Slingshot (simplified: 弹弓, traditional: 彈弓, pinyin: Dàngōng)1 was a ranged weapon that used elastic bands to launch projectiles. The weapon could deliver powerful and remarkably accurate shots when wielded by skilled practitioners.
Overview
The slingshot’s elastic mechanism allowed practitioners to launch pellets or other projectiles with significant force and precision. Skilled users could strike specific targets with great accuracy, making the weapon effective for both combat and intimidation purposes. The weapon’s portability and relatively silent operation provided tactical advantages in various situations.
Description
The slingshot consisted of a frame with elastic bands attached to a pouch that held the projectile. The weapon’s name “弹弓” combines “弹” (pellet/elastic) with “弓” (bow), reflecting its elastic-powered launching mechanism. Practitioners could launch various types of projectiles, typically pellets or small stones. The weapon required skill to achieve accuracy, as proper technique involved timing, aim, and understanding of trajectory. Skilled practitioners could develop advanced techniques such as rapid-fire sequences and precise targeting of specific objects or body parts.
Appearances
Mandarin Duck Blades
Ren Feiyan was a master of the slingshot technique, employing it with exceptional skill during combat. She could fire multiple shots in rapid succession with remarkable accuracy. Her most notable technique was the “Turning Horseback Shot” (回马弹 – huímǎ dàn), a powerful and precise technique that could strike specific targets even whilst moving or turning.
During confrontations, Ren Feiyan used her slingshot to drive away opponents, including members of the Four Xias of Taiyue. She struck Gai Yiming on the forehead and knocked out Hua Jianying’s front tooth with her pellets. Her Turning Horseback Shot technique was so precise that she could strike specific objects, such as knocking Xiaoyaozi’s pipe from his hand.
Ren Feiyan also demonstrated the slingshot’s effectiveness against mounted opponents. During a pursuit, she fired near a dozen pellets at a horse, with two striking the animal’s rump and causing it to buck, throwing the rider to the ground.
Notable practitioners
- Ren Feiyan — Master of slingshot techniques, including the Turning Horseback Shot (Mandarin Duck Blades)
Behind the scenes
Slingshots are real weapons in Chinese martial arts, traditionally used for hunting and combat. The weapon’s name “弹弓” combines “弹” (pellet/elastic) with “弓” (bow), reflecting its elastic-powered launching mechanism. In wuxia fiction, slingshots are often depicted as elegant ranged weapons requiring both dexterity and precision, making them popular choices for skilled practitioners who favour finesse over brute force. Ren Feiyan’s expertise with the weapon demonstrates the effectiveness of ranged weapons in wuxia combat when wielded with sufficient skill.
See also
- Ren Feiyan — Master practitioner of slingshot techniques
- Lin Yulong — Ren Feiyan’s husband and partner in the Wedded Blades Style
Footnotes
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弹弓 – dàngōng. A weapon that uses elastic bands to launch projectiles. ↩