At the recent 2024 Paris Olympics, Chinese Olympic athletes have gained numerous fans with their confident and outstanding performances. Sports have existed since ancient times. What sports did ancient Chinese people enjoy? In this issue of the “Cultural Relics Speak” audio poster column, a series of sports related cultural relics are selected. Through audio posters and AI dubbing, the first person perspective showcases the long and profound history of Chinese sports culture, as well as the internal driving force of the Chinese nation’s thousand sails of competition and endless vitality in its development.
A bronze turtle resembling a book
Self description of cultural relics:
One day more than three thousand years ago, King Shang came to the Huan River to shoot turtles. The King of Shang fired one arrow, and the historians recorded three arrows, all of which hit the target. The King of Shang then ordered that the captured turtles be rewarded to the Bookkeeper. Based on this incident, the craftsmen of the Shang Dynasty forged me with a very realistic style of expression.
Introduction to cultural relics:
The bronze turtle, resembling a scroll, is currently housed in the National Museum of China. It measures 10 centimeters in height, 21.4 centimeters in length, 16 centimeters in width, and weighs 1.6 kilograms. Crafted in a three-dimensional turtle shape, with the head extended, all four legs exposed, the tail tilted to the left, and the left shoulder and carapace embedded in four arrows. The central part of the turtle back is inscribed with 4 lines and 33 characters, providing important evidence for the study of archery during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The craftsman who made the scroll shaped turtle, also known as the scroll shaped turtle, was an important historian in the later years of the Shang Dynasty, as recorded in the “Scroll shaped Cauldron” and “Scroll shaped Cauldron”.
Feather Man Racing Bronze Yue with Pattern
Self description of cultural relics:
I am a bronze Yue from the Warring States period, with a “wind” shape on the whole. One side is plain without any patterns, and the other side is cast with a border. The pattern inside the border reflects the ancient Yue people’s ability to ride water and wind, as well as their lifestyle of “using boats as horses”. It also reflects the Chinese ancestors’ spirit of respecting nature, not fearing nature, and daring to strive.
Introduction to cultural relics:
The bronze Yue with the pattern of “Feather Man Racing Ferry” is currently housed in the Ningbo Museum. It is about 10 centimeters high and has a blade width of 12.1 centimeters. It is the first cultural relic discovered so far with the decoration of “Racing Ferry”. The pattern on top of the object features two opposing dragon patterns, while the bottom line of the border represents a narrow light boat. Sitting on top are four people wearing high feathered crowns, holding oars in both hands and rowing forward with great effort. The bronze battle axe with feather man race pattern proves that the ancestors had mastered the sports skill of Loong Boat racing more than 2000 years ago, and it may also be the first important instrument to record the world’s water sport of rowing.
Wrestling Diagram
Self description of cultural relics:
Two opponents, with their heads tied in a bun and their crotch worn, are engaged in a fierce battle. The referee next to them is watching their game intently, as if victory or defeat is just around the corner. What I am depicting is a tense and exciting wrestling competition during the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Which player do you support more in such a thrilling competition?
Introduction to cultural relics:
The wrestling picture is located in the herringbone cape on the top of Cave 290 of the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang. Wrestling has always been one of the main competitive events in ancient sports. This mural depicts a tense wrestling competition during the Northern Zhou Dynasty, vividly portraying the emphasis on skills and tactics in wrestling and sumo competitions.
Painted pottery polo female figurine
Self description of cultural relics:
During the prosperous era of the Tang Dynasty, polo was all the rage, and in leisure time, both men and women could enjoy the joy of this sport. I am a terracotta figure made in the image of the woman who played ball in those years. I am accompanied by four sisters. We wear tights and ride horses to chase the ball. Seeing this, do you also want to join us in the previous round?
Introduction to cultural relics:
The painted pottery polo female figurine is currently housed in the National Museum of China. Polo was popular in the Tang Dynasty among the court, military, and civilians, and was a popular sport among the general public. This set of painted pottery horse polo female figurines was unearthed from Xi’an, Shaanxi. There are a total of 5 pieces, ranging in height from 32 to 36 centimeters, all of whom are women. Although the wooden staff in their hands has decayed, the posture of riding a horse and playing a ball is lifelike. Tie up the ponytail to prevent entanglement during the competition.
Football patterned bronze mirror
Self description of cultural relics:
I am a bronze mirror with a decorative painting on my back, vividly depicting a young man and woman from the Song Dynasty playing soccer. The woman on the left with a high bun and disheveled hair is kicking the ball in front of her feet, while the man on the right is wearing a bow and a long suit, half squatting in a serious receiving posture. There are also two spectators next to them! Can a man receive this ball?
Introduction to cultural relics:
The football patterned bronze mirror is currently housed in the Hunan Museum. This mirror has a smooth surface and a relief like decorative painting is molded on the back. This football game picture, full of vitality, depicts the scene of young men and women playing a game, and the whole picture is bright and lively. From the costumes of the characters in the picture, it can be inferred that their era should be the Southern Song Dynasty.
Cuju is an ancient ball game in China, where “cuju” refers to a ball made of leather that is kicked with the foot and “ju” is used. The two words “cuju” together mean “kicking the ball with the foot”. The appearance of football patterns on bronze mirrors in the Song Dynasty is closely related to the love of cuju as an activity in Song society. At that time, the game was divided into goalless and goalless games. The goalless game could be divided into one player to ten player games, and the two player game was called “playing two”. The two players in this mirror may be the “playing two” game.
Ice Playful Picture Volume
Self description of cultural relics:
The ice play I am showcasing is a winter sports activity held in the imperial court during the Qing Dynasty. The ice athletes hover and glide in twists and turns, watching them take arrows and bow, roll their clothes, and dance high with colorful flags. Can you feel the cold wind and vitality on site? By the way, don’t forget to watch the figure skating and acrobatics performances in the skating team. There are moves such as the Golden Rooster Independence, Double Swallows, and knife and flag playing, which are really thrilling and exciting!
Introduction to cultural relics:
The volume of ‘Ice Play’ was painted by Jin Kun, Cheng Zhidao, Fu Long’an, and others, and is currently housed in the Palace Museum. In the Qing Dynasty, there was a custom of winter ice play in the palace, which was regarded as a “national custom”. Emperor Qianlong said, “Ice play is a national tradition. Every year, experts who are good at ice skating are selected from the Eight Banners officers and soldiers to enter the palace for training. From winter solstice to March 9th, ice games are held on the ice in Xiyuan. The emperor leads his nobles and ministers to watch. After the games, the emperor rewards them with silver coins in installments.
The ice play location depicted in this picture should be on the water surface south of the Jin’ao Yuqing Bridge (now Beihai Bridge) in Beijing. The performance is a dragon spinning ball shooting event, and the various postures of the performers make the cold winter full of vitality. This painting should be a realistic work that reproduces the scene at that time.
