Abstract:
In times of the West Zhou Dynasty, archery was regarded as one of the qualifications and standards of ministers, senior officials and knights and also as an important quality for a governor to be promoted to a higher rank, which was clearly recorded in works of rites in the Zhou Dynasty. Inscriptions on ancient bronze objects, such as those on the Shuzefang Tripod, showed that the king of the Zhou Dynasty really paid great attention to the archery contest between Piyong and Shegong. The inscription “The manor estate shall be granted by archery skills” on the Guoyoubi Tripod demonstrated the archery skill was a leading criterion for abolishing or changing the grant of land. Therefore, the recorded saying “A governor shall be appointed by archery skills” was wellgrounded, but it was realized by continuous performances but not simply for a single performance.
