Abstract
The Yujinyuan Garden in Bianliang (Kaifeng), the capital of the Northern Song dynasty, was a royal archery enclosure and a place frequented by the members of the imperial family. Here, the emperors of the Northern Song dynasty often held shooting competitions, known as “banquet archery (yanshe),” with Khitan envoys. The banquet provided an opportunity for archers from both sides to demonstrate prowess; at the same time, it also fulfilled a diplomatic function to promote friendship between the countries. Banquet archery can be regarded an early form of sport archery. At the same time, its cultural significance requires further investigation.
Translation by Hing Chao
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
- 1.
Shi [Song dynasty], Shilin yanyu [Stone forest and swallow’s words], fascicle 1 (Xi’an: Sanqin chubanshe, 2004), 6–7. The original Chinese text reads, 「瓊林苑、金明池、宜春苑、玉津園, 謂之『四園』。瓊林苑, 乾徳中置, 太平興國中復鑿。金明池於苑北導金水、河水注之, 以教神衛虎翼水軍習舟楫, 因為水嬉。宜春苑本秦悼王園, 因以皇城宜春舊苑為富國倉, 遂遷於此。玉津園則五代之舊也。今惟瓊林、金明最盛, 歲以二月開, 命士庶縱觀, 謂之開池。……玉津半以種麥, 每仲夏, 駕幸觀刈麥, 自仁宗後亦不復講矣, 惟契丹賜射為故事。」
Note that since emperors of the Song dynasty had multiple reign names, in this chapter, they are named by their ancestral appellations in the format of “emperor X” (i.e. Zhenzong, Renzong).
- 2.
Tuo tuo and Alutu et al. eds. [Yuan dynasty], “Li shiliu: Youguan” [Rites sixteen: Sightseeing and excursions], in Song shi [History of the Song dynasty], fascicle 113, book 8 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1977), 2695. The original Chinese text reads,「內有方池、園池, 為車駕臨幸游賞之所。」
- 3.
The phrase used to describe his behavior was “pangxia (旁狎).”.
- 4.
Wei Zheng and Fang Xuanling et al. eds. [Tang dynasty], “Zhangsun Lan zhuan fu Zhangsun Sheng zhuan” [Biographies of Zhangsun Lan and Zhangsun Sheng], in Sui shu [Book of the Sui dynasty], fascicle 51 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1973), 1329. The original Chinese text reads, 「善彈工射, 趫捷過人。」
- 5.
The original Chinese text reads, 「宣帝時, 突厥攝圖請婚於周, 以趙王女妻之。然周與攝圖各相誇競, 妙選驍勇以充使者, 因遣晟副汝南公宇文神慶送千金公主至其牙。前後使人數十輩, 攝圖多不禮, 見晟而獨愛焉, 每共遊獵, 留之竟歲。嘗有二鵰, 飛而爭肉, 因以兩箭與晟曰: 『請射取之。』晟乃彎弓馳往, 遇鵰相攫, 遂一髮而雙貫焉。攝圖喜, 命諸子弟貴人皆與相親友, 冀暱近之, 以學彈射。其弟處羅侯號突得設, 尤得眾心, 而為攝圖所忌, 密托心腹, 陰與晟盟。晟與之遊獵, 因察山川形勢, 部眾強弱, 皆盡知之。」
- 6.
The original Chinese text reads, 「選射者十二人, 分為兩朋, 啓人曰: 『臣由長孫大使得見天子, 今日賜射, 願入其朋。』許之。給晟箭六侯, 發皆入鹿, 啓人之朋竟勝, 是有口群飛, 上曰: 『公善彈, 為我取之。』十發俱中, 並應丸而落。是日百官獲賫, 晟獨居多。」
- 7.
The Chinese-language title for Cui Peng is「隋文帝護衛官備身將軍」
- 8.
Wei Zheng & Fang Xuanling et al. eds. [Tang dynasty], “Cui Peng zhuan” [Biography of Cui Peng], in Sui shu [Book of the Sui dynasty], fascicle 54 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1973), 1370. The original Chinese text reads, 「上嘗宴達頭可汗使者於武德殿, 有鴿鳴於梁上。上命彭射之, 既發而中。上大悅悅, 賜錢一萬。及使者反, 可汗復遣使於上曰: 『請得崔將軍一與相見。』上曰: 『此必善射聞於虜庭, 所以來請耳。』遂遣之。及至匈奴中, 可汗如善射者數十人, 因擲肉於野, 以集飛鳶, 遣其善射者射之, 多不中。復請彭射之, 彭邊發數矢, 皆應弦而落。突厥相顧, 莫不嘆服。可汗留彭不遣百餘日, 由賂以繒綵, 然後得歸。」
- 9.
Gao Cheng [Song dynasty], Shiwu jiyuan [Records of Materials] (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1985), 34. The original Chinese text reads, 「景德元年十二月四日, 命石保吉賜契丹使宴, 射於玉津園。自後, 凡其使至, 皆賜宴射, 此其始也。」
- 10.
Tuo tuo and Alutu et al. eds. [Yuan dynasty], “Benji diqi” [Biographies of Emperors VII], in Song shi [History of the Song dynasty], fascicle 7 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 1977), 126. The original Chinese text reads, 「召李繼隆、石保吉宴射行宮西亭。」
- 11.
Li Tao [Song dynasty], Xu Zizhi tongjian changbian [Sequel to the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance (Preliminary draft)], fascicle 58, book 5 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1993), 1293. The original Chinese text reads, 「戊子, 上作囬鑾詩, 命近臣和。幸北寨勞軍, 召排陣使李繼隆、石保吉宴射行宮亭。」
- 12.
Zhao Sheng & Wang Ruilai eds. [Song dynasty], Chaoye leiyao [Compendium of the court and the commonalty] (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 2007), 36. The original Chinese text reads, 「殿前馬步三司輪差, 借觀察、承宣之官, 環衛、四廂之職, 以伴蕃使, 射於玉津園。勝則有金帶、升轉官資之賞。」
- 13.
Xia Song [Song dynasty], Wenzhuang ji [Anthology of Wenzhuang (Xia Song)], in Jing’in wenyuange Siku quanshu [Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature (Wenyuange version)], book 1087 (Taipei: The Commercial Press Taiwan, 1986), 79. The original Chinese text reads, 「有敕卿等: 方居朕館, 屬地暇辰, 特命射侯, 庶幾觀德。仍舉匪頒之式, 用昭春異之恩。已差樞密使、武寧軍節度使、司空、檢校太師兼侍中、魯國公曹利用押伴, 兼賜卿等弓箭、御宴, 想宜知悉。」
- 14.
Tuo tuo and Alutu et al. eds. [Yuan dynasty], “Cao Liyong zhuan” [Biography of Cao Liyong], in Song shi [History of the Song dynasty], fascicle 290, book 28 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 1977), 9707. The original Chinese text reads, 「乾興初……契丹使者蕭從順桀驁, 稱疾留館下, 不時發。朝廷遣使問勞, 相望於道。利用請一切罷之, 從順乃引去。」
- 15.
Tuo tuo and Alutu et al. eds. [Yuan dynasty], “Wang Chao zhuan fu Wang Deyong zhuan” [Biographies of Wang Chao and Wang Deyong], in Song shi [History of the Song dynasty], fascicle 278, book 27 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 1977), 9466. The original Chinese text reads, 「撫其背曰: 王氏有子矣。」
- 16.
The original Chinese text reads, 「德用素善射, 雖老不衰。侍射瑞聖園, 辭曰: 『臣老矣, 不能勝弓矣。』帝再三諭之, 持二矢未發。帝顧之, 使必中, 乃收弓矢謝, 一髮中的, 再發又中。帝笑曰: 『德用欲中即中爾, 孰為老且衰乎?』」
- 17.
Ibid. The original Chinese text reads, 「天子以公典樞密而用富 (弼) 公為相, 將相皆得人矣。」
- 18.
Zhu Yu [Song dynasty], Pingzhou ketan [Dialogue of Pingzhou (Zhu Yu)], ed. Li Weiguo, fascicle 3 (Shanghai: Shanghai guji chubanshe 2012), 57. The original Chinese text reads, 「王德用為使, 相黑色, 俗號『黑相』。嘗與北使伴射, 使已中的, 黑相取箭桿頭, 一髮破前矢, 俗號『劈筈箭』。」
- 19.
Wang Yinglin [Song dynasty], Yuhai [Sea of jade], in Jing’in wenyuange Siku quanshu [Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature (Wenyuange version)], book 945 (Taipei: The Commercial Press Taiwan, 1986), 141. The original Chinese text reads, 「《神射式》一卷, 王德用分拽弓、遣箭、去病、射親四類。」
- 20.
Zhang Shunmin [Song dynasty], Huaman lu [Miscellany of Drawing the Pavement] (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 1991), 11. The original Chinese text reads, 「王德用射訣: 鋪前腳, 坐後腳, 兩手要停不須高。把里弦外覷帖子, 急拽後手托弓梢。」
- 21.
Tuo tuo and Alutu et al. eds. [Yuan dynasty], “Wang Shenqi zhuan fu Wang Shiyue zhuan” [Biographies of Wang Shenqi and Wang Shiyue], in Song shi [History of the Song dynasty], fascicle 250, book 25 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 1977), 8816–20. The original Chinese text reads, 「尤善騎射」
- 22.
Ibid. The original Chinese text reads, 「宴射苑中, 連中的, 賜御馬、黃金鞍勒。」
- 23.
Ibid. The original Chinese text reads, 「師約善射, 嘗陪遼使燕射玉園, 一髮中鵠, 發必破的, 屢受金帶及鞍勒馬之賜。」
- 24.
Ibid. The original Chinese text reads, 「灌射皆徹甲, 至洞胸出骨。」
- 25.
Tuo tuo and Alutu et al. eds. [Yuan dynasty], “He Guan zhuan” [Biography of He Guan], in Song shi [History of the Song dynasty], fascicle 357, book 29 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 1977), 11,225. The original Chinese text reads, 「陪遼使射玉津園, 一髮破的, 再發則否。客曰: 『太尉不能耶?』曰: 『非也, 以禮讓客耳。』整弓復中之, 觀者誦嘆。帝親賜酒勞之。遷步軍都虞候。」
- 26.
Cao Yi was related to the imperial house through the empress.
- 27.
Tuo tuo and Alutu et al. eds. [Yuan dynasty], “Cao Yi zhuan fu Cao Ping zhuan” [Biographies of Cao Yi and Cao Ping], in Song shi [History of the Song dynasty], fascicle 464, book 39 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 1977), 13,574. The original Chinese text reads, 「性喜文史, 書有楷法。茲慈聖命書屏以奉, 神宗即賜玉帶旌其能。尤善射, 左右手如一, 夜或滅燭能中。伴契丹使者射, 嘗雙破的, 客驚竦。」
- 28.
Dong Po quanji [Corpus of Su Shi], fascicle 111. Siku quanshu wenyuange version. n.p. According to the Corpus of Su Shi, 《東坡全集》卷111載: 「元祐三年七月八日『玉津園賜大遼賀坤成節人使射弓例物口宣』。」卷112載: 「元祐三年七月九日『玉津園賜大遼賀坤成節人使射弓例物口宣』; 又, 元祐三年十二月五日『玉津園賜大遼賀興龍節人使射弓御筵口宣』; 又, 元祐三年閏十二月三日『玉津園賜大遼賀正旦人使射弓例物口宣』。」
- 29.
Qian Yueyou [Song dynasty], “Yuanyou” [Gardens and paddocks] in the “Xianchun Lin’an zhi” [Local chronicles of Lin’an during the years of Xianchun], fascicle 13, book 4, in Song Yuan fangzhi congkan [Compilation of chorography of the Song and Yuan dynasties] (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 1990), 3491. The original Chinese text reads, 「玉津園在嘉會門外, 紹興十七年建。明年金使蕭秉溫來賀天申節, 遂燕射其中。」
- 30.
Tuo tuo and Alutu et al. eds. [Yuan dynasty], “Lizhi er’shi’er” [Records of rites (Twenty-two)], in Song shi [History of the Song dynasty], fascicle 119, book 9 (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 1977), 2812. The original Chinese text reads, 「赴玉津園燕射, 命諸校善射者假管軍觀察使伴之, 上賜弓矢。酒行樂作, 伴射官與大使並射弓, 館伴、副使並射弩。」
- 31.
Zhou Mi [Yuan dynasty], Wulin jiushi [Old stories of the martial arts circles], fascicle 2 (Hangzhou: Zhejiang renmin chubanshe 1984a, b), 25. The Chinese text reads, 「燕射 淳熙元年九月, 孝宗幸玉津園講燕射禮。皇太子、宰執、使相、侍從正任, 皆從輦至殿門外少駐, 教坊進念致語、口號, 作樂, 出麗正門, 由嘉
門至玉津園, 賜宴酒三行。上服頭巾窄衣, 束帶絲鞋, 臨軒。內侍御帶進弓箭, 看箭人喝:『看御箭! 』教坊樂作, 射垜前排立招箭班應喏。皇帝第二箭射中, 皇太子以下各再拜稱賀, 進御酒, 並宣勸訖。皇太子以下及臣僚射弓, 第四箭射中, 上再射第五箭, 又中的, 傳旨不賀。」 - 32.
Chen Liang [Song dynasty], Longchuan ji [Anthology of Longchuan], in Jing’in wenyuange Siku quanshu [Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature (Wenyuange version)], fascicle 28, book 1171 (Taipei: The Commercial Press Taiwan 1986), 782. The original Chinese text reads, 「嘗以館北客, 宴射玉津園, 選善射者與敵並射, 莫能中。春坊挾二矢, 以興平立, 睨的一髮中之。使當多事時, 吳江之遺恨猶有屬也。」
- 33.
Tian Rucheng [Ming dynasty], Xihu youlan zhi [Travelogue of the West Lake], in Jing’in wenyuange Siku quanshu [Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature (Wenyuange version)], fascicle 6, book 585 (Taipei: The Commercial Press Taiwan 1986), 122. The original Chinese text reads, 「玉津園……孝宗數臨幸, 命羣臣燕射於此。自後翠華罕駐, 景物漸衰。陸務觀詩雲: 『聖主憂民罷露台, 春風別苑晝長開。盡除曼衍魚龍戲, 不禁芻蕘雉兔來。水鳥避人橫翠靄, 宮花經雨委蒼苔。殘年自喜身強健, 又作清都夢一回。』」
- 34.
門至玉津園, 賜宴酒三行。上服頭巾窄衣, 束帶絲鞋, 臨軒。內侍御帶進弓箭, 看箭人喝:『看御箭! 』教坊樂作, 射垜前排立招箭班應喏。皇帝第二箭射中, 皇太子以下各再拜稱賀, 進御酒, 並宣勸訖。皇太子以下及臣僚射弓, 第四箭射中, 上再射第五箭, 又中的, 傳旨不賀。」References
Chen Liang 陳亮 [Song dynasty]. 1986. Longchuan ji 龍川集 [Anthology of Longchuan]. In Jing’in wenyuange Siku quanshu 景印文淵閣四庫全書 [Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature (Wenyuange version)], fascicle 28, book 1171. Taipei: The Taiwan Commercial Press.
Dong Po quanji 東坡全集 [Corpus of Su Shi]. 1986. In Jing’in wenyuange Siku quanshu 景印文淵閣四庫全書 [Complete library in four branches of literature (Wenyuange version)]. Taipei: The Taiwan Commercial Press.
Gao Cheng 高承 [Song dynasty]. 1985. Shiwu jiyuan 事物紀原 [Records of Materials]. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 中華書局.
Li Tao 李燾 [Song dynasty]. 1993. Xu Zizhi tongjian changbian 續資治通鑑長編 [Sequel to the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance (Preliminary draft)], fascicle 58, book 5. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 中華書局.
Qian Yueyou 潛說友 [Song dynasty]. 1990. “Xianchun Lin’an zhi” 咸淳臨安志 [Local chronicles of Lin’an during the years of Xianchun], fascicle 13. In Song Yuan fangzhi congkan 宋元方志叢刊 [Compilation of chorography of the Song and Yuan dynasties]. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 中華書局.
Tian Rucheng 田汝成 [Ming dynasty]. 1986. Xihu youlan zhi 西湖遊覽志 [Travelogue of the West Lake]. In Jing’in wenyuange Siku quanshu 景印文淵閣四庫全書 [Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature (Wenyuange version)], fascicle 6, book 585. Taipei: The Taiwan Commercial Press.
Tuo tuo 脫脫 and Alutu 阿魯圖 et al. eds. [Yuan dynasty]. 1977. Song shi 宋史 [History of the Song dynasty]. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 中華書局.
Wang Yinglin 王應麟 [Song dynasty]. 1986. Yuhai 玉海 [Sea of jade]. In Jing’in wenyuange Siku quanshu 景印文淵閣四庫全書 [Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature (Wenyuange version)], book 945. Taipei: The Taiwan Commercial Press.
Wei Zheng 魏徵 and Fang Xuanling 房玄齡 et al. eds. [Tang dynasty]. 1973. Sui shu 隋書 [Book of the Sui dynasty]. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 中華書局.
Wen Ying 文瑩 [Song dynasty]. 1984. Xiangshan yelu 湘山野錄 [Miscellany of Xiangshan]. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 中華書局.
Xia Song 夏竦 [Song dynasty]. 1986. Wenzhuang ji 文莊集 [Anthology of Wenzhuang (Xia Song)]. In Jing’in wenyuange Siku quanshu 景印文淵閣四庫全書 [Complete Library in Four Branches of Literature (Wenyuange version)], book 1087. Taipei: The Taiwan Commercial Press.
Ye Shi 葉適 [Song dynasty]. 2004. Shilin yanyu 石林燕語 [Stone forest and swallow’s words], fascicle 1. Xi’an: Sanqin chubanshe 三秦出版社.
Zhang Shunmin 張舜民 [Song dynasty]. 1991. Huaman lu 畫墁錄 [Miscellany of Drawing the Pavement]. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 中華書局.
Zhao Sheng 趙升 and Wang Ruilai 王瑞來 eds. [Song dynasty]. 2007. Chaoye leiyao 朝野類要 [Compendium of the court and the commonalty]. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 中華書局.
Zhou Cheng 周城 [Qing dynasty]. 1988. Song Dongjing kao 宋東京考 [Investigation on the Eastern Capital of the Song dynasty], fascicle 10. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 中華書局.
Zhou Mi 周密 [Yuan dynasty]. 1984a. Qidong yeyu 齊東野語 [Causeries from the Eastern region of the State of Qi], fascicle 3. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju 中華書局.
Zhou Mi 周密 [Yuan dynasty]. 1984b. Wulin jiushi 武林舊事 [Old stories of the martial arts circles], fascicle 2. Hangzhou: Zhejiang renmin chubanshe 浙江人民出版社.
Zhu Yu 朱彧 [Song dynasty]. 2012. Pingzhou ketan 萍州可談 [Dialogue of Pingzhou (Zhu Yu)], edited by Li Weiguo 李偉國, fascicle 3. Shanghai: Shanghai guji chubanshe 上海古籍出版社.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ma, M. (2023). Banquet Archery at Yujinyuan Garden in the Song Dynasty. In: Chao, H., Ma, L., Kim, L. (eds) Chinese Archery Studies. Martial Studies, vol 1. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8321-3_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8321-3_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-16-8320-6
Online ISBN: 978-981-16-8321-3
eBook Packages: Literature, Cultural and Media StudiesLiterature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)