China's Lisu aim to save crossbow culture

China's Lisu aim to save crossbow culture

Advertisement

Deep inside mountains along the China-Myanmar border, a 26-year-old ethnic Lisu villager, surnamed Zhang (pictured below), sharpens his crossbow arrows to prepare for a hunt.

. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song
Zhang carries his crossbow.

For Zhang and many other 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 bans the sale of kitchen knives during political summits, it's still normal to see ethnic Lisu openly carrying the weapon in public.

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, Lisu hunters traditionally went for larger game such as bears and wild boar.

Lisu technically must have a crossbow license, which are regulated by district crossbow associations.

1 / 9

Slideshow

Ethnic Lisu men play a game of billiards.
. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song

Ethnic Lisu men play a game of billiards.

Ethnic Lisu people stand inside a barber shop.
. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song

Ethnic Lisu people stand inside a barber shop.

An ethnic Lisu woman carries her grandson.
. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song

An ethnic Lisu woman carries her grandson.

Ethnic Lisu people prepare lunch during a festival.
. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song

Ethnic Lisu people prepare lunch during a festival.

A church is reflected in a puddle during Sunday mass in an ethnic Lisu village.
. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song

A church is reflected in a puddle during Sunday mass in an ethnic Lisu village.

A man walks along the road in Luzhang township.
. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song

A man walks along the road in Luzhang township.

An ethnic Lisu man rests after participating in a crossbow shooting competition.
. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song

An ethnic Lisu man rests after participating in a crossbow shooting competition.

An arrow flies towards the target board.
. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song

An arrow flies towards the target board.

A newly made crossbow is seen at a workshop.
. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song

A newly made crossbow is seen at a workshop.

As more young people move to urban areas for work, Cha Hairong, head of the Liuku Township Crossbow Association of Lushui city, fears the crossbow is dying out.

Cha wants to preserve the tradition by promoting crossbow shooting as a sport and attract new enthusiasts far beyond the reaches of the Nu River Valley.

. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song
Ethnic Lisu men attend a crossbow shooting competition.

"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.

. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song
Ethnic Lisu men aim their crossbows during a crossbow shooting training session at Lushui Crossbow Stadium.

The Lushui government has said it is committed to the preservation of the crossbow culture. Crossbow tournaments offering cash prizes have been held in recent years in a bid to boost interest in the sport.

. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song
Ethnic Lisu men look at an airplane during a crossbow shooting competition.

Some competitors simply enjoy the camaraderie at these events.

"This is just a time where we come here to chat and tell stories," said Zuo Zhenfu, 27, who attended a crossbow tournament in late March.

. Nujiang, China. Reuters/Aly Song
A mountain road is seen in an ethnic Lisu village.