Pole Ball

竿球

Pole ball has another name “top ball” and it is called “kabulong” in the language of the Gaoshans.

竿球又称“顶球”，高山族语叫做“卡不隆”球。

It is the traditional sport game of the Gaoshans. The game is current in Pingdong of Taiwan province and Chaozhou.

是高山族人民的传统体育项目，流传于台湾省屏东、潮州一带。

The people in Paiwan living in the Southern Taiwushan mountain of Taidong have the ceremony of offering sacrifices to their ancestors every six years which is also a great ceremony to pray for the harvest of all the members of the clan.

住在台东的南太武山的排湾人，每隔五年就要隆重举行一次大规模的祭祖典礼，这也是全族人祈求丰收的一次盛会。

In the “Five-year Festival” each village will have to organize a team to take part in the performance to play bamboo dance and throw the ball.And this is the unique sport game of the people in Paiwan.

在庆祝“五年节”的盛大活动中，各乡村都要组织一个队伍参加一场舞竹抛球的表演活动，这是排湾人的独特的体育表演项目。

In the performance the young boy who pricks the ball first is respected by the villagers.

在表演中，第一个刺中“卡不隆”球的嘎戈亮（年轻小伙子）最受费劳兰（乡亲们）的尊重。

The game is from the hunting for a kind of strong and brutal bird “gulagao” during which the brave and wise ancestors of the Paiwan in the past tried to with a sharp and long bamboo.

排湾人聪明而勇敢的先辈们用顶端削得十分锋利的长竹竿来捕杀一种名叫“古拉高”的凶猛大鸟的方法就演变成排湾人“竿球”活动项目了。

This game was held once in five years and now it is done on every happy occasion or festival.

原来仅在五年一度的“五年节”时举行，后来每逢喜庆节日均可进行此项活动。

The bamboo is often chosen in spring and cut after autumn harvest and then heated to make a bamboo used in competition.

通常在开春时进山选定竹子，秋后采伐，并加以烤制而成比赛用的竹竿。

The bamboo is 7-8 meters long.It is hard but flexible and there is no limit for the thickness or thinness of it.

竿长7-8米，硬而富有弹性，粗细不拘。

The diameter is 1 centimeters with a long and thin needle on it.The ball is made with the fillings of leaves covered with palm bark or rattan or made with only barks.It has a diameter of 10 centimeters.

顶部直径1-2厘米，顶端扎一根细长针。球是以树叶为心，外裹棕皮或青藤制成，也可用树皮扎成，直径约10厘米。

In competition there can be more than 10 players.The judge throws the ball into the air and when it falls all players can prick it together with the bamboos in the hands.The one who pricks will score.

比赛时，参加者可达数十人。裁判员将球抛向高空，待其落下时，参加者即持竿竟相向球顶刺，刺中者获分。

The one who pricks more times wins the game in the fixed time. Or it is competed between two teams.The team who pricks more times wins.

以在规定时间内，刺中次数多者为胜。也可将参加者分成两队，以刺中多的一队为胜。

According to the customs of the Gaoshans, pricking the bail symbolizes luck and ability so the winners often receive respect and congratulations from the clan.

按高山族的习俗，持竿刺中球，即象征吉祥和能干，故获胜者常常会得到族人的敬重和祝贺。