Recreational sports from a bygone era

Recreational sports reached their acme in the pre-modern era, during the Ming and Qing era - China's last feudal dynasties. People hunted on horseback, played an indigenous form of football, flew kites or played chess. Some of these games eventually evolved into official sports. The exhibition, "Competitive Games In and Outside the Forbidden City" document these popular recreations. There are artifacts from the Capital and Palace Museum at the exhibition, which opened Wednesday in Beijing.

The exhibition, "Competitive Games In and Outside the Forbidden  City" document the recreational sports during the Ming and Qing  era.(Photo: CCTV.com)

A retrospective is always helpful for gaining a perspective on the present. In the days leading up to the Olympic Games, a review of China's ancient sports helps to rev up the excitement levels.

A fine selection of a hundred artifacts comprises two sections: "Martial Training for Body Building" and "Character Cultivation and Recreation".

This copper seal depicts a cast image in intaglio of two men standing face to face in cuju. It's a ball game, considered a forerunner of modern football. Later ball games use these ceramic pieces, intertwining strips of clay. Is it ancient golf or what?

The exhibition, "Competitive Games In and Outside the Forbidden  City" document the recreational sports during the Ming and Qing  era.(Photo: CCTV.com)

The various whips, arrows and this exquisitely crafted saddle attest to the horsemanship of Chinese people. Horsemanship and archery were part of the ancient tradition for members of the royal family as well as for common folk.