Archery was one of the time-honoured martial arts of the Korean ancestors.
Archery, which had thrived since Tangun’s Korea, reached a new height in the period of Koguryo (277 BC-AD 668).
This was evidenced by the fact that King Tongmyong who founded Koguryo was called Jumong, which means a man who excels in archery.
The Koguryo people enjoyed archery from their childhood and regarded it as part of their life.
They paid attention to teaching their children how to shoot arrows, and excellent archers handed their forte and special techniques over to their children to carry on the tradition through generations.
According to historical records, Koguryo people built a big house called Kyongdang in each village to teach unmarried young people how to read and write and shoot arrows.
On March 3 by the lunar calendar every year, a national hunting game was held in a bid to encourage archery and horse riding.
Archery is well represented in Koguryo tomb murals, particularly those in Tokhung-ri and Yaksu-ri, which depict people shooting arrows on horseback in pursuit of a tiger or taking aim at a roe or deer with bows.
This tells that archery formed an organic whole with labour and life of the Koguryo people.
Old books say that maekgung made by the Koguryo people was highly appreciated as a very good bow even by neighbouring countries.
Even after the Koguryo period, archery was long promoted as one of the popular martial arts.
Today archery is widely practiced as a sport or recreational game.
Kye Sung Mu, researcher at the Folklore Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences
More From Naenara (En)
A joint national meeting of the Korean Children’s Union organizations took place in Pyongyang on February 15 to celebrate the
February 17, 2026
A joint national meeting of the Korean Children’s Union organizations took place in Pyongyang on February 15 to celebrate the
One day in January 2009, Chairman Kim Jong Il dropped by a family of a newly-wed couple of discharged soldiers on his inspection
February 17, 2026
One day in January 2009, Chairman Kim Jong Il dropped by a family of a newly-wed couple of discharged soldiers on his inspection
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea set forth an economic strategy designed to achieve the comprehensive
February 17, 2026
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea set forth an economic strategy designed to achieve the comprehensive
The 14th National Cooking Competition took place in different parts of the DPRK on the occasion of the February holiday. A
February 17, 2026
The 14th National Cooking Competition took place in different parts of the DPRK on the occasion of the February holiday. A
Lunar new year’s day is the first folk holiday of the year for the Korean people.The custom of celebrating the day includes charye
February 17, 2026
Lunar new year’s day is the first folk holiday of the year for the Korean people.The custom of celebrating the day includes charye
A friendship gathering for staff members of the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang took place at the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area
February 16, 2026
A friendship gathering for staff members of the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang took place at the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area
The Paektusan Secret Camp is a secret base that the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung used as the centre of activities of the
February 16, 2026
The Paektusan Secret Camp is a secret base that the great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung used as the centre of activities of the
Today the Korean people are significantly celebrating the 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim Jong Il . Born on Mt Paektu on
February 16, 2026
Today the Korean people are significantly celebrating the 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim Jong Il . Born on Mt Paektu on
A congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan led by Ko Tok U, chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Headquarters of the General
February 16, 2026
A congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan led by Ko Tok U, chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Headquarters of the General
The Third People’s Art Festival for Celebrating February 16 was held with splendour at theatres and halls across the country on
February 16, 2026
The Third People’s Art Festival for Celebrating February 16 was held with splendour at theatres and halls across the country on
Women’s union officials and members in the DPRK met at the Hall of Women in Pyongyang on February 13 to celebrate the 84th birth
February 15, 2026
Women’s union officials and members in the DPRK met at the Hall of Women in Pyongyang on February 13 to celebrate the 84th birth
An oratorical meeting was held at the Central Youth Hall on February 13 to mark the 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim Jong Il
February 15, 2026
An oratorical meeting was held at the Central Youth Hall on February 13 to mark the 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim Jong Il
Art group members of the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace gave a performance “Song of Happiness Resounding in the Sky of Februa
February 15, 2026
Art group members of the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace gave a performance “Song of Happiness Resounding in the Sky of Februa
The Third People’s Art Festival for Celebrating February 16 opened in the DPRK to mark the 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim
February 15, 2026
The Third People’s Art Festival for Celebrating February 16 opened in the DPRK to mark the 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim
The people in Kangdong County of Pyongyang Municipality, Kusong City of North Phyongan Province and Ryonggang County of Nampho
February 15, 2026
The people in Kangdong County of Pyongyang Municipality, Kusong City of North Phyongan Province and Ryonggang County of Nampho
Last December regional-industry factories were inaugurated in succession in 20 cities and counties across the DPRK. As a result,
February 15, 2026
Last December regional-industry factories were inaugurated in succession in 20 cities and counties across the DPRK. As a result,
The DPRK is filled with excitement as modern regional-industry factories sprang up in 40 cities and counties together with hospita
February 14, 2026
The DPRK is filled with excitement as modern regional-industry factories sprang up in 40 cities and counties together with hospita
The 25th National Youth and Children’s Festival of Loyalty opened in the DPRK on the occasion of the auspicious February holiday,
February 14, 2026
The 25th National Youth and Children’s Festival of Loyalty opened in the DPRK on the occasion of the auspicious February holiday,
The artistic motivation team of the Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea and agricultural workers gave
February 14, 2026
The artistic motivation team of the Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea and agricultural workers gave
The photo exhibitions "Holding aloft the banner of self-reliance" are going on in all provinces (municipalities) of the DPRK to
February 14, 2026
The photo exhibitions "Holding aloft the banner of self-reliance" are going on in all provinces (municipalities) of the DPRK to
More Articles
