I had already written an article a few days ago: Ancient Chinese Amusement Life in Four Seasons. Today, I write another article and show some interesting recreation way in China’s ancient times.

In order to seek spiritual enjoyment, Chinese ancient people once created a lot of recreation methods. People add the fun of life through various recreation way. I can say that the recreation is not only a pastime way, but also the accumulation of the social civilization at the same time. I introduce some popular amusement project in Chinese ancient times to everybody.

Cockfighting

Cockfighting is a kind of traditional recreation way in China’s ancient times. It’s a popular pastime means. People utilize cock’s bellicose instinct, select and foster cocks, then let them mutual fight for amusement. In order to win, ancient Chinese had invented a lot of methods. For example put on the special armor for cock, protect the body of cock. Or put the sharp metal hook on cock’s claws; strengthen the attack of the cock. In addition, some people daub fox oil on the cockscomb. Fox is natural enemy of cock. Fry the fat of the fox into oil and daub on the cockscomb. The other side’s cock will fear and avoid once smelling the smell. Ancient Chinese racked their brains for cockfighting winning.

Cricket-fighting

People began to play “Cricket-fighting” game in the Tang Dynasty. The game is the most popular in the Sung Dynasty period. “Cricket-fighting” not only is a kind of pastime game, but also is a kind of gamble game. People often make a bet and make an appointment in advance, then place the win hope on cricket. The gamble things can be money, cake or fruit… The main purpose lies in recreation. Cricket-fighting is a welcomed pastime game in ancient China.

Grass-fighting

This is China’s ancient woman game. Perhaps you have not heard of this game. In fact this game is very simple. Girls picked some flower and grass, then say the flower or grass name each other in the form of couplet. Whose grass kind is more, couplet level is higher than others and insist on the end, who wins. So it needs certain plant knowledge and culture to play this game.

Kicking shuttlecock

Kicking shuttlecock is a kind of old Chinese games. It already had a history of more than 2,000 years so far. It is said this game was very popular in the Tang Dynasty. The shuttlecock is generally made of the feather and metal coin. It is a kind of interesting sports game. Someone still plays with it now.

Soccer

Most people think the soccer originates from Britain. In fact the soccer originates from China (Mr. Blatter, president of FIFA, announced “the soccer originates from China” to the world formally on July 15, 2004). The soccer is named as “Cuju” in China’s ancient times. The history of the Cuju is over 2,300 years. It originated from the Chun and Qiu Period. It is an old pastime sport.

Tang and Sung Dynasty emperors mostly like Cuju sports and regard it as a kind of military training means. They liked watching the Cuju match. So Cuju sport is very popular in Tang and Sung Dynasty periods. But the emperors of Qing Dynasty liked hunting with bow and arrow and prohibit Cuju sport by official order. This causes this amusement sport decline.

Flying kites

It is mankind’s long-standing idea to fly in the sky. According to the record, the Chinese ancient people pared the bamboo into extremely thin slice and made it can rise against the wind, so the most primitive kite was named as “Wooden Bird”. People made this kind of flyer by every possible means after the “Wooden Bird” came out, let it soar on sky for obtaining pleasure. After the papermaking skill was invented, people used lighter paper to make the kite, changed its name as “Paper Bird” at the same time. This kind of kite has been spreading till now.

Set off the firework

It is a traditional Chinese recreation to set off the firework. People should light various fireworks on the great festival, set off the festival atmosphere by contrast with beautiful color, express the happiness of heart.

There was one kind of fireworks that was named “Mouse” in ancient China. It can stampede everywhere after lighting and leave a flame route. It’s very funny! Another wonderful firework is known as “The light of nine stones”. This is a burning big ball. It is shot to the sky by the special cannon, will separate 10,000 small lights after exploding, very magnificent sight! Chinese still set off the firework to celebrate festival now.

In fact there are a lot of recreation ways in China’s ancient times. For example tug of war, wrestling, hide-and-seek, duck-fighting, goose-fighting, quail-fighting, ox-fighting, sheep-fighting, breed goldfish, take a walk, play the musical instrument, play on a swing… In a word, various recreation way had enriched the life of the Chinese ancient people. They lived a happy life with another way.