Traditional archery

The art of shooting with a traditional bow on foot, at a target and for distance.

Names among the peoples

sadaq atu (Kazakhs)
piyada oxatma (Azerbaijanis)

About

Traditional archery is shooting with a traditional, hand-made bow; there are forms for shooting at a target and for distance. The Kazakhs call it sadaq atu.

Traditional Turkish archery takes in the principles, rituals, craftsmanship and shooting techniques that have developed over centuries. The bow, the arrows and the equipment are made from particular raw materials: trees grown at high altitudes, organic glues, horn, tendons, silk and leather; they are decorated with calligraphy, ornaments and marquetry. The knowledge passes from master to apprentice.

In 2019 UNESCO inscribed "Traditional Turkish archery", for Türkiye, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Traditional archery is on the programme of the World Nomad Games.

Arrows are shot at the Nogais' feasts on the steppe too: as I. Abakarov writes, there was an archery contest at the festival of nomadic culture held on 29 May 2021 in Terekli-Mekteb, in the Nogai district of Dagestan.

History

As A. Alymbaev writes, in ancient belief the bow was the sign of power. In the Scythian legend told by Herodotus only the youngest of three brothers, Scythes, can draw the bow their father left behind, and he becomes ruler. In the Oghuz-name the elder sons of Oghuz Khan divide in three the golden bow they have found and the khan's power falls to them, while the younger sons, who took the silver arrows, receive the offices under them.

As N. Ekeev writes, the Altaians competed in archery both for accuracy and for distance — on foot and from a galloping horse; sometimes fur hats hung on pegs served as targets. At the Ottoman festival of 1530 a contest was held among the sultan's archers: those most skilled at piercing armour and a helmet with an arrow were rewarded (M. Kapanşahin).

Rules in brief

In Türkiye the contests are run by the Traditional Turkish Archery Federation. At the national open-air championship in shooting at the target — the puta (Amasya, August 2026) — senior men shot from 70 metres, senior women from 60 and junior men and women from 50; 335 athletes from 34 provinces took part.

Only traditional dress may be worn at the contests; the traditional bows and arrows are first checked by the technical committee.

Federations and competitions

Ethnosport, World Nomad Games; shooting at targets and for distance. Athletes from Northern Cyprus take part in international tournaments. In Kazakhstan's national sports register (sadaq atu).

Peoples

Research: Vasif Namazov, Turan Games Concept