When we think of ancient China, we often picture grand palaces, poetic scholars, and epic battles. But did you know that the Chinese also had their own unique sports? Some of these games were not just for exercise but also for social interaction and even military training. Today, we’ll explore two popular sports from ancient China: Touhu (Arrow Tossing) and Cuju (Ancient Football).
Touhu: A Gentleman’s Game of Precision
Touhu, or “arrow tossing,” was a popular game among scholars and nobles, particularly during banquets. The rules were simple: players stood at a designated distance and tossed arrows into a tall, narrow-mouthed pot. The more arrows you got in, and the better your placement, the higher your score.
Originally, archery was an essential skill for nobility, and “Sheli” (the ritual of shooting) was an important ceremony. However, real archery required space, strength, and skill—so over time, it evolved into a refined indoor game: Touhu. By the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), Touhu had become a common social activity, and during the Tang and Song dynasties, it was widely enjoyed by all classes.
Even the great historian Sima Guang, known for compiling the “Zizhi Tongjian” (Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government), was a Touhu enthusiast. Frustrated by the inconsistent rules, he even wrote a guidebook called “Touhu Xinge” (New Standards for Arrow Tossing) to standardize the game. Imagine a high-ranking official today publishing a book on dart-throwing—now that’s dedication!
In the Song Dynasty, the game had several scoring rules. For example:
- The first successful arrow was called “Youchu” (“the beginning”) and earned 10 points.
- Consecutive successful shots were called “Lianzhong” (“continuous hits”), each worth 5 points.
- The final arrow, if successful, was called “Youzhong” (“the end”) and was worth 20 points.
- A rare but spectacular move called “Daozhong” (where the arrow lands upside down in the pot) scored a whopping 100 points!
Touhu was even featured in the hit TV series The Story of Minglan (Zhīfǒu Zhīfǒu), where a crucial game decided the fate of a young noblewoman. However, the show overlooked one detail—according to Sima Guang’s rules, a “Yigan” (“leaning arrow”) should not count, as it relied more on luck than skill!
Cuju: The World’s First Football
Surprise! Football didn’t originate in England—it can be traced back to China’s Warring States period (475–221 BCE). The game, known as Cuju (蹴鞠), literally means “kick ball” and was originally used for military training. Even FIFA officially recognized China as the birthplace of football, awarding the city of Linzhi (modern-day Zibo, Shandong) an official certificate in 2005.
Early Cuju involved kicking a solid leather ball into holes dug in the ground, with teams of six players plus a referee. By the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), it became a formalized sport with strict rules, similar to today’s competitive football. However, the real golden age of Cuju was during the Song Dynasty (960–1279), when it evolved into both a team sport and a performance art.
There were two major styles of Cuju in the Song Dynasty:
- Competitive Cuju – Teams of up to 16 players tried to score by kicking the ball into an elevated net, similar to modern-day soccer goals.
- Artistic Cuju – Instead of aiming for goals, players focused on skillful juggling and tricks, much like modern freestyle football or hacky sack.
Cuju became so professional that players formed clubs, the most famous being Qi Yun She (齐云社), an elite football association. These teams even had different ranks, and top players were given the title “Jiaowei” (校尉), meaning “military officer.” Interestingly, there were also female players who could earn the title “Nu Jiaowei” (Female Officer). Talk about women’s football having deep roots in history!
The Legacy of Ancient Chinese Sports
While Touhu and Cuju are no longer as popular as they once were, their influence lives on. Touhu reflects the elegance and discipline of Chinese scholars, much like modern precision sports such as darts or archery. Meanwhile, Cuju shows that China had a thriving football culture long before the world fell in love with the modern game.
So next time you watch a football match or throw darts at a pub, remember—these games have histories that stretch back over a thousand years. Who knows? Maybe one day, China will reclaim its former footballing glory… if only Gao Qiu were still around!