Cuju: Ancient Chinese Ball Games

There were a great variety of ball game in ancient China, including cuju (football as an individual and team sport), polo, bat ball, handball and chuiwan, which bears a striking resemblance to the modern sport of golf.

Seal with Football-playing Design

Han Dynasty

Collection of the Palace Museum

Football as depicted in a stone relief in the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220), excavated in Dengfeng County, Henan Province, indicative of the popularity enjoyed by this sport among women.

The Painting of The First Song Emperor Playing Football by Qian Xuan

Yuan Dynasty

Collection of Shanghai Museum

A section of a scroll painting in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) showing some ladies in a chuiwan game.

Polychrome High-footed Bowl with Football-playing Design

Qing Dynasty

Collection of the China Sports Museum

Portions of this article were adapted from research materials originally published on China Sports Museum.