The Bow FamilyRadical 弓

Now tense, now relaxed — that is the Way of Kings Wen and Wu

ShuowenShuowen: “Bow (弓), with which the near reaches the far. Pictograph. In high antiquity Hui made the bow.”

The oracle form of 弓 is a strung bow. The bow is older than history, yet it shaped the whole civilisation’s vocabulary: drawing the bow is 引, stringing it is 张, unstringing it is 弛, drawing it full is 彀 — citing classics, expansion, work and rest, “drawing heroes into the fold”: all motions on a bow. And one arrow shot out the characters 医 “medicine” (the arrow box) and 侯 “marquis” (the target): archery was the first course of a nobleman’s education.

The Root Character · Reading “弓” in Three Layers

See the form

The oracle bow, strung — back curved, line taut. “With which the near reaches the far”: the bow’s name is its ambition.

Read the logic

Bow characters are the acts of archery: 引, 张, 弛, 弯, 弧, 弩 — from drawing to unstringing, the whole procedure has its characters.

Grasp the wisdom

“Now tense, now relaxed — that is the Way of Kings Wen and Wu.” The bow’s tightness is statecraft and health alike: a bow always drawn full is the first to break.

The Making of a Glyph

Oracle bone · schematic

Small seal · schematic

弓

Regular script

Oracle boneA strung bow — back curved, string straight.
BronzeThe bow fills; the string like a full moon.
Small sealThe back rounds; the string draws in.
Clerical & regularThree strokes fix the form: 弓.

Glyphs are schematic reconstructions, not rubbings.

The Chain of Bow & Arrow

From holding the bow to hitting the mark — every motion was coined. This chain is a complete archery rite.

The full procedure of a shot

弓

gōng

The strung bow, to reach the far.

“With which the near reaches the far” — the mission is written in the name: make the far near.

Character Assembly · Two Parts Become One

When two parts walk toward each other, a new character is born. Watch how they meet.

引 yǐn

FormA stroke (丨) rising from the bow (弓) — drawn full, held.

LogicShuowen: “引, to draw the bow.” Drawn and not released — that is 引.

Wisdom引导, 引用, 引而不发 — drawing is the art of stored force: the mightiest arrow is the one still on the string.

张 zhāng

Form“Long” (长) beside the bow (弓) — strung, the bow is longer.

LogicStringing the bow is 张: string it, and it unfolds.

Wisdom扩张, 主张, 张灯结彩 — 张 is 弛’s opposite, and life’s front side: when it is time to 张, be able to 张.

发 fā

FormThe traditional 發: a bow (弓) with a hand (攴) striking the arrow loose.

LogicThe root meaning: to loose the arrow — the bow fires, and the arrow leaves.

Wisdom出发, 发射, 发现 — “setting out” is leaving the string: every departure is an arrow loosed.

弯 wān

FormA figure (亦, arms spread) with a bow (弓) hung beneath.

LogicDrawing the bow bends it — 弯 is the bow’s own shape.

Wisdom弯曲, 转弯, 弯道超车 — 弯 came from drawing the bow: only what can bend has power. The straight thing cannot draw a bow at all.

Branches of the Family

Hover (or tap) a character to see what it means.

Of the Bow

The bow’s family: arrow, string, crossbow and case.

Borrowed from the Bow

The bow loosed more than arrows — rank and profession too.

「A gentleman contends in nothing, unless it be archery — bowing to ascend, drinking when they descend: even his contention is gentlemanly.」
—— Confucius

「Draw the strongest bow; shoot the longest arrow.」
—— Du Fu