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Cuju

January 26, 2023

Cuju or Ts'u-chü (蹴鞠) is an ancient Chinese football game. Cuju is the earliest known recorded game of football.[1] It is a competitive game that involves kicking a ball through an opening into a net without the use of hands. Descriptions of the game date back to the Han dynasty, a Chinese military work from the 3rd–2nd century BC describes it as an exercise.[1][2] It was also played in other Asian countries like Korea, Japan and Vietnam.[3]

Cuju
Chinese ladies playing cuju, by the Ming Dynasty painter Du Jin
Chinese蹴鞠
Literal meaning"kick ball"

History

 
One Hundred Children in the Long Spring (長春百子圖), a painting by Chinese artist Su Hanchen (蘇漢臣, active AD 1130–1160s), Song Dynasty

The first mention of Cuju in a historical text is in the Warring States era Zhan Guo Ce, in the section describing the state of Qi.[4] It is also described in Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian (under the Biography of Su Qin), written during the Han Dynasty.[5][6] A competitive form of cuju was used as fitness training for military cavaliers, while other forms were played for entertainment in wealthy cities like Linzi.[5]

During the Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 220), the popularity of cuju spread from the army to the royal courts and upper classes.[7] It is said that the Han emperor Wu Di enjoyed the sport. At the same time, cuju games were standardized and rules were established. Cuju matches were often held inside the imperial palace. A type of court called ju chang (鞠場) was built especially for cuju matches, which had six crescent-shaped goal posts at each end.

The sport was improved during the Tang Dynasty (618–907).[8] 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. The Tang Dynasty capital of Chang'an was filled with cuju fields, in the backyards of large mansions, and some were even established in the grounds of the palaces.[9] Soldiers who belonged to the imperial army and Gold Bird Guard often formed cuju teams for the delight of the emperor and his court.[9] The level of female cuju teams also improved. Cuju even became popular amongst the scholars and intellectuals, and if a courtier lacked skill in the game, he could pardon himself by acting as a scorekeeper.[9]

Cuju flourished during the Song Dynasty (960–1279) due to social and economic development, extending its popularity to every class in society. At that time, professional cuju players were 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. During this period only one goal post was set up in the center of the field.

It influenced the development in Japan of kemari (蹴鞠), which is still played today on special occasions. The kanji writing (蹴鞠) is the same as for cuju.

Cuju began to decline during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) due to neglect, and the 2,000-year-old sport slowly faded away.

Gameplay

Historically, there were two main styles of cuju: zhuqiu (筑球) and baida (白打).

Zhuqiu was commonly performed at court feasts celebrating the emperor's birthday or during diplomatic events. A competitive cuju match of this type normally consisted of two teams with 12–16 players on each side.

Baida became dominant during the Song Dynasty, a style that attached much importance to developing personal skills. Scoring goals became obsolete when using this method with the playing field enclosed using thread and players taking turns to kick the ball within these set limits. The number of fouls made by the players decided the winner. For example, if the ball was not passed far enough to reach other team members, points were deducted. If the ball was kicked too far out, a large deduction from the score would result. Kicking the ball too low or turning at the wrong moment all led to fewer points. Players could touch the balls of other players with any part of the body except their hands, whilst the number of players ranged anywhere from two to ten. In the end, the player with the highest score won.

Cuju clubs

According to Dongjing Meng Hua Lu, in the 10th century, a cuju league, Qi Yun She (齊雲社) (or Yuan She), was developed in large Chinese cities. Local members were either cuju lovers or professional performers. Non-professional players had to formally appoint a professional as their teacher and pay a fee before becoming members.[10][11] This process ensured an income for the professionals, unlike cuju of the Tang Dynasty. Qi Yun She organised annual national championships known as Shan Yue Zheng Sai (山岳正賽).[citation needed]

In popular culture

Cuju revival

The city of Linzi organized a game of cuju for foreigners and locals in period costumes.[12] Brazilian player Kaká played cuju during his tour while visiting China.[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b . FIFA. Archived from the original on 2017-10-28. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  2. ^ Team, Editorial (2021-08-22). "The History Of Soccer". historyofsoccer.info. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  3. ^ Barr, Adam. "History of Football: Cuju". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  4. ^ Zhan Guo Ce, Book 8, Strategies of Qi(齊策),"臨淄之中〈姚本臨淄，齊鄙。　鮑本屬齊郡。補曰：青州臨淄縣，古營丘地，城臨淄，故云。見正義及水經注。渤海，後語北海，今青州北海是也。〉七萬戶，臣竊度之，〈姚本度，計。〉下〈鮑本補曰：史無「下」。〉戶三男子，三七二十一萬，不待發於遠縣，而臨淄之卒，固以〈鮑本「以」作「已」。○　札記今本「以」作「已」。丕烈案：史記作「已」。〉二十一萬矣。臨淄甚富而實，其民無不吹竽、〈鮑本似笙，三十六簧。〉鼓瑟、〈鮑本似琴，二十五弦。〉擊筑、〈鮑本以竹曲五弦之樂。〉彈琴、鬥雞、走犬、六博、蹹踘者；〈鮑本「踘」作「鞠」。○　劉向別錄，蹙鞠，黃帝作，蓋因娛戲以練武士。「蹹」，即「蹙」也。補曰：王逸云，投六箸，行六棋，謂之六博。「蹹」，史作「蹋」。說文，徒盍反，即「蹹」字。　札記丕烈案：史記作「鞠」。"
  5. ^ a b Riordan (1999), 32.
  6. ^ Records of the Grand Historian,Biography of Su Qin(蘇秦列傳),"臨菑甚富而實，其民無不吹竽鼓瑟，彈琴擊筑，鬬雞走狗，六博蹋鞠者。"
  7. ^ . Archived from the original on 2008-04-23. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  8. ^ . msn.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-09. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  9. ^ a b c Benn, 172.
  10. ^ Vogel, Hans Ulrich (January 2012). "Homo ludens sinensis: Kickball in China from the 7th to the 16th Centuries". Vivienne Lo (Ed.), Perfect Bodies, Sports, Medicine and Immortality, Pp. 39-58. Retrieved July 7, 2021 – via www.academia.edu.
  11. ^ "从高俅发迹说说宋代蹴鞠与齐云社". www.sohu.com. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  12. ^ "Cuju, archetype of modern game of football". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  13. ^ "Kaka plays ancient Chinese football in 'hanfu' (1/5)". www.ecns.cn. Retrieved July 7, 2021.

References

  • Benn, Charles (2002). China's Golden Age: Everyday Life in the Tang Dynasty. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-517665-0.
  • James, Riordan (1999). Sport and Physical Education in China. London: Spon Press. ISBN 0-419-22030-5
  • Osamu Ike (2014). Kemari in Japan(in Japanese). Kyoto: Mitsumura-Suiko Shoin. ISBN 978-4-8381-0508-3
    • Summary in English pp. 181–178. in French pp. 185–182.

External links

  Media related to Cuju at Wikimedia Commons


    January 26, 2023
    cuju, chü, 蹴鞠, ancient, chinese, football, game, earliest, known, recorded, game, football, competitive, game, that, involves, kicking, ball, through, opening, into, without, hands, descriptions, game, date, back, dynasty, chinese, military, work, from, centur. Cuju or Ts u chu 蹴鞠 is an ancient Chinese football game Cuju is the earliest known recorded game of football 1 It is a competitive game that involves kicking a ball through an opening into a net without the use of hands Descriptions of the game date back to the Han dynasty a Chinese military work from the 3rd 2nd century BC describes it as an exercise 1 2 It was also played in other Asian countries like Korea Japan and Vietnam 3 CujuChinese ladies playing cuju by the Ming Dynasty painter Du JinChinese蹴鞠Literal meaning kick ball TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyincujuWade Gilests u4 chu1IPA tsʰu tɕy HakkaRomanizationtsiok giokYue CantoneseYale RomanizationchukgukJyutpingcuk1 guk1IPA tsʰo k ko k Southern MinHokkien POJchiok kiok Contents 1 History 2 Gameplay 3 Cuju clubs 4 In popular culture 5 Cuju revival 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksHistory Edit One Hundred Children in the Long Spring 長春百子圖 a painting by Chinese artist Su Hanchen 蘇漢臣 active AD 1130 1160s Song Dynasty The first mention of Cuju in a historical text is in the Warring States era Zhan Guo Ce in the section describing the state of Qi 4 It is also described in Sima Qian s Records of the Grand Historian under the Biography of Su Qin written during the Han Dynasty 5 6 A competitive form of cuju was used as fitness training for military cavaliers while other forms were played for entertainment in wealthy cities like Linzi 5 During the Han Dynasty 206 BC AD 220 the popularity of cuju spread from the army to the royal courts and upper classes 7 It is said that the Han emperor Wu Di enjoyed the sport At the same time cuju games were standardized and rules were established Cuju matches were often held inside the imperial palace A type of court called ju chang 鞠場 was built especially for cuju matches which had six crescent shaped goal posts at each end The sport was improved during the Tang Dynasty 618 907 8 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 The Tang Dynasty capital of Chang an was filled with cuju fields in the backyards of large mansions and some were even established in the grounds of the palaces 9 Soldiers who belonged to the imperial army and Gold Bird Guard often formed cuju teams for the delight of the emperor and his court 9 The level of female cuju teams also improved Cuju even became popular amongst the scholars and intellectuals and if a courtier lacked skill in the game he could pardon himself by acting as a scorekeeper 9 Cuju flourished during the Song Dynasty 960 1279 due to social and economic development extending its popularity to every class in society At that time professional cuju players were 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 During this period only one goal post was set up in the center of the field It influenced the development in Japan of kemari 蹴鞠 which is still played today on special occasions The kanji writing 蹴鞠 is the same as for cuju Cuju began to decline during the Ming Dynasty 1368 1644 due to neglect and the 2 000 year old sport slowly faded away Bronze mirror dating to the Song Dynasty Yuan dynasty illustration in Shilin Guangji by Chen Yuanjing 15th century Ming Dynasty depiction of cuju from a printed book of the Water Margin Emperor Taizu of Song playing cuju with Prime Minister Zhao Pu by the Yuan era painter Qian Xuan 1235 1305 The Xuande Emperor r AD 1425 1435 of the Ming Dynasty observing court eunuchs playing cuju Kemari festival at Tanzan Shrine Nara city Nara Prefecture Japan photographed in 2006 Kemari at playGameplay EditHistorically there were two main styles of cuju zhuqiu 筑球 and baida 白打 Zhuqiu was commonly performed at court feasts celebrating the emperor s birthday or during diplomatic events A competitive cuju match of this type normally consisted of two teams with 12 16 players on each side Baida became dominant during the Song Dynasty a style that attached much importance to developing personal skills Scoring goals became obsolete when using this method with the playing field enclosed using thread and players taking turns to kick the ball within these set limits The number of fouls made by the players decided the winner For example if the ball was not passed far enough to reach other team members points were deducted If the ball was kicked too far out a large deduction from the score would result Kicking the ball too low or turning at the wrong moment all led to fewer points Players could touch the balls of other players with any part of the body except their hands whilst the number of players ranged anywhere from two to ten In the end the player with the highest score won Cuju clubs EditAccording to Dongjing Meng Hua Lu in the 10th century a cuju league Qi Yun She 齊雲社 or Yuan She was developed in large Chinese cities Local members were either cuju lovers or professional performers Non professional players had to formally appoint a professional as their teacher and pay a fee before becoming members 10 11 This process ensured an income for the professionals unlike cuju of the Tang Dynasty Qi Yun She organised annual national championships known as Shan Yue Zheng Sai 山岳正賽 citation needed In popular culture EditThe Hong Kong TVB series A Change of Destiny featured at least one episode based on the cuju competition Bagua concepts were also used to jinx the opposing team However it followed more of the modern football rules than the ancient rules of the game John Woo s epic film Red Cliff features a cuju competition with Cao Cao and others observing from the sideline The drama The Long Ballad features a cuju competition between the Tang dynasty and the Eastern Turkic Khaganate Korean drama Moon Embracing the Sun featured achuggukcompetition Another Korean drama Dream of the Emperor featured a chugguk competition between the Hwarang and royal inspectors while Princess deokman later Queen Seondeok was watching and another scene where Kim Chunchu was playing with his grandson Cuju revival EditThe city of Linzi organized a game of cuju for foreigners and locals in period costumes 12 Brazilian player Kaka played cuju during his tour while visiting China 13 See also EditChinlone Episkyros Harpastum Knattleikr La soule Sepak takraw List of Chinese inventions List of China related topicsNotes Edit a b History of Football The Origins FIFA Archived from the original on 2017 10 28 Retrieved 29 March 2019 Team Editorial 2021 08 22 The History Of Soccer historyofsoccer info Retrieved 2021 10 07 Barr Adam History of Football Cuju Bleacher Report Retrieved July 7 2021 Zhan Guo Ce Book 8 Strategies of Qi 齊策 臨淄之中 姚本臨淄 齊鄙 鮑本屬齊郡 補曰 青州臨淄縣 古營丘地 城臨淄 故云 見正義及水經注 渤海 後語北海 今青州北海是也 七萬戶 臣竊度之 姚本度 計 下 鮑本補曰 史無 下 戶三男子 三七二十一萬 不待發於遠縣 而臨淄之卒 固以 鮑本 以 作 已 札記今本 以 作 已 丕烈案 史記作 已 二十一萬矣 臨淄甚富而實 其民無不吹竽 鮑本似笙 三十六簧 鼓瑟 鮑本似琴 二十五弦 擊筑 鮑本以竹曲五弦之樂 彈琴 鬥雞 走犬 六博 蹹踘者 鮑本 踘 作 鞠 劉向別錄 蹙鞠 黃帝作 蓋因娛戲以練武士 蹹 即 蹙 也 補曰 王逸云 投六箸 行六棋 謂之六博 蹹 史作 蹋 說文 徒盍反 即 蹹 字 札記丕烈案 史記作 鞠 a b Riordan 1999 32 Records of the Grand Historian Biography of Su Qin 蘇秦列傳 臨菑甚富而實 其民無不吹竽鼓瑟 彈琴擊筑 鬬雞走狗 六博蹋鞠者 The History of Soccer History of the Game Archived from the original on 2008 04 23 Retrieved 2008 08 06 Star Wars tops Xmas toy list msn com Archived from the original on 2008 08 09 Retrieved 2008 08 04 a b c Benn 172 Vogel Hans Ulrich January 2012 Homo ludens sinensis Kickball in China from the 7th to the 16th Centuries Vivienne Lo Ed Perfect Bodies Sports Medicine and Immortality Pp 39 58 Retrieved July 7 2021 via www academia edu 从高俅发迹说说宋代蹴鞠与齐云社 www sohu com Retrieved July 7 2021 Cuju archetype of modern game of football www chinadaily com cn Retrieved July 7 2021 Kaka plays ancient Chinese football in hanfu 1 5 www ecns cn Retrieved July 7 2021 References EditBenn Charles 2002 China s Golden Age Everyday Life in the Tang Dynasty Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 517665 0 James Riordan 1999 Sport and Physical Education in China London Spon Press ISBN 0 419 22030 5 Osamu Ike 2014 Kemari in Japan in Japanese Kyoto Mitsumura Suiko Shoin ISBN 978 4 8381 0508 3 Summary in English pp 181 178 in French pp 185 182 External links Edit Media related to Cuju at Wikimedia Commons Cuju match to be played in Shandong September 2004 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cuju amp oldid 1130358228, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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