Ancient Chinese Ball Game Cuju Is Earliest Form Of Football
MessageToEagle.com – When and where did we start playing football?
There are a number of references to traditional, ancient, or prehistoric ball games, played by indigenous peoples in many different parts of the world. The history of football stretches far back in time. According to FIFA the competitive game cuju is the earliest form of football for which there is scientific evidence
Cuju is an ancient Chinese ball game, Cantonese “chuk-ko”. It is a competitive game that involves kicking a ball through an opening into a net. 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. It is also described in Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian (under Su Qin’s biography), written during the Han Dynasty. 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.
During the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), the popularity of cuju 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 and rules were established. Cuju matches were often held inside the imperial palace.
See also:
Ancient Egyptian Toys And Games In Focus
Modern football has its origins in the streets of medieval England. Neighboring towns would play each other in games where a heaving mass of players would struggle to drag a pig’s bladder by any means possible to markers at either end of town. Football became so violent in England it was banned by the king for more than 300 years.
Copyright © MessageToeagle.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of MessageToeagle.com
Expand for referencesSource:
Image: A Song Dynasty painting by Su Hanchen, depicting Chinese children playing cuju – Credit: Su Hanchen
Related Posts
-
Cave Hidden Under Pembroke Castle in Wales Could Hold Secrets Dating Back 10,000 Years
No Comments | Jul 25, 2022
-
Asgard: Enter The Ancient Kingdom Of The Powerful Norse Gods
No Comments | Aug 7, 2016
-
Ancient Intriguing Sao People: “Men From Another Time” – One Of The Oldest Civilizations Of Central Africa
No Comments | Sep 28, 2015
-
Remarkable Discovery Of Ancient Drilled Bear Teeth In Kansas – How Did They End Up On The Great Plains?
No Comments | Mar 28, 2022
-
Mystery Of Doppelgangers And Spirit Doubles – From Ancient To Modern Times
No Comments | Sep 24, 2014
-
Imhotep: Ancient Genius And Architect Of The Sakkara Pyramid
No Comments | Mar 7, 2016
-
World’s Oldest Dictionaries Are 4,500-Year-Old Cuneiform Tablets Discovered In Ebla
No Comments | Aug 19, 2016
-
Calçoene –Amazon Stonehenge And The Mysterious Amapán Megalithic Culture
No Comments | Jan 23, 2016
-
Hidden 15th-Century Text On Medieval Manuscripts – Discovered By Students
No Comments | Nov 23, 2020
-
Kindred Spirits: Why Did The Irish Build A Monument In Honor Of Native Americans?
No Comments | Oct 22, 2016