Playing Cuju

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2014-04-04

Cuju was an ancient Chinese competitive game involving kicking a ball through an opening into a net, and reached its height of popularity in the Tang and Song Dynasties. A famous ancient Chinese painting depicts Emperor Taizu of Song, the founder of the Song Dynasty, playing Cuju in the royal courtyard. Cuju, often played on the Qingming Festival, later evolved into football that swept around the world.