Introduction and Early History of Soccer in China

Posted: January 4th, 2023

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Introduction and Early History of Soccer in China

Soccer is perhaps the world’s most admired sport, which makes it essential to be familiar with how the game started. FIFA admits that the initial forms of soccer started to surface in the 3^rd century in China (Goldblatt 25). From its humble start to the big enterprise it is today, Chinese football started from a humble background, and became better as the country passed through one period to the other.

Chinese Soccer 145BC-87BC

The Chinese perceived soccer from145BC to 87BC to be a popular form of entertainment for the entire society. The ball created during the time was prepared from a leather bag filled with light substance such as the feathers of a bird. Sima was a prolific writer during the classical era, and he provides facts showing how members of the society mostly passed time by watching a soccer match. Sima (34) proclaims that the male members of the society used to play specific musical instruments during soccer matches, including the flute as a way of engaging all fans and participants. The existence of early forms of soccer in China gives enough insight into how the game started very long time ago in the region.

Chinese Soccer Practices under Han  

The Han leadership is attributed to have played fundamental roles in improving the nature of soccer in China. The game was highly associated with military practices during this time when the army used the sport to exercise and remain physically fit. Some of the founding people of the Han era such as Liu Bang were big lovers of soccer and their love encouraged them invest in improving the sport. Bang, for example, facilitated the construction of sports facility within is palace as a way of improving interaction with the game and later received glory for establishing a center came to play crucial function in hosting sporting events in the country (Sima 36). Some of the modern forms of soccer borrow from the Han era when the organizers agreed to have 12 players on each side working under one person (Sima 36). The developments in Chinese soccer during the period were so immense because it was during the time that players learnt how to use the parts of their body other than the hands in playing the game.

Improvements in Chinese Soccer during Tang’s Era

The supremacy of the Chinese soccer magnified during Tang’s era when many women started to join the game and engage in competitions. The era saw an increase in soccer competitions, and the number of spectators attending local tournaments also increased (James and Jones 65). The production of the ball changed during the Tang’s era when the initial air-filled leather ball was introduced to facilitate movement and bouncing. The leaders during the time found women’s soccer captivating to watch, and were responsible for organizing matches between one team and the other (James and Jones 65). The women’s soccer teams were not as experienced as the males, especially during the initial stages of formation, but later picked up following more support from the government. The developments in soccer during Tang’s period that lasted more than 400 years were instrumental in forming the original state of the game.

Chinese Soccer in the Song Era

The commercialization of Chinese soccer, which offered the country the opportunity to take part in global sporting events, was apparent during the Song leadership. The local leaders during the time supported the game by putting up more stadiums and calling on members of the community to support the growth of the game. The local leaders supported individuals who showed prolific soccer skills and this motivated players to work harder to become better. The government further supported the game by offering state positions to players who showed excellent performance, an initiative that served essential roles in promoting soccer across China.

The effects of Ming’s Leadership on Chinese Soccer

The Ming era served crucial roles in modernizing China, and soccer greatly improved during the period. More ordinary members of the Chinese society got the opportunity to play soccer, and the game became increasingly popular and accepted (James and Jones 74). Painters and artists took advantage of the increased popularity of soccer to develop paintings and other works representing their feelings on soccer (James and Jones 74). The acceptance of soccer throughout China during the Ming leadership offered the chance to advance the game, and most of the contemporary practices borrow from features that appeared during the reign. 

Conclusion 

The study describes how soccer changed from its naïve state in China to become much better as the ancient dynasties changed leadership. Soccer served important recreational roles during the initial times when the game started to emerge, and later offered the chance for the military to engage in physical practices during the Han leadership. The popularity of soccer in China increased during Tang’s era primarily because of the enough support from the state. Transiting into the Song Dynasty presented the chance for Chinese soccer to enter the commercial sector, and by the time the Ming era took over more refined skills and regulations changed the nature of the game in China.

Works Cited

Goldblatt, David. The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer. Riverhead Books, 2006.

James, Riordan and Robin Jones. Sport and Physical Education in China. Spon Press, 2002.

Sima, Qian. Records of the Grand Historian: Qin Dynasty. Columbia University Press, 1995.