Korean bow documentary

27 March, 2017

If you haven’t yet watched this fantastic doc from KBS1 about the history of the Korean bow and it’s influence on the current Olympic team, do so immediately.  (Click on the little ‘CC’ button to access English subtitles).

P.S. Still looking for an English-subbed version of Game Of Numbers. Does anyone capable of translating it want to add some captions themselves? You can just go ahead and do that these days….

4 comments on “Korean bow documentary

  1. Matthew

    Thank you for this! I watched it beginning to end during my break.

    Chang Hyejin’s reaction around 3:26 made me laugh, when she learns that the target is at 145 meters—it’s not every day that you see any Olympic gold medalist look intimidated! It must have been a nice feeling for the traditional archers to tell the Olympian, “Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it.” It’s also funny how reticent she is to draw the bow string back past her regular anchor point—I think I’d get a little nervous, too.

    I’m always amazed that much of what we know about bows from other time periods is taken from art made during that period. When Chang Hyejin visits the bowyer (at about 28:38) and they look at print of the archer and his teacher, I was wondering if there’s been an organized effort by historians to make a database of art related to archery. It would make a great thesis for a grad student.

    Last thing—that hornbow at 14:52—WOW. That is simply beautiful.

    This was a fascinating documentary; thank you for posting. It’s interesting to see how much national pride they’ve got in archery and their history with archery.

    Reply
  2. jiuzhizi

    Ah, no.. Dissapointed after watching this. They could have used Jang Hye-jin to promote their art in a good way, but in stead they chose to go the cultural war way. Best this, best that. There’s so much good stuff on KTA that lacks english subtitles. Not this.

    Reply
    1. takotsubo Post author

      Please give me some links to what you consider ‘the good stuff’. I’d be interested. Thanks!

      Reply
      1. jiuzhizi

        Hi, after being called out I realised I shouldn’t have used words “so much” 🙂 OK, I find this guy’s -ymjang007- vids interesting. He’s got some exhibition and practice clips and some instructional ones, like:
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd8x1-opzLc or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KabjqfS_CKs
        I also would like to know, for instance, what this gentleman has to say: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mbWyqqvn8M
        There are some good vids in english on YT like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cGkKZM9CmM but there’s a need for more and more detailed stuff.

        Reply

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