A bow and arrow were the most common weapons in ancient times. At excavation sites of all Jurchen-era monuments, whether they be burial grounds, settlements, or fortresses, arrowheads comprised the second most common category of finds after ceramics.

In the Jurchen Empire, different types of bows and arrows were used. There were more than 60 types of arrowheads, each with a different purpose. Local weapon makers made arrowheads for both hunting and warfare. For example, oval, rhombic, and keel-shaped flat arrowheads were used for hunting large game. Arrowheads with forked and blunt tips were used for hunting birds. Faceted ones were intended for piercing enemy armor.

The shaft of the Jurchen arrow could be made of any suitable wood. The most common were shafts made of hardwoods such as birch, ash, or maple. Most likely, they had a simple finish and a polished surface.

The length of the shaft varied from 80 to 90 centimeters. Almost all the arrowheads found during the excavations were attributed to the socketed type. The attachment of any socketed tip to the shaft began with drilling the end with a drill. The resulting channel was filled with glue, and the socket of the arrowhead was inserted there. After gluing, the end of the arrow had to be reinforced to withstand stress and prevent breakage. To do this, the shaft was wrapped with a thread over the socket. The Jurchens used silk thread for this purpose, a technology they borrowed from the Manchus.

Each arrow had “fletching, ” that is, the part opposite to the arrowhead, which ensured a straight flight. The choice of fletching depended on the availability of certain large birds in a particular area such as eagles, owls, hawks, and falcons. It is known that the Jurchens hunted swans and kept hunting falcons for this purpose. The large feathers of swans and falcons were very well suited for the production of arrows. Simple, mass-produced Jurchen arrows could be fitted with feathers of more common birds, such as wild geese or owls. The fletching of Jurchen combat arrows had an oval shape, and the feathers were quite long and narrow.