A wealth of sports developed in ancient China, including what may have been the first game of football. But it is dragon boat racing that has the highest profile in the world today, an activity catching on in Cyprus too
By Karen Taylor
A look at the results from the recent Olympic Games in Paris is enough to understand the importance of sport to life in China – second in the Olympic medal table and first in the Paralympics. But sport is not new to the Chinese psyche, it has been an important part of life since ancient times, and China even lays claim to being the birthplace of football.
Recognised by FIFA as one of the earliest competitive ball games using the feet, China’s cuju has a history dating back over 2,000 years, with mythical origins harking back to an even earlier age. Cuju translates literally as kick-ball.
One of the best descriptions of the game dates from the latter stages of the Han dynasty and is by the poet Li You, whose poem attests that cuju was seen as more than just a form of entertainment or military training. It was regarded as a metaphor for leading a good life.
It was the military that gave to rise to a number of sports in ancient China, including all kinds of martial arts, such as wrestling, pugilism, fencing, tripod lifting, horse-racing, stone-throwing, hunting and swimming.
And today, Chinese President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to sports. “Sports are an important means for improving people’s health, meeting people’s aspirations for a better life and facilitating well-rounded human development,” he said.
Linking ancient China to the modern world, the Silk Road played an important part in the development of sports, providing considerable opportunities to enrich exchanges in traditional games of wrestling, polo, Go (an abstract strategy board game), Touhu (an ancient banquet game involving throwing arrows into a pot) and Chinese Wushu (martial arts).
The Silk Road also provided an opportunity for nomadic skills such as archery and horse riding to hybridise with farming culture to form a number of martial arts styles.
Dragon boat races also have a long history in China dating back to the Warring States period (475-221 BC) and are gaining momentum across the world, embodying the universal values of teamwork, perseverance and cultural appreciation. The sport’s journey from traditional Chinese festival activity to global phenomenon is a testament to its enduring charm and the power of cultural exchange.
Dragon boat racing made its Olympic debut as a demonstration sport during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The 10-minute showcase aimed to promote the sport globally, with hopes of its eventual inclusion in future Olympic Games. It became a recognised event in the Asian Games in 2010, helping to elevate the sport’s status.
Beyond Asia, dragon boat racing has seen significant growth in Europe, North America and Africa, attracting enthusiasts from diverse cultural backgrounds.
In Cyprus too the sport is gaining popularity, and the Cyprus Dragon Boat Federation was set up in 2008. Despite taking a hit during Covid, the sport is now growing on the island with the federation having more than 200 members and Cyprus even boasting a national team.
“Now it is at its best since the federation’s conception,” said chairman Zacharoula Christou. There are five local clubs – Limassol Spartans, Cyprus Sharks, Raging Mouflons, ZuluForce and Limassol Dragons – that all train at the Yermasoyia dam and, weather permitting, the Limassol seafront. Training also takes place in Larnaca and Paphos.
In boats featuring either 10 or 20 paddlers with a steerer (usually the coach) and a drummer whose job it is to beat out a rhythm so all paddlers act as one, the clubs take part in a yearly dragon boat regatta in addition to smaller and charity events throughout the year. This month will see teams arrive from the Middle East, the UK and Europe to take part in two days of races at the dam, although they will all use the same boats, only bringing their paddles with them.
The boats – all produced in China – are designed to look like a dragon, Christou said, with a head at the front and a tail at the back, while the length of the boat is decorated in what are the scales of a dragon.
Members of the Cyprus federation range in age from 12 to over 65, taking part in a sport that “promotes team building and friendship”, Christou said, pointing out that all federations, including Cyprus, have a team consisting of women who have survived breast cancer – called pink ladies who have their own race at meets.
Meanwhile, in July the Cyprus team won silver and bronze medals at the European championship. Since the start of September training has begun for next year’s contest. “We are hoping we will do even better,” Christou said.
About Mirror of Culture
Mirror of Culture is a joint initiative of the Cyprus Mail and the Chinese embassy. It highlights the parallels between Cypriot and Chinese culture to set an example of acceptance, respect and
understanding among the various cultural communities on the island, recognising the fundamental importance of culture.
Culture is the universal language that transcends many barriers, including language and geography. The aim is to work with diverse cultural communities in Cyprus to share and promote our vibrant cultures to further bolster the bonds among all the people of Cyprus and celebrate the diversity of cultures in the world.
Furthermore, the initiative understands the importance of cultural preservation, which is an important way for us to transmit traditions and practices of the past to future generations.
