Kemari
Kemari (Japanese:
蹴鞠) is
a ball game that was
popular in Japan
during the Heian Period. Kemari has been revived in modern
times.
The first evidence of kemari is from A.D.644. The rules were standardized from the 13th century. It was the first Japanese sport to become highly developed.
The game was
influenced by the Chinese
sport of Cuju.
The characters for Kemari are the same as Cuju in Chinese. The
sport was introduced to Japan about 600, during the Asuka
period.
Nowadays, it is
played in Shinto shrines for festivals.
Kemari is a very physical sport; it is a whole body exercise for all ages. It is played primarily for the pleasure of those playing and watching.
The object of Kemari
is to keep one ball
in the air, with all players cooperating to do so. Players may use their head,
feet, knees, back, and possibly elbows to keep the ball aloft. The ball, known
as a Mari, is made of deerskin with the hair facing inside and the hide
on the outside. The ball is stuffed with barley grains to give it shape. When
the hide has set in this shape, the grains are removed from the ball, and it is
then sewn together using the skin of a horse. The one who kicks the ball is
called a mariashi. A good mariashi makes it easy for the receiver to
control the mari, and serves it with a soft touch to make it easy to keep the
mari in the air.
Kemari is played on a flat ground, about 6–7 meters squared. The uniforms that the players wear are reminiscent of the clothes of the Asuka age and include a crow hat. This type of clothing was called kariginu and it was fashionable at that time.
Cuju
Cuju is an ancient ball game with similarities to association football. It is seen by some
including FIFA to be a forerunner of modern football despite there being no
historical connection between the sports. The game originated in China, and was also
played in Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
15th century Ming
Dynasty depiction of cuju, from a printed book of the Water
Margin.
The game of cuju was first mentioned in the Zhan Guo Ce
(under State
of Qi's section) and later in the Sima Qian's
Shiji
(under Su Qin's
biography), written during the Han Dynasty.
Some claim that the Yellow Emperor invented the game for military
training purposes, while others place its emergence during China
During the Han Dynasty
(206 BC-AD 220), the
popularity of cuju spread from the army to the royal courts and upper
classes. It is said that the Han
emperor Wu Di enjoyed the sport. At the same time, cuju games were standardized
and rules were established. Cuju matches were often held inside the imperial
palace. A type of court called ju chang was built especially for cuju
matches, which had six crescent-shaped goal posts at each end.
The sport was improved during the Tang
Dynasty (618-907). First of all, the feather-stuffed ball was replaced by
an air-filled ball with a two-layered hull. Also, two different types of goal
posts emerged: One was made by setting up posts with a net between them and the
other consisted of just one goal post in the middle of the field. The Tang
Dynasty capital of Chang'an was filled with cuju fields, in the backyards of
large mansions,
and some were even established in the grounds of the palaces.
Soldiers who belonged to the imperial army and Gold Bird Guard often formed
cuju teams for the delight of the emperor and his court. The level of female
cuju teams also improved. Records indicate that once a 17-year-old girl beat a
team of army soldiers. Cuju even became popular amongst the scholars and
intellectuals, and if a courtier lacked skill in the game, he could pardon
himself by acting as a scorekeeper.
Cuju flourished during the Song
Dynasty (960-1279) due to social and economic development, extending its
popularity to every class in society. At that time, professional cuju players
were quite popular, and the sport began to take on a commercial edge.
Professional cuju players fell into two groups: One was trained by and
performed for the royal court (unearthed copper mirrors and brush pots from the
Song often depict professional performances) and the other consisted of
civilians who made a living as cuju players.
One Hundred Children in the Long Spring (长春百子图), a painting by Chinese
artist Su Hanchen (苏汉臣, active 1130–1160s AD), Song
Dynasty.
In the Song Dynasty only one goal post was set up
in the center of the field. Cuju organizations were set up in large cities
called Qi Yun She or Yuan She – now known as the earliest professional cuju
club – whose members were either cuju lovers or professional performers.
Non-professional players had to formally appoint a professional as his or her
teacher and pay a fee before becoming a member. This process ensured an income
for the professionals, unlike cuju of the Tang Dynasty.
Historically there
were two main styles of cuju: "Zhu Qiu" and "Bai Da".
"Zhu Qiu"
was commonly performed at court feasts celebrating the emperor's birthday or
during diplomatic events. A competitive cuju match of this type normally
consisted of two teams with 12-16 players on each side.
"Bai Da"
became dominant during the Song Dynasty, a style that attached much importance
to developing personal skills. Scoring goals became obsolete when using this
method with the playing field enclosed using thread and players taking turns to
kick the ball within these set limits. The number of fouls made by the players
decided the winner. For example, if the ball was not passed far enough to reach
other team members points were deducted. If the ball was kicked too far out, a
large deduction from the score would result. Kicking the ball too low or
turning at the wrong moment all led to fewer points. Players could touch the
ball with any part of the body except their hands whilst the number of players
ranged anywhere from two to ten. In the end, the player with the highest score
won.
Cuju began to
decline during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) due to neglect and the
2,000-year-old sport slowly faded away.
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