Archery in Bhutan

[12][13] Archery in Bhutan is culturally distinctive because it is a martial art practiced among a modern population that abhors killing.

[3] Bhutanese people from different social strata find archery one of the most enjoyable sports, being both fun and physical exercise.

Emotions run high during competitions, and support for archers and ridicule or distraction of opponents can become as violent as in other countries' sporting events.

Modern archery competitions feature compound bows,[3] corporate sponsorships,[16][20] copious cash and material winnings,[13][21][22] injuries, and occasional fatalities.

[23][24] Since 2010, Bhutan has held the Lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinley Archery Tournament, encouraging the use of traditional bows and the development of gewog teams.

One insult goes: "Whose forehead is bulging and swollen like a wine-serving spoon, his arrow won't even hit the mark!

Nonetheless, modern prominent archers include Dorji Dema and Tshering Chhoden, two Bhutanese women.

Competing archers also engage in verbal battle, giving players a chance to display intellectual and literary skills.

Players and teammates praise their own arrows, lend advice and encouragement to each other, and demean opponents in florid literary expressions known as kha shed.

(Bjagoed phu sa do chap kay), demeaning the opponent and promising a bullseye to reset his team's score.

[4] Throughout the history of Bhutan, fire and the bow and arrow were an important means of survival in the highlands during war and on hunts.

Symbolic and religious significance of the bow and arrow is associated with the legendary murder of Tibetan King Langdarma in the 10th century.

Modernly, the bow and arrows are an obligatory feature of any religious ceremony, ritual, festival, and holiday in Bhutan.

[29] During times of crisis, the government raised militias from among local lords' retinues, all commanded by one dapon (Dzongkha: མདའ་དཔོན་; Wylie: mdaa-dpon; 'arrow chief').

[32] The cultural significance of archery in Bhutan can be observed at shrines to local gods, where historically arrows were confiscated as tribute[33] and in modern times are often left as offerings.