Yabusame originated in middle of 6th century as a Shinto ritual in which horseback riders shoot arrows at wooden targets set up in the shrine precincts. Today there are various styles and manners of Yabusame inherited by different shrines and particular families. It was common in the ancient past that the result of Yabusame depended on the number of targets successfully hit. Fragments of the targets were used to tell fortunes. The target and arrows used in successful shots were kept as amulets.