(VOVworld) – The Cotu call wooden crossbows magic crossbows. Bho Hoong hamlet, in Dong Giang district of Quang Nam province, which is home to many crossbow shooters, still preserves age-old techniques of crossbow making.
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| Shooter Bhriu But and his crossbow (Photo: Lan Anh) |
For generations, wooden crossbows went with the Cotu into the mountains and forests for hunting animals and birds. During Vietnam’s wars of resistance, crossbows were used to fight the enemy. This weapon is so important to the Cotu that it is always carried whenever they go out. Bhriu But of Bho Hoong village told VOV:
“Our predecessors used to hunt wild boars and fight enemies with crossbows. I was told that shooting of a crossbow does not produce any sound at a distance of 20 to 25 meters, so the enemy could not detect where the shooter was. When an arrow is coated with poison, the wound is fatal. That’s why our crossbow is distinctive. Now the State has banned hunting, but crossbows are still used at shooting competitions”.
The Cotu make the arrows from the trunk of Lồ ô tree. The poison is made from the resin of a special type of wild tree, which is found only in the high mountains of West Quang Nam province. The way the crossbow is made is quite special, says Bhriu Be: “The art of making Cotu crossbows has been passed down from generation to generation. It’s a difficult process. First, we must find the right tree in the far forest. It might take us 2 or 3 days to find it. Then the wood should be dried with fire, scraped and shaped. Without the makers’ skills, the crossbow will break easily or be inaccurate. Only a few people succeed in crossbow making. But many know how to shoot it”.
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A crossbow as an outfit of a Cotu dancer (Photo: Lan Anh)
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Today, shooters in Bho Hoong hamlet show off their skills in provincial and national contests. Brui Thien has finished first 10 times at provincial crossbow shooting competitions. Bhriu But, a famous shooter in Quang Nam province, says it requires a lot of practice: “In the beginning, I was keen on my dad’s shooting and learned the technique from him. Crossbow shooting is more difficult than gun shooting because guns have sights. I began entering competitions 10 years ago”
Shooters like Bhriu But and Bhriu Be practice everyday at a fixed time on a deserted piece of land far from the village for safety reasons. Bhriu Be told us:“We practice in the afternoon from 4 to 5 when the temperature is cooler. The crossbow cannot withstand much heat and may break when being shot”.
The 2 men say they are now training hard for the upcoming provincial competition. The wooden crossbow used to be weapon for defending the village. The Cotu tradition continues today as a sport.