Cuju蹴鞠

Cuju, literally means ball kicking, is an ancient Chinese ball game. It is a competitive game that it consisted of kicking a leather ball through an opening into a small net fixed onto long bamboo canes. The use of hands is not allowed. It is regarded by FIFA① as the earliest form of football for which there is evidence, is first mentioned as an exercise in military work from 3rd-2nd century BC. Cuju originated in China and was also played in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam as well.

The game of cuju was first mentioned in the Strategies of the Warring States (Zhan Guo Ce) and later in the Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian (Shi Ji). Legend has that it was invented by the Yellow Emperor, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation. He then used it to train his soldiers. However, some believed that it first appeared during the Warring States Period. A competitive form of cuju was used as fitness training for military cavaliers (骑兵), while other forms were played for entertainment in wealthy cities.

During the Han Dynasty, the popularity of cuju spread from the army to the royal courts and upper classes. It is said that Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty enjoyed the sport. At the same time, cuju games were standardized and rules were established. Cuju matches were often held inside the imperial palace. Cuju court (鞠场) was built especially for cuju matches.

The sport was improved during the Tang Dynasty. First of all, the feather-stuffed ball was replaced by an air-filled ball with a two-layered cover. 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, Chang’an, was filled with cuju fields, in the backyards of large mansions, and some were even established in the grounds of the palaces. Soldiers who belonged to the imperial army often formed cuju teams for the delight of the emperor and his court. The level of female cuju teams also improved. Records indicate that once a 17-year-old girl beat a team of army soldiers. Cuju even became popular among the scholars and intellectuals, and if a courtier (朝臣) lacked skill in the game, he could pardon himself by acting as a scorekeeper.

Cuju flourished during the Song Dynasty due to social and economic development, extending its popularity to every class in society. 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.

In the Song Dynasty, only one goal post was set up in the center of the field. Cuju organizations were set up in large cities called Qiyunshe(齐云社) or Yuanshe (圆社) – now known as the earliest professional cuju club – whose members were either cuju lovers or professional performers. Non-professional players had to formally appoint a professional as his or her teacher and pay a fee before becoming a member. This process ensured an income for the professionals, unlike cuju of the Tang Dynasty.

Historically there were two main styles of cuju: “Zhu Qiu②” and “Bai Da③”. Zhu Qiu 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.

Bai Da became dominant during the Song Dynasty, a style that attached much importance to developing personal skills. Scoring goals became out of fashion when using this method with the playing field enclosed with thread and players taking turns to kick the ball within these set limits. The number of mistakes 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 (扣除). 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 ball with any part of the body except their hands while the number of players ranged anywhere from two to ten. In the end, the player with the highest score won.

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

Abridged and revised from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuju

Notes:

① FIFA:  International Federation of Association Football, 缩写为FIFA, 国际足球联合会, 由比利时、法国、丹麦、西班牙、瑞典、荷兰和瑞士倡议，于1904年5月21日在法国巴黎成立。国际足联下设欧洲、亚洲、非洲、中北美和加勒比地区、南美洲、大洋洲6个地区性组织。

② Zhu Qiu: 筑球，比赛双方列队于球门两侧，轮流将球在本方队员之间传递后射出，比的是球穿过球门的次数。

③ Bai Da：白打，无球门的踢球法，参赛者围在一起，用颠球的方法将球传来传去，靠颠球技法和花样取胜。