Shejing 射經

There were several books with the title Shejing 射經 "Book of archery", or Jiaoshejing 教射經 "Instructions for archery", most of which are lost.

The oldest of these was written during the Tang period 唐 (618-907) by Wang Ju 王琚 (d. 747). Fragments of it are included in the series Shuofu 說郛 and it is quoted in the early Qing-period 清 (1644-1911) encyclopaedia Gujin tushu jicheng 古今圖書集成. Wang's book His book elucidates the principles of bow and arrow, skills for archery, and provides formulas that are easy to remember, and points out issues to avoid.

Song-period 宋 (960-1279) bibliographies list two books of this title, one with a length of 1 juan, and one with a length of 2 juan. The Southern-Song-period 南宋 (1127-1279) master Wang Yinglin 王應麟 (1223-1296) says that the book Shejing was divided into two chapters, the first discussing the rules of the body (tifa 體法), and the second the power of the bow (gongli 弓力). A further, 3 juan-long book of this title is likewise recorded in the imperial bibliography Yiwen zhi 藝文志 (ch. 202-209) in the official dynastic history Songshi 宋史. These books seem to be lost.

The same source lists a book Shejing, written by Zhang Zhongsu 張仲素 (769?-819), 3 juan long, which is lost. Tang Hao 唐豪 (1887–1959), author of the study Zhongguo wuyi tuji kao 中國武藝圖籍考, says that there was a book of this title written during the Jin period 晉 (265-420) by Du Yu 杜預 (222-284) that is lost.

The bibliographical chapter Yiwen lüe 藝文略 of Zheng Qiao's 鄭樵 (1104-1162) statecraft encyclopaedia Tongzhi 通志 lists a 4 juan-long anonymous Shejing that is also lost. Another, 4 juan-long Shejing, was written by Tian Yi 田逸. It is likewise lost.

According to the bibliography Qianqingtang shumu 千頃堂書目, the Ming-period 明 (1368-1644) master Li Chengfen 李呈芬 wrote a Shejing of 13 juan. His book on archery explains the proper equipment (Liqi 利器), the identification of the target (Biandi 辨的), the understanding of the bow's range (Minggu 明彀), the proper focus (Zhengzhi 正志), shooting techniques (Shefa 射法), hand techniques (Shoufa 手法), footwork (Zufa 足法), aiming with the eyes (Yanfa 眼法), ensuring steadiness (Shengu 審固), finger dexterity (ZhijiMashe 馬射), miraculous techniques (Shenqi 神奇), and craftsmanship (Kaogong 考工). It is thus a detailed description of the skill of archery and its tools, bow and arrow. Quite interesting is the mentioning of the archery methods of the Wokou pirates 倭寇. The text is incuded in the series Xu shuofu 續說郛.