In English, an arrow’s point is deemed the “arrowhead”; this riddle reverses that sense of anatomy.  Here, Tibetans describe the flat end of the arrow, which is strung into the bow, as the arrow’s head. The notch into which the bowstring is placed is compared to an open mouth, and the stabilizing feathers attached to the same end (often huge feathers from falcon wings) are compared to a human’s facial hair. As such, the arrow flies backwards through the air—the piercing tip of the arrow being compared to an iron spike on the sole of a person’s foot.  

While potentially dangerous, archery is a popular game and an enjoyable form of physical activity in Tibetan society.