theatre (Y301), PolyU

Free admission by ticket. Free tickets are now available at the Information Counter of the Jockey Club Auditorium on a first-come, first-served basis.
The talk will be conducted in Cantonese.

2. Traditional Chinese Archery Class for Beginners

Instructors
Mr Stephen Selby
Mr Lam Hing-kit

7 & 8 April 2018
(Saturday & Sunday - 2 sessions)
10 am - 4:30 pm
Fong Shu Chuen Hall, PolyU

Important Notes on the Traditional Chinese Archery Class for Beginners
1)  For PolyU students and staff only.
2)  The enrolment deadline is 25 March 2018 (Sunday).
3)  Lots will be drawn by computer to determine the successful applicants who will hear from us by email on or before 27 March 2018.
4)  A confirmation link will be provided in the email sent to the successful applicants, who must click on the link in order to confirm their enrolment on or before 29 March 2018. Failing to do so will result in forfeiting the place to an applicant on the waiting list.
5)  The content and schedule of the programme are subject to change. Please visit our website regularly for updates.
6)  Participants who have successfully achieved an attendance rate of 100% will be:
        a.    recognized in the Co-curricular Achievement Transcript
        b.    awarded a Certificate of Attendance