Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the materials that go into making Mariner (水手) Traditional Chinese Bows?

  Please see this page.

• What else is included with a Mariner Bow?

  Each Mariner bow comes with its own bow sock and one D75 string.

• How do I get started shooting in the Chinese style?

  Please see Justin's interview in Kung Fu Magazine, titled "Justin Ma on Getting Started in Chinese Archery". And also pay a visit to The Way of Archery's tutorials page.

• What is a "Cinnabar Bow"?

  Our name, the Cinnabar Bow, is an allusion to the cinnabar-red colored bow used by the legendary archery Yi (羿) to shoot down ten suns. Cinnabar itself is red mercury sulfide. Although it was toxic, cinnabar was used in ancient China to decorate things with a vermilion-red color (items such as lacquerware). Thus, a "cinnabar bow" (which is our abbreviation of "cinnabar-red bow") carries the symbolism associated with mythic archers of old.

• Where do I get a ring for shooting with the thumb draw?

  We sell basic thumb rings in various sizes. Please see the Rings page for more information.

• What kind of replacement or repair policy do you provide for Mariner Bows?

  We are willing to replace or repair a damaged bow within six months after you receive it as long as the bow is braced and shot in a responsible manner. Whether or not we replace/repair the bow is at our discretion. Here are some examples of situations for which we will not replace/repair the bow:

  • The bow is drawn beyond the maximum draw length specified for the model.
  • The bow is dry fired.
  • The bow is left strung for an excessive period of time (e.g., more than a few days).
  • The arrows used with the bow have a mass below the listed "min warrantied arrow mass" for its model.
  • The arrows used with the bow are severely underspined (too flexible).
  • The original string is not being used with the bow.
  • The original string becomes frayed beyond repair because the owner neglects to apply bow string wax.
  • The bow is left in a hot or humid place for an extended period of time (e.g., inside a car on a hot sunny day, direct exposure to sunlight on a hot day).
  • The bow is physically damaged due to reasons that do not involve proper bracing or shooting of the bow (e.g., dropping the bow, stepping on the bow, etc).