Cuju is an ancient Chinese ball-kicking sport thought to be the earliest form of football, with records dating back over 2,000 years. In cuju, players use their feet and other body parts except their hands to kick a ball through an opening or hoop without letting it touch the ground.
It was played in military training, royal courts, and public celebrations, and influenced similar games in Korea and Japan. The sport helped shape the development of modern soccer.
How Cuju Is Played
It is an old Chinese game where players kick a ball using any part of their body except their hands. There are two main ways to play. In the team version, called zhuqiu, two teams with 12 to 16 players try to score by kicking the ball into a goal or through a special opening.
Players must follow the rules and try to keep the ball off the ground. The other way, called baida, is about individual skill. Players take turns kicking the ball in a certain area and are judged on how well they control it, how accurate they are, and how skillful their kicks are. The game is all about being quick, coordinated, and smart.
Countries Where Cuju Is Played
This sport was started and was most popular in ancient China. Both regular people and the royalty loved to play it. Later, it spread to other nearby countries like Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, where people created their own versions of the game. China was the main place where official matches happened, but other countries made their own fun and skill-based games from it.
Over time, cuju became less common, but it helped inspire modern football, which people all over the world play today.
Famous Players and Strong Nations in Cuju
Some players in this sport became very famous for their talent. Meng Xian and Lu Bao, from the Song dynasty in China, were excellent at teamwork, passing the ball smartly, and scoring goals. Gao Qiu is remembered in old stories for his amazing technique and creative way of playing.
Today, Li Weipeng practices cuju and teaches people about it, helping to bring back interest in this old sport. These players showed great skill, speed, and control, making cuju exciting to watch and play.
Major Cuju Events and Tournaments
Cuju has been played in many organized events, both in China and in other countries. Internationally, it is shown in cultural exchange events in countries like Qatar and the United Kingdom, where people learn about it as the oldest kind of football.
In China, national events happen during cultural festivals and exhibitions, where schools, universities, and community teams play traditional matches. At the regional level, smaller local tournaments are held in places like Beijing, where teams from nearby areas play friendly games. These events help people enjoy cuju while keeping its traditions alive.
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