Cuju(Ball-kicking)(2)

蹴鞠(2)

The development of Cuju went into an important stage in the Tang dynasty，for a could-be-filled-with-air ball was created，which was made of animals’ bladder covered with a shell of eight pieces of leather sewn together and then filled with air.

到了唐代，蹴鞠运动进入了一个极为重要的时期—就是当时人们发明了可用来充气的球。制球时，先准备好一个动物膀胱，再在外面包上用八块皮革缝起来的外壳，最后充气即可。

The ball made in this way was much more round，elastic and made the game more exciting and enjoyable.

这种球，其形状更圆，更具弹性，从而使蹴鞠运动更为激烈，更具观赏性。

A variety of skills were invented then on the basis of the former games. A goal，for instance，was set in the middle of the court, the players of the two teams just kicked the ball into the goal，and the one which goaled more was the winner.

唐代时期，在继承前人蹴鞠运动的基础上，发明了各种玩法。如在场地中间设一个球门，两个球队分别从两边向球门射球，进球多者赢；

Another kind of game play didn’t need a goal. One or several the players just displayed their different feet skills. The one who could keep the ball longest was the winner.

另一种玩法就是不要球门，蹴鞠者可一人或数人用各种脚法表演蹴鞠技巧，以控球时间长者为赢；

People then still had the height competition，which means that the players gathered round and kicked the ball into air.

还有就是踢高比赛，几个人围在一起，用力把球往高处踢，

The one who kicked the ball highest and kept it in air longest was the winner. There were a lot of other ways to play the ball.

把球踢得很高又不使球落地者为赢等等。还有其他很多不同玩法。

Cuju entered its golden age in the Song dynasty.First，it was much more standardized and enjoyable.

宋代时，蹴鞠运动进人了黄金时期。因为一蹴鞠运动更具规范性和观赏性，

Second，Qiyun Association was founded which is similar to the FIFA now. Third，the imperial court attached great importance to it.

二蹴鞠运动出现了类似当今足球协会的专门组织—齐云社，三是朝廷对蹴鞠运动极为重视。

Standardization and enjoyment：There were mainly two ways to play Cuju. One was to shoot at the goal.

规范性和观赏性。宋代蹴鞠主要有两种玩法，一是通过球门射球。

Two bamboo posts of several zhangs high were set in the middle of the court，a net was tied to the posts with one-chi-in-diameter hole in the middle of it，which is the goal.

在场地中央立两根高达几丈的竹竿，在竿上张网，网上部中间位置开一个直径一尺左右的洞，此洞即是球门。

Two teams called the Right team and the left team took part in the game，and each of them were composed of ten players, including a head and two vice-heads. Music was played at the very beginning，and then the two teams in red and black brocade respectively came into the court.

比赛时有两支队伍，称左右两军，每只参赛队伍由十余人组成，其中球头一人，次球头两人。比赛开始时，先奏乐，两队分别穿红、黑两种颜色的锦衣上场。

The red team kicked off first. After displaying a series of difficult skills, the ball was passed to the vice leaders，then the vice leaders passed it to the head，and the head shot at the goal.

由红方开球，红方队员进行过一系列较具难度的球技表演后，将球传给次球头，次球头再传给球头，由球头射门。

If the opponents could kick it back through the hole，they would score a goal. Otherwise，they lose.

球头破门后，对方若能将球由球门反踢回来，即为赢一球，反之为败。

When the game finished，the winner would be rewarded，and the loser would be whipped or punished by painting powders of yellow and white on the faces.

比赛结束时，赢者有奖，败者则受鞭答之罚，或在脸上涂以黄白色的粉以示惩罚。
The other method did not use a goal at all. The players that took part in the competition were just showing skills. The one who played with great variety and strict foot skills would win.

二是不用球门。参加此种比赛时蹴鞠者就是表演踢球的各种技法，谁踢的花样多、脚法严密谁就是赢家。

The Football Association--Qiyun Association:Qiyun Association，also named Yuan She，was a spontaneous organization by the folk players.

当年的“足球协会”——齐云社。齐云社又叫圆社，是民间蹴鞠艺人自发组织的团体。

A lot of people joined in it besides the professionals and there were quite a lot of amateurs，most of which were sons of rich families or idlers in the society. Qiyun Association had its regulations.

入社的人很多，有专业的蹴鞠艺人，还有不少是蹴鞠“票友”，这些人大多是富家子弟或社会上游手好闲的人。

It always organized Cuju shows and sometimes even played in the palace.

齐云社有专门的社规，经常组织蹴鞠表演，有时甚至入宫表演。

Cuju in the palace:it is recorded in history that quite。few emperors in the}}b }} Song dynasty such as Song Taizu，Song Taizong，etc，loved kicking balls. Because the court advocated Cuju，it became very popular in the country, and a large number of professionals appeared，who lived on it.

宫廷蹴鞠。根据历史记载，宋朝的不少皇帝如宋太祖、宋太宗等都极爱蹴鞠，由于朝廷对蹴鞠的推崇，域鞠运动在社会上极为普及，出现了不少以蹴鞠为生的艺人。

Cuju in the Yuan dynasty followed the rules of the Song. After Manchu entered the Pass，Cuju declined gradually，for the nobles of Manchu were nomads and loved hunting，wrestling and Bingxi etc. instead of Cuju.

元朝时期的蹴鞠运动基本上沿袭了宋代的游戏规则，至清兵人关后，因清贵族偏爱狩猎、摔跤、冰嬉等运动，蹴鞠运动在清朝时期便逐渐衰落。