Abstract: Using mutual verification of historical documents, this article rebuilds and interprets the attempt to replicate and transform Confucian ritual archery during Republican China period: (1) In order to express their political pursuit through reviving the Yan Archery Ritual, Beiyang warlords replicated the Pitch-pot Ritual in early Republican China; (2) Ideas on ritual archery renewal aiming at disciplining the citizens during the New Life Movement sprang from the cultural resources of the Archery Ritual of the Shires to some extent. These cases indicate that the ruling class remodeled the ritual archery in order to serve specific political purposes. Such practice blocked ritual archery from transforming itself towards folk, mass and humanistic culture. However, because of its grassroots and depoliticized tendency, the folk activity named "shooting the golden medal" prevailing in Chengdu during 1930s became a successful case which represents the folk-diversion of ritual archery. In the new era when our party and government encourages the "creative transformation" and "innovative development" of splendid traditional Chinese culture, we should summarize historical experience, bring ritual spirit back to ritual archery, and develop ritual archery into a folk cultural activity.

Key words: sports history, Chinese archery, ritual archery, traditionalism sports, New Life Movement