Weightlifting - From Ancient Battlefields to Modern Games

Weightlifting is a very old sport. In China, records of weightlifting activities date back more than 2,000 years to the Chu–Han period. From the Western Jin dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty, weightlifting was a required event in the imperial military examinations. 

In ancient times, warfare relied on bladed weapons such as swords, spears, and halberds, making physical strength essential. The effectiveness of a weapon depended greatly on the strength of the person wielding it. As a result, weightlifting was also used in the military to test soldiers' physical abilities. Soldiers often demonstrated their strength by lifting a large bronze ritual vessel known as a ding, an action somewhat similar to the snatch in modern weightlifting. 

Beyond central China, stone-lifting also has a long history in Xizang. A mural in the Potala Palace depicts a weightlifting competition involving six participants. Three wear long robes, while the other three wear shorter robes. They are dressed in various types of boots and wear their long hair down their backs. One competitor is shown lifting a stone onto his shoulder, marking him as the winner of the contest. 

Even today, stone-lifting competitions remain a popular event during the Wangguo Festival, celebrated in the eighth month of the Tibetan calendar. A round stone weighing either 100 or 150 kilograms is used, and it is coated with yak butter to make it more difficult to grip. Competitors must lift the stone, move it from beneath one arm onto their back, and then walk a designated distance. Another event requires competitors to throw the stone forward from the chest or shoulder, with the farthest throw determining the winner.