Start Date

4-28-2025 12:35 PM

End Date

4-28-2025 1:50 PM

Disciplines

History

Subjects

Sports -- China -- Sociological aspects, Politics and culture -- China, China -- Civilization, China -- Social life and customs

Abstract

This paper explores how cuju, an ancient sport known as the predecessor of modern football, evolved from the Han to Song dynasties (206 BCE–1368 CE) as a unifying force in imperial China. Calling upon primary sources such as ancient cuju manuals and various art pieces suggests this sport's importance went beyond a leisurely practice. Using academic journals about Chinese history and the development of cuju from different academic fields and, most notably, the FIFA museum’s online exhibit of cuju, the reason cuju had such a strong place of value in Chinese society was apparent. Beginning as a combat exercise in the Han dynasty's military, cuju expanded, eventually breaking social barriers, offering moments where class divisions blurred, even allowing women, despite strict patriarchal norms, opportunities to participate, and helping imperial leaders foster unity where political systems fell short.

Part of the panel: Tools of Resistance and Unity
Moderator: Professor William York

Creative Commons License or Rights Statement

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43631

Included in

History Commons

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Apr 28th, 12:35 PM Apr 28th, 1:50 PM

Cuju: The Ancient Chinese Game That Held an Empire Together

This paper explores how cuju, an ancient sport known as the predecessor of modern football, evolved from the Han to Song dynasties (206 BCE–1368 CE) as a unifying force in imperial China. Calling upon primary sources such as ancient cuju manuals and various art pieces suggests this sport's importance went beyond a leisurely practice. Using academic journals about Chinese history and the development of cuju from different academic fields and, most notably, the FIFA museum’s online exhibit of cuju, the reason cuju had such a strong place of value in Chinese society was apparent. Beginning as a combat exercise in the Han dynasty's military, cuju expanded, eventually breaking social barriers, offering moments where class divisions blurred, even allowing women, despite strict patriarchal norms, opportunities to participate, and helping imperial leaders foster unity where political systems fell short.

Part of the panel: Tools of Resistance and Unity
Moderator: Professor William York