Top 11 premier archers worthy of the title of archery deities in Vietnamese history

Lý Phục Man was a prominent general during the reign of Lý Nam Đế in the 6th century of Vietnamese history. Due to his success in subduing minority tribes (Man people) in Đỗ Động - Đường Lâm region (Northwest of Vietnam during the reign of Lý Nam Đế), he was honored as 'Phục Man Tướng Quân'. Alongside Phạm Tu, he defeated the invading Lâm Ấp army, earning him the surname 'Lý' bestowed by the king. Hailing from Làng Cổ Sở, later renamed to Làng Giá (including Yên Sở, Đắc Sở, Yên Thái in present-day Hoài Đức District, Hanoi), he was renowned for his martial arts prowess, elephant-taming skills, and exceptional archery, considered unmatched at that time. Thus, he was bestowed with the title 'Gia Thông Đại Vương.'

In 545, the Lương invaders sent the formidable general Trần Bá Tiên to attack Vietnam. Lý Bý suffered a major defeat in Chu Diên, and the veteran general Phạm Tu fell in battle. Upon hearing this, Phục Man fortified his garrisons, defended key positions, and prepared to advance northward. However, during a dark night, the Chiêm Thành army ambushed them. Faced with this situation, he and his generals broke through the encirclement, opening a path to retreat. As the main enemy forces had advanced northward, the defensive strength of Phục Man here was thin, making it impossible to resist the Chiêm Thành army. Running out of supplies and lacking reinforcements, Lý Phục Man chose to take his own life to avoid falling into the hands of the enemy. A loyal and valiant hero with numerous contributions, he was revered by people who later built shrines in his honor. The Yên Sở (Quán Giá) shrine in Hoài Đức, Hanoi, is considered the original shrine dedicated to this general.

Nguyễn Hữu Cầu was a leader of a major peasant uprising in Đàng Ngoài in the mid-18th century. Born in Lôi Động village (now part of Tân An commune), Thanh Hà district, Hải Dương, Vietnam, Nguyễn Hữu Cầu hailed from a poor peasant family, possessed both literary and martial arts skills, and was an excellent swimmer, earning him the nickname Quận He. He gained prominence as a skilled and courageous general, known for his strategic acumen and exceptional archery skills. After joining Nguyễn Cừ's uprising, he married Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh, the daughter of Nguyễn Cừ. Quickly gaining fame as a talented military commander, Nguyễn Hữu Cầu was not only a formidable warrior but also renowned for his masterful archery, often hitting multiple targets with a single shot. Following Nguyễn Cừ's death, Hữu Cầu assumed full military command and launched vigorous campaigns, attacking Trịnh forces in various locations. Due to his routine of confiscating rice from merchant ships and distributing it to the poor, wherever Quận He went, he had followers willing to join his cause. Nguyễn Hữu Cầu was praised by historians as a heroic figure with exceptional strategic intelligence among the leaders of the uprising at that time. In battles, Quận He was said to wear an open half-shirt, revealing his muscular physique, with a longbow slung across his back. He often led the charge at the front lines, bravely defeating enemy forces and setting an example for his troops. Later, Hữu Cầu faced defeat at the hands of a former schoolmate, Phạm Đình Trọng.

Nguyễn Hữu Cầu and Phạm Đình Trọng were lifelong adversaries. Those who believed in spirituality might see them as having a debt from past lives, engaging not only in combat with swords but also in intellectual battles. Their life paths diverged significantly, with one becoming a government official and the other a rebel. After defeating Cầu, Trọng was appointed as the Minister of War. However, just 3 years later (1754), Trọng died at the young age of 40. With Cầu gone, Trọng also departed, embodying the folk tale saying, 'When the hero dies, the deity also withdraws.'

Vĩ Mao Bow (one of the four famous divine bows in Vietnamese history) is the bow of the literary genius La Xuân Kiều, from Phù Cát district, proficient in both Nôm and Han poetry, as well as skilled in horseback riding and archery. He was one of the Tây Sơn Six Braves, from Phù Cát district, Bình Định. La Xuân Kiều, true to his name, was extremely elegant and exceptionally talented. There is no record of his appearance, but we are referring to the inherent beauty in terms of talent. He was well-versed in Nôm and Han script poetry. Particularly, he excelled in horseback riding and archery.

The La family had a special bow called Vĩ Mao Bow, one of the Four Great Divine Bows of that era. It was named Vĩ Mao Bow because the bowstring was braided from horse's tail and the bow body was made from a precious wood. Additionally, historical records mention that every time Vĩ Mao fired, a clear and melodious sound echoed, and when the sound ceased, an arrow hit the target accurately. Vĩ Mao Bow was an inseparable item from La Xuân Kiều. Thanks to Vĩ Mao, La Xuân Kiều became renowned among contemporary marksmen, and conversely, thanks to La Xuân Kiều's talent, Vĩ Mao could rise to the rank of a Divine Weapon of the time.

Đinh Văn Tả served as a general in the era of Lê Trung Hưng. Known for his strength, bold temperament, and exceptional archery skills, he was hailed as the undefeated champion of his time. During a martial arts competition, witnessing participants showcasing their archery skills, he smirked, calling them useless and a waste of the royal stipend. Officials, noticing this, invited him to demonstrate his skills. He took a bow and shot 10 arrows at 10 different targets, hitting all 10 with precision. Recognizing his talent, he was presented to Lord Trịnh Tráng and later appointed as the Master of Martial Arts, often leading troops to defeat enemies and achieving numerous heroic feats.

In 1967, Lord Trịnh allowed the establishment of a temple for Đinh Văn Tả during his lifetime. This is a rare case in the history of feudal dynasties in Vietnam. During the Tran Dynasty, only Trần Hưng Đạo was granted a temple while still alive. Considering status and reputation, Hưng Đạo Vương surpassed Đinh Văn Tả. Furthermore, Trần Hưng Đạo was a royal relative. This demonstrates the special favor of the Lê dynasty towards this distinguished general and his truly outstanding archery skills.

Renowned for his prowess in both literary and martial arts, Phạm Ngũ Lão was a famous general during the Tran Dynasty in Vietnamese history. Hailing from Phù Ủng village, Đường Hào district, Hải Dương (now part of Ân Thi district, Hưng Yên province, Vietnam).

Phạm Ngũ Lão stood out as one of the most versatile figures in Vietnamese history, excelling in both military strategy and combat skills. In the resistance against the Mongol invaders, he emerged as a brilliant and victorious general, showcasing tactics and martial prowess that surpassed his peers. During this period, only Nguyễn Khoái could rival Phạm Ngũ Lão, creating a formidable duo. These two generals from the Tran dynasty were the only ones capable of facing the formidable Mongol general, Toa Đô, renowned for his courage and strength in hundreds of battles.

Not only a master of martial arts, but he was also known as an exceptional archer. Before joining the forces of Hưng Đạo Vương, he even participated in a royal archery competition, where he shot through the king's chessboard from a distance of 100 steps (approximately 166m). This extraordinary feat transformed him from a skilled archer into a victorious and celebrated general.

Nguyễn Địa Lô, one of the five trusted lieutenants and a skilled archer under Hưng Đạo Vương Trần Quốc Tuấn, possessed the extraordinary ability of hitting the target with unparalleled precision, making him the most formidable archer of his time. In 1285, when the forces of Toa Đô advanced from Chiêm Thành to Nghệ An, the commanding general of the Tran Dynasty, Trần Kiện, cowardly abandoned his post and surrendered, resulting in significant losses for the resistance.

Toa Đô immediately sent Trần Kiện to Yên Kinh (China). However, upon reaching the northern border, the local militia, under the command of leaders like Nguyễn Thế Lộc and Nguyễn Lĩnh, ambushed and routed them. Nguyễn Địa Lô participated in this guerrilla attack and personally shot the traitorous enemy leader dead.

Known for his archery skills, in May 1285, during our counteroffensive, he, along with the local militia led by Nguyễn Thế Lộc and Nguyễn Lĩnh, successfully ambushed the traitors Trần Kiện and Trần Tú Hoãn in Ma Lục (near Chi Lăng–Lạng Sơn). Taking advantage of his exceptional marksmanship, Địa Lô fatally shot Trần Kiện on the spot, contributing significantly to our victory and earning him lavish accolades.

As a noble lineage, Hưng Vũ Vương Trần Quốc Nghiễn was the eldest son of Hưng Đạo Vương Trần Quốc Tuấn and An Sinh Vương Trần Liễu. In 1282, he married Princess Thiên Thụy, becoming a loyal subject of King Trần Thánh Tông of the Trần Dynasty. Historical records provide limited information about him, including his birth and death years. Nevertheless, they unanimously acclaim him as a versatile, talented general, a court official of exceptional abilities, a filial son, and a devoted servant. His renowned archery skills were equally impressive. Legend has it that in his youth, he often engaged in archery competitions with skilled warriors under Hưng Đạo Vương, such as Phạm Ngũ Lão and Nguyễn Địa Lô, often resulting in evenly matched contests. This demonstrated his archery prowess rivaled even the esteemed veterans preceding him.

In the Battle of Vạn Kiếp in 1285, after being defeated by the main forces of the Trần Dynasty, the traitor Lý Quán, with 50,000 remnants, hid Thoát Hoan in a bronze tube and fled to the North. The cavalry of Hưng Vũ Vương Trần Quốc Nghiễn caught up near Tư Minh. Quốc Nghiễn shot a lethal arrow, causing Lý Quán to fall from his horse and meet his demise.

Lý Văn Bưu, a renowned general of the Tây Sơn dynasty under the command of Bắc Bình Vương Nguyễn Huệ, was one of the Tây Sơn Thất Hổ Tướng. Born into a wealthy family engaged in horse trading in Đại Khoang, Phù Cát, Bình Định, he gained early fame for his virtues, martial prowess, and, partly, due to his excellent horses, which attracted many eminent figures as friends. Among his horse buyers were the Tây Sơn's great general, Vũ Văn Dũng, and the female general Bùi Thị Xuân. Later, he joined the Tây Sơn movement, contributing to the training of warhorses. Additionally, he taught Bùi Thị Xuân how to train war elephants, a skill she later applied in training war elephants.

Lý Văn Bưu was also renowned for his exceptional archery skills. He possessed the Kỳ Nam Bow, one of the Four Great Celestial Bows of that era. This bow had a distinctive structure, with a Ky Nam tower, made from precious Ky Nam wood, situated in the bow's handle. When hung in the room, the scent of Ky Nam wood permeated the air. In battle, the fragrance enhanced internal strength, enabling Lý Văn Bưu to shoot a hundred arrows with a hundred hits. The more he shot, the greater the internal strength, ensuring accurate hits.

During the Tây Sơn's nation-building phase, a ferocious tiger, as large as a dream buffalo, terrorized the Ninh Thuận mountain range, frequently descending to the villages to prey on cattle, pigs, and even humans. Legend has it that its hide was so tough that arrows couldn't kill it but only made it angrier. No hunter or strong youth in the region could defeat it. Lý Văn Bưu took his Kỳ Nam Bow into the forest and exterminated the fierce tiger. Confronting the beast, the Lý family wielded the Kỳ Nam Bow, firing an arrow into the tiger's head. The arrow pierced from the right eye to the back of its neck. Despite the tiger's tough hide, the arrow still penetrated its throat and spinal cord. The tiger thrashed about for a while before succumbing. The villages nearby were in awe of his divine prowess, and many joined the Tây Sơn army in admiration. In battles against the Southern enemy (Xiêm) and the Northern enemy (Mãn Thanh), the Ky Nam Bow also played a crucial role in helping Lý Văn Bưu achieve numerous victories.

Lê Khôi, from Lam Sơn village (now part of Xuân Lam commune, Thọ Xuân district, Thanh Hóa province), was a founding royal official of the early Lê dynasty. He was the son of Lê Trừ, the second son of Lê Lợi, whom he referred to as his elder uncle. Joining the Lam Sơn uprising from its early days, he achieved numerous merits. Lê Thái Tổ conferred upon him the title of Kì Lân Hổ Vệ general, holding the position of Nhập nội thiếu úy, and granted the fief of Đình Thượng hầu.

Lê Khôi can be regarded as one of the most valiant and heroic generals of Lê Lợi. Belonging to the Lam Sơn Ngũ Hổ group, he captured both the Tổng Binh and the Binh Bộ Thượng Thư of the Ming dynasty. Descriptions of him include, 'With a quiver of arrows on his left and another on his right, he followed the King to the battlefield. During the Khả Lưu battle, he and the Lê Sát group charged ahead, surrounded, and defeated the Ming army, capturing their General Hoàng Thành and numerous excellent soldiers.' Lê Khôi was also known for his exceptional archery skills.

This distinguished general is the only one under Lê Lợi's command honored in the Nguyễn dynasty's Võ Miếu, a martial temple. The temple, built 560 years ago, signifies the profound respect for his outstanding talent.

Đặng Xuân Phong, a renowned general of the Tây Sơn era, stands out as the foremost archer of his time. Hailing from Dũng Hòa village, Tuy Viễn district (Tây Sơn), he possessed exceptional martial arts prowess and equestrian skills, surpassing others in horseback archery. Using the Liên Phát Bow, one of the Four Great Divine Bows, crafted from steel with high hardness and elasticity, he could shoot four arrows at once due to its powerful recoil. Due to his aversion to fame and officialdom, when the Tây Sơn dynasty sought his talents, Xuân Phong hesitated to respond.

One day, while Bùi Thị Xuân was in the Kiên Mỹ betel garden, she noticed a young warrior holding a bronze staff, a shoulder-mounted iron bow, riding a swift horse from Thuận Nghĩa village to Phú Lạc. His dignified demeanor and noble appearance caught her attention. Intrigued, she observed as the warrior galloped up Trưng Sơn mountain effortlessly. The horse navigated the rugged mountain path as if on flat ground. After running for a while, they stopped on a flat piece of land near the mountain's summit. Suddenly, a flock of quails flew by. The warrior swiftly shot two arrows, hitting two quails that fell, then quickly shot five more arrows, causing five quails to drop like ripe fruit. Impressed by his talent, Bùi Thị Xuân, after investigating his background, befriended and invited him, along with Vũ Đình Tú, to join the construction of the Tây Sơn dynasty.

Later, Đặng Xuân Phong became a formidable general under both Nguyễn Huệ and Nguyễn Nhạc. After the decline and fall of the Tây Sơn dynasty, two theories about his fate emerged. One suggests that during the power struggles among generals and courtiers, Xuân Phong chose to leave for another place. Another theory claims that during the conflict with Nguyễn Ánh's forces, he succumbed to a fatal gunshot. To this day, uncertainty shrouds the fate of this esteemed general, honored as the foremost martial deity of Vietnam.

Nguyễn Quang Huy, a distinguished general during the Tây Sơn era, excelled in martial arts and military strategy. Mounted on a white steed, he wielded two weapons, the silver Ngân Câu (Silver Hook) and the Thiết Thai Bow. Joining Tây Sơn forces when Nguyễn Huệ marched against Tống Phúc Hiệp in Phú Yên, Nguyễn Quang Huy became a crucial part of Nguyễn Huệ's campaigns. During the conquest of Phú Xuân and the first expedition to Thăng Long, he was appointed Deputy Admiral. Later, he chose to accompany Nguyễn Nhạc to Quy Nhơn, departing from Nguyễn Huệ's side. When Nguyễn Ánh recaptured Gia Định in 1789, Nguyễn Lữ fled to Quy Nhơn. King Tây Sơn, Nguyễn Nhạc, appointed Nguyễn Quang Huy to defend Bình Thuận.

Huy's Thiết Thai Bow had a steel bow with an iron shaft, making it significantly heavier and having three to four times the range of a regular bow. While defending Bình Thuận, he faced Nguyễn Phúc Ánh's overwhelming forces, forcing a retreat to defend Phú Yên. In 1799 (Kỷ Mùi), when Quy Nhơn was besieged by Nguyễn Phúc Ánh, Nguyễn Quang Huy led his troops to rescue the city. Displaying remarkable prowess, he defeated 25 generals of Nguyễn Phúc Ánh, including killing the chief commander Tống Phước Nghĩa and forcing the retreat of the most loyal general, Lê Văn Duyệt, prompting the reinforcements of Nguyên Văn Thành and Nguyễn Huỳnh Đức. Witnessing from atop the fortress, Phúc Ánh found himself stunned by Quang Huy's swift and precise actions. Quang Huy, resembling Triệu Tử Long in the Battle of Đương Dương Trường Bản, took aim and shot Phúc Ánh's left arm with the Thiết Thai Bow. This injury compelled Phúc Ánh to withdraw to Gia Định for recovery. His renowned bow was named Thiết Quai Bow, featuring a steel bow and an iron shaft, known for its substantial weight and three to four times the range of a regular bow.