Archery has been practiced on the Korean peninsula for thousands of years. Until the 16th century, archers were one of the Korean military’s deadliest weapons and were renowned throughout Asia. On many occasions in the last two millennia, it was Korean archers showering the enemy with deadly arrows that drove foreign invaders back.
Cho Donghyung is a military officer and the secretary of the Gyeryong Archery Club. He first tried archery when he was just nine years old. There was a historic archery range near his house which was over 200 years old. As a child he would watch the archers firing their arrows and dream of being able to do the same. So, in the forest near his house, he made his own bow out of a stick of bamboo and rubber bands.
“The feeling of shooting with that bow and arrow was so fantastic, especially when it travelled a long way or hit the mark. It gave me an indescribable feeling. But it wasn’t a fast game, it was calm,” he said.
He would pretend to be a soldier in ancient times. When he hit his target he could imagine he had successfully wounded the enemy and helped to protect the kingdom.
In modern day South Korea, archery is recognized as a martial art just like Taekwondo, and archers are given a rank according to their skill level. Unlike many martial arts which use colored belts to signify rank, Korean traditional archers have hibiscus or mugunghwa flowers embroidered on their bow covers. The more mugunghwa an archer has, the greater their skill and experience.
There are many differences between international target archery and Korean traditional archery.
In Korean traditional archery the distance from the target is much greater. In international target archery the maximum distance from archer to target is approximately 90 meters (98 yards) but for traditional Korean archery its 145 meters (158 yards).
While international target archery uses a target with a bullseye and different scores radiating out from the center, in traditional Korean archery there is only hit or miss.
For many years after the introduction of firearms, archery remained an essential part of the training of Korean soldiers. Even now in the digital age, archery is seen as an ideal pastime for soldiers in South Korea. It requires mental discipline, perseverance, patience and concentration under pressure.
But it is not just for soldiers. Many archers say the sport has improved their relationships, reduced stress in their lives and improved their health in unexpected ways such as reducing blood pressure and easing back pain. Precepts such as “If you fail, look inside for the solution” and “From righteous mind comes righteous body” mean archers work towards improving themselves mentally and emotionally.
“When I prepare to shoot I have to calm down and control my breathing,” says Cho, “Good archery is not just shooting an arrow—it comes from focusing the mind. The correct physical action originates from internal stillness.”
Cho followed his dream of being a soldier and has enjoyed a career in the South Korean military for most of his life. He is now semi-retired and six years ago he returned to the sport of archery.
“I was really happy when I rediscovered archery. Now I’m playing with the real thing,” he says with a laugh, “I have a real bow and arrow like the soldiers of ancient days.”
With additional reporting by Kim Jintae.
