Japanese Archery
Since a large portion of Japanese archery is steeped in mythology, it is somewhat difficult to pinpoint the exact origins of this sport. Still, some concrete evidence can be proven as to the time and place that this sport began.
Historians speculate that Japanese archery started around the time that the first bow was fashioned in Japan. Since the two go hand and hand, this theory seems to make a lot of sense. Those that first used the bow and arrow were thought to be the Jamon, who were a hunting tribe. The Jamon often used short bows that were heavy. Most of the time, the Jamon bow was used as a way to gather hunt food for the rest of the tribe (skilled hunters would gather the food), though it was also used in battle.
As Japanese culture began to become influenced by Chinese culture, the bow became an integral part of everyday life. Archers were known to be heroic folk that were likened to the European knight. Around the seventeenth century, Japan’s civil war was beginning to end, and the bow became less of a hunting and fighting weapon. Instead, the bow turned into “kyudo” – an art that would reflect life rather than warfare. As the world began to forget the ancient ways, the bow became a thing of the past until the 1930s.
Desperately trying to maintain its culture, Japan trued to modernize Japanese archery. Once World War II had ended, all martial arts were banned. Finally, in 1949, those ancient arts were allowed once more. During this time, kyudo began to flourish once more. Throughout North America, there are some schools that still practice this ancient technique. In many ways, this type of sport is a lot different from the one that is found within North America.
The Japanese way of shooting an arrow is unique since it really incorporates all elements of human and nature into one swift movement. In many ways, this type of practice is largely ceremonial. Those that enjoy other martial arts will likely enjoy the many aspects of kyudo.
If you are curious about Japanese archery, consider taking a class in your area. If you are sure where these classes are located, a simple internet search will help you out. Even if you aren’t a fan of the North American sport, you may just find that kyudo suits you quite well.