A passionate crossbow maker.

( Quang Ngai Newspaper) - Mr. Dinh Van Rang (59 years old), residing in Da Ban residential area, Ba To town (Ba To district), is one of the very few Hre people today who know how to use and make crossbows. Mr. Rang actively teaches young people how to use crossbows to participate in competitions during traditional festivals.

Crossbow shooting is a favorite sport of Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Van Rang, formerly an assistant in Military Intelligence and Reconnaissance (Ba To District Military Command). Mr. Rang is now retired and spends much of his time shooting crossbows in his garden, maintaining his health. Admiring his skill in shooting and crafting crossbows, the locals often call him the "king of crossbows."

Mr. Dinh Van Rang instructs local youths on how to make crossbows. Photo: Thien Hau.

Hearing visitors inquire about crossbows, Mr. Rang was delighted to meet someone who shared his passion. He hurried into the house to retrieve a half-finished crossbow and enthusiastically introduced its parts and how to make it. He explained that a crossbow has four main parts: the crossbow frame, the drawstring, the trigger, and the wings. The crossbow frame is made from various types of wood, such as ironwood, jackfruit, and lacquer; the drawstring is made from wild bamboo; the trigger is made from buffalo horn; and the wings are made from ebony, but can be replaced with bamboo or old betel nut. Besides the crossbow itself, there are also arrows made from bamboo.

Mr. Rang explained that among the parts that make up a crossbow, the wings play the most important role. This is because the wings are the heart of the crossbow; all its power is concentrated there. Crossbow makers must prioritize choosing good quality wood so that the wings are strong, durable, and highly elastic, maintaining their stability in all weather conditions. The wings must be sharpened perfectly straight, with uniform thickness on both sides to ensure high firing power, allowing the arrow to "cut through the air" and fly swiftly, hitting the target. "It looks simple, but making a crossbow takes a lot of time and effort, a week, even several months. That's when the materials are readily available; otherwise, it can take a year. This is because the materials, after being sourced, must be hung in the kitchen to dry for a long time before being used to ensure they meet the requirements," Mr. Rang said.

Although it takes a lot of time and effort, Mr. Rang is very happy each time he completes a crossbow made to order and only sells them to those who share the same passion. Depending on the quality of the wood and size, each crossbow costs from 300,000 to 700,000 VND.

Mr. Rang was born and raised in Di Lang town (Son Ha district). At the age of 13, his father taught him how to use and make crossbows. By the age of 23, he had made his first crossbows. He became famous as a skilled crossbow maker and a master marksman. Mr. Rang recounted that in the past, the crossbow was an indispensable tool in daily life. Every household had a crossbow, used to protect crops, families, and villages from wild animals. Back then, in his free time, he and the young men in the village would carry crossbows and quivers of arrows and head into the deep forest to hunt. Returning in the evening, everyone would have two or three squirrels or weasels hanging from their shoulders...

Over time, the importance of the crossbow to many Hrê families has diminished, but for him, the crossbow remains a constant companion. He participates in demonstrations at community events, local festivals, and competitions for ethnic minorities both within and outside the province. When his health declined and he could no longer participate in competitions in many places, he shifted to teaching the use and crafting of crossbows. "With Mr. Răng's guidance, my crossbow shooting skills have improved. I've also gradually learned the secrets of making highly accurate crossbows and I'm eager to own a complete one to showcase at festivals," shared Đinh Văn Su (33 years old), a self-defense militia member in Ba Tơ town.

According to Huynh Huu Thai, Deputy Director of the Ba To District Information, Culture and Sports Center, crossbow shooting is a unique traditional sport, suitable to the customs, practices, and working environment of the Hre people, contributing to strengthening national unity in the area. For many years, Ba To district has included crossbow shooting in grassroots competitions from the commune to the district level, creating a beneficial playground for the people and promptly discovering new crossbow shooting talents to preserve the traditional sport of the Hre people. Mr. Rang is a typical figure who has made many contributions to the mass sports movement in the locality, especially in teaching the younger generation how to use and make crossbows.

EMPRESS

Source: https://baoquangngai.vn/channel/2024/202205/nguoi-dam-me-che-tac-no-3117488/