However, that was almost a thousand years ago, but archery still exists to this very day. And as a tourist in Mongolia, you can experience the real beauty of traditional Mongolian archery! Let's take a look at archery's fascinating history to learn what's so unique and enticing about it:
The Mongolian Art of Archery
Mongolian archery is so unique and effective that it's practically almost an art. Since times immemorial, our people have used archery as a sport, for hunting, and in wars. But how did it develop to what we see today and in museums?
Archery quickly became one of the primary components of our ancient culture. From an early age, Mongolian elders taught children how to use bows, and it was one of the main tools our ancestors utilized throughout the centuries.
When the modern Mongolian nation was born, the art of archery was reborn as well. And today, you can find it at festivals and among the Mongolians who live the nomadic life.
Mongolian Archery Today
One of the most prominent festivals in Mongolia today is the Naadam Festival. It features three main traditional sports, and one of them is archery. The other two are, naturally, wrestling and horse racing, the two main sports our people adore!
At the festival, all archers wear traditional clothes and compete in three categories. Each of these categories is different based on the bows and arrows used, and the distance of the target. They are:
- Buriad - both men and women compete and the distance of the target is from 30 to 45 meters.
- Uriankhai - only for men and the distance is 30 or 40 meters.
- Khalkh - the national title-winning style where the distance of the target is the furthest.
On average, more than 300 archers of both genders and all ages compete at the Naadam festival, so you can imagine how big of a spectacle that is!
If you decide to come to Mongolia, you can visit the festival and see how we still practice the fantastic art of archery. You can even try it for yourself. There are plenty of places in Mongolia where you can experience archery, horse riding, trekking, and a lot more the beautiful country has to offer.
If you want to learn more, feel free to take a look at the tours we offer throughout Mongolia. And if you'd like to hear more about archery, feel free to reach out to us.
