| Description |
Traditional Turkish Archery is an intangible cultural heritage element, consisting of its principles, rituals and social practices, craftsmanship of traditional equipment, archery disciplines and shooting techniques evolved over centuries, which has been shaped around a sportive activity.
In traditional Turkish archery, there are different types of disciplines practiced on foot and on horseback. The archery on foot discipline includes “Menzil” (Long-Distance), “Darp” (Pounding) and “Puta” (Target) shootings. Horseback archery discipline includes “Kıgaç”, “Kabak” and “Tabla” shootings.
Bearers and practitioners of the element train individually or collectively to improve their archery skills, carry out individual shootings, and take part in competitions and festive events. Archers learn from masters the traditional shooting techniques and skills which allow them to perform either foot or horseback shootings. In all stages of practice, archers strictly act in accordance with the certain principles, rules and rituals related to the element.
Craftsmanship of traditional archery equipment is also important component of the element. These equipments are made by craftspeople who have the skills and knowledge of materials as well as patience and mastery. Making the equipment requires raw materials such as trees grown under certain climatic conditions at high altitudes, organic glues, horns, tendons, silk and leather, and so craftspeople should have an advanced knowledge of nature, including plants, animals and climate. Archery equipment is generally decorated with calligraphy, ornaments and marquetry. |
| Social and cultural significance |
Traditional Turkish Archery basically aims to contribute physical and mental development of the practitioners. During training, master archers give great importance to make young archers have self-discipline, good manners, knowledge of cultural values, sense of respect for the environment and nature. For its practitioners the element is part of their historical and cultural identity, and strengthens the sense of cultural continuity. In this regard, the element have educational, social, cultural functions for its community.
In archery on foot, most of the practitioners attribute religious and Sufistic meanings to element, and give great importance to the rituals during the practices. The Islamic ritual of personal cleaning, known as “abdest” (ablution), is practiced before daily trainings and competitions. As one of the Sufistic sense related to the element, archers shout “Ya Hakk!”(O Allah!) before every shoot. It is believed that each arrow is shot for Allah with this shout. Therefore all practises of foot archers turn into rituals that require commitment to principles of the element.
The element has aspects that keep alive social practices, collective memory and oral culture. For example, during their wedding ceremonies, bride and groom archers shoot arrows targeting their wedding rings. Some children’s plays like marble and “ok-yay” games are also regarded as training practices. The names of the cultural places of the element like “Ok Meydanı (Archery Fields) in İstanbul, Bursa, Edirne and Trabzon, are still kept alive in urban memory. Terms that originated in archery, have included into colloquial language as idioms. |
| Transmission method |
Tâlip learn the element from master archers who they refer to as “üstat”. In order for someone to be a trainee, s/he must first be accepted by the master. In evaluation process masters pay more attention on moral and traditional principles than physical abilities of students.
The master and trainees train every day regularly, in a certain disciplined way. These training sessions are called “meşk”. After reaching an adequate level and acquired necessary qualifications to become an archer, trainee take the permission from the master.
The rituals of permission called “kabza alma töreni (taking grip ceremony)” have an important role in the transmission of the element. In this ceremony, the master places a bow in the trainee’s hands, symbolising the transfer of traditional knowledge from generations to generations. The ceremony continues with prayers, a meal and ends with the master whispering some specific advice into the trainee’s ear.
Informal and non-formal ways of education are also commonly used for the transmission of archery skills. NGOs organize traditional archery and equipment making courses for young people with the support of central and local authorities. NGOs also carry out promotional activities in public places, particularly at museums and schools, and organize national/international competitions and festivals.
Formal education plays a role in the transmission of the element. “Turkish Bow Making” course is available as a selective course at some technical universities. Furthermore, some NGOs have signed protocols with the Provincial Directorates of National Education in order to teach the element at high schools. |
| Community |
Traditional Turkish archers are known as “Okçu” (archers). They are also called “Kemankeş” or “Tîrendâz”. Those who teach the element are referred to as “Üstat"" (master)”, while trainee archers are called “Tâlip”, ""Okçu Adayı"" or “Kepazekeş”.
Craftspeople who make composite bows are called ""Yay Ustası"", “Kavsi” or ""Kemanger” and those who make arrows are known as ""Ok Ustası"" or “Tirger”. The craftspeople who make other specific archery equipment such as “zihgir” or “yüzük” (thumbrings), “bilek siperi” (wrist guard), “tirkeş” (leather quiver for arrows), “kubur” (wooden quiver for arrows), “sadak” (quiver for bows), çile (bow string) are referred to as masters of their particular skills, such as “zihgir maker”, “çile maker” etc.
The bearers and practitioners of this element are not only the archers, but also the craftspeople who make the archery equipment.
Archers who use traditional equipment and shooting techniques follow the defined rules, principles and rituals related to the element during training of talip with the aim of transmitting their knowledge to the next generations. They ensure the viability of the element by adopting it in line with contemporary conditions.
Craftspeople engaged in the craftsmanship of traditional archery equipment, play an important role in the safeguarding of the element. To be able to practice various types of archery such as archery on foot or horseback archery, archers need to have the appropriate equipment specific to these types. Making traditional archery equipment requires skills that are either transmitted from masters to apprentices, or are self-learning.
Both female and male bearers play an equal role in safeguarding and transmission of the element to the next generations. In recent years, there has been a remarkable increase in the numbers of female archers and trainee.
Today, communities, groups and individuals concerned with the element practice it at amateur sports clubs with NGO status, and carry out works to safeguard the element. Recent years have witnessed a significant increase in the numbers of NGOs involved in archery in various regions of Turkey. NGOs play a special role in the transmission and safeguarding of element through the social solidarity environment they create and the opportunities they provide to young people. |
| Type of UNESCO List |
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| Incribed year in UNESCO List |
2019 |
