“The 2018 Shaolin Changong Chinese Archery Competition” Draws to an End in the Zhangbi Ancient Fortress of Jiexiu City

On August, 20, 2018, the 2018 Shaolin Changong Chinese Archery Competition drew to an end in Zhangbi Ancient Fortress of Jiexiu city. The first two places were decided among 124 players of 42 teams from more than 20 provinces through two-day competition. It is known that the 2018 Shaolin Changong Chinese Archery Competition in Zhangbi Ancient Fortress was jointly sponsored by the traditional bow branch of the Chinese Archery Association and China Songshan Shaolin Temple.

This contest was held at the Changong Courtyard and the archery field outside the north gate of Zhangbi Ancient Fortress. Individual ranking event and Team Elimination Games were respectively classified into four categories including 20 meters, 30 meters, 40 meters and 50 meters. Bamboo bow, Bashkir bow, modern bow and traditional bow entered the competition at the same time and 12 major awards were created in total. At last, Zhaolumen Qimuge won the title. The second and third places are Wang Wenqiang and Zhao Lingling, respectively coming from Ju Shi She Yi team and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress team.

In the opening ceremony, vice president of the Buddhist Association of China and abbot of the Shaolin Temple the Great Monk Yongxin, minister of the social development of the shooting and archery management center of General Administration of Sport of China Bai Junhua, vice president of Chinese Archery Association Wang Dawei, honorary chairman of the traditional bow branch of the Chinese Archery Association Xu Kaicai and Li Shulan, vice chairman of the traditional bow branch of the Chinese Archery Association Meng Fanai, abbot of the Zishou Temple of Shanxi province Master Yanbang, deputy mayor of Jiexiu Municipal People’s Government Liu Gaiqing, chairman of the Archery Association of Shanxi province Wang Youqun, president of Shanxi Kaijia Energy Group, co., LTD. Lu Douheng and other guests attended it.

The “2018 Shaolin Changong Chinese Archery Competition” is the revival of Chinese bow culture in the background of the new era, which will plays a great leading and promoting role for the development of the traditional Chinese archery sport. In the meantime, the game also marks a perfect combination of Shaolin Changong and Zhanbi Ancient Fortress’s traditional military culture. Taking this opportunity, archery activities will become a new highlight of the scenic spots.

At the closing ceremony, minister of the social development of the shooting and archery management center of the General Administration of Sport of China Bai Junhua said that the competition focused on Shaolin Changong and traditional Chinese bow, carrying forward traditional Chinese culture as theme, promoting traditional sports as mission, making innovation through inheritance and developing in innovation. Traditional archery sports glow the vitality and the vigor and succeed both in athletic performance and spiritual civilization.

It has been said that Zhangbi Ancient Fortress was originally built in the period of sixteen kingdoms, with a history of over 1600 years. Zhangbi Ancient Fortress played long-term role of ancient military castle and the local villagers have the traditions of practicing martial arts and archery. (Editor: Zou Xiang)