Archery, as a sport, can be traced back to ancient times. Archaeological discoveries indicate that archery had already emerged over 28000 years ago. Archery was very popular as a survival skill and tool of war in ancient regions such as Africa, Europe, and Asia. With the development of human society, archery has not only become a skill for hunting and military training, but also gradually integrated religious and entertainment elements. For example, during the Zhou Dynasty in ancient China, archery developed religious and recreational characteristics, forming the "Shooting Ceremony".
The origin of modern archery is generally believed to have started in England in the 14th century, and the Finscoton Silver Arrow in Yorkshire, England in 1673 is considered an early form of modern archery. In 1787, the Royal Archery Society was established in Britain, becoming the world's earliest archery organization. In 1900, archery made its debut at the second Summer Olympics.
Archery has developed with unique characteristics in different countries and regions. For example, the archery cultures of South Korea and Japan are deeply influenced by the "Book of Rites: The Meaning of Archery", forming their own "archery" traditions. Although archery in China has a long history, the widespread development of modern archery was relatively late, and it was not until 1955 that it officially became a competition event.
Overall, the origin of archery can be seen as a long historical process, evolving from a survival skill to a competitive sport that involves different cultures and regions.
