| 繁体 | 简体 | English |
|Home|News Center|Cultural Olympics|City of Beijing|Sports Tradition|China Impression|
Cuju -- Ancient Chinese Football
( 2008-07-08 )
Football has found its way to the most remote corners of the globe, becoming one of the hottest topics of the day. About 2,500 years ago in China there was a similar game called "Cuju", which, according to the International Football Association, was the origin of football as a sport.
"Cu" ("to kick") and "ju" (a type of leather ball filled with feathers) became popular during the Warring States Period (476-221BC). Back then, cuju was used to train military cavaliers due to the fierce nature of the sport.
During the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220), the popularity of cuju gradually spread from the army to the royal courts and upper classes. It is said that the Han emperor Wu Di enjoyed the sport. At the same time, cuju games were standardized as rules were established. Football matches were often held
inside the imperial palace. A type of court called "ju" cheng was built especially for cuju matches, with six crescent-shaped goal posts at each end.
The sport was improved during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). First of all, the feather-stuffed ball was replaced by an air-filled ball with a two-layered hull. Also, two different types of goal posts emerged: One was made by setting up posts with a net between them and the other consisted of just one
goal post in the middle of the field.
Cuju flourished during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) due to social and economic development, extending its popularity to every class in society -- from the emperor to ordinary civilians. At that time, professional cuju players were quite popular, and the sport began to take on a commercial edge.
Professional cuju players fell into two groups: One was trained by and performed for the royal court (unearthed copper mirrors and brush pots from the Song often depict professional performances) and the other consisted of civilians who made a living as cuju players.
1 2
Emblems More
* Dancing Beijing -- Beijing 2008 Olympic Emblem
============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
* Beijing Paralympics Emblem ( 07-10 )
* Environmental Emblem of Beijing 2008 ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing 2008 OYC ( 07-10 )
* Emblem of the Beijing Olympic Cultural Festival ( 07-10 )
News More
* Classical piece will ring in ears of winners
* 08-08-08, the magical wedding date
* The Great Wall: most popular tourist attraction
* Wushu to be held during Beijing Olympic
* The Music Makers
Meet in Beijing More
* Passing the Baton in Beijing
* Cameroonian Ballet Meets Argentine Tango
* Historical Dance Drama Staged
* Concert by Macao Chinese Orchestra
* Kataklo Athletic Dance Theatre
Olympic on Beijing's Axis
Online Tour
============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
| About us | E-mail | Contact |
Constructed by .cn
Copyright 2003 Ministry of Culture, P.R.China. All rights reserved
Learn Chinese, Chinese Mandarin, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment