Traditional Sports
Lisu people have lived in the deep forests for generations, leading a life ofhalf farming and half hunting. Lisu people have created many kinds of sports due to their natural environment. The Lisu people improve their strength, speed, endurance, skills and other physical qualities by doing these traditional sports. These sports help them adapt to the environment and the ever-changing climate, enhance their ability to fight natural disasters and overcome all kinds of difficulties. Moreover, strong sense of discipline, solidarity,cooperation and positiveness has been fostered through these sports.
Lisu traditional sports come from life, and in return they successfully serve the Lisu people’s life. Strange peaks, thorns in the way, snow-capped canyons, gullies and natural barriers have enabled the Lisu people to develop capabilities of climbing trees and walls.It was recorded back to Ming Dynasty that “the Lisu people always take sharp swords and poisoned arrows with them. They climbe mountains like monkeys.” Later on, these activities evolved into climbing poles, swing, high jump, long jump, chopping bamboo and so on. With the development of society, more competitive sports gradually emerged such as sword pole climbing, swimming wrestling. Lisu sports are an important part of traditional Lisu culture and a symbol ofLisu social development.
(1) Crossbow Shooting
Crossbow shooting is not restricted by time and place, and almost every Lisu man is good at crossbow shooting. According to legend, as early as the ancient flood era, the Lisu people have invented the crossbow. The crossbow is an indispensable life tool for Lisu men in production and life, and from the age of seven or eight they have a hard crossbow to their liking. Lisu crossbow consists of three major components: a crossbow frame made of chestnut wood, a crossbow back made of mulberry wood, and a crossbow string made of hemp thread or cow tendons. There are three types of crossbows: hunting crossbows,murdering crossbows, and bird shooting crossbows. Generally a crossbow is about five centimeters long, two to three inches wide, with seventy to eighty kilograms of force and range within a hundred meters.
Lisu shooting competition mostly uses physical objects as targets. The shepherd children, for example, often hold shooting competition when their livestock take a break and drink water. They put satchels or arrow sacs on the ground as target. Lisu men who work in the fields also do in this way to take a break from their work.
Large-scale crossbow shooting competitions are held mainly in the Kuoshi Festival[11].The main events are: baba[12] shooting, egg shooting, sword blade shooting, etc. People dress up in their favorite festive attire and gather at the playground to watch the crossbow shooting competition. Men stride across the playground, ready to distinguish themselves.
(2) Sword Pole Climbing
Sword Pole Climbing is a traditional Lisu sport prevalent in Tengchong, Dehong and Lushui. It is held on the 8th day of the 2nd lunar month. It is a sport event in hornor of a historic hero for the Lisu people.
According to the legend, during the Ming Dynasty, foreigners frequently infested the frontier and Wang Ji, the minister of War, was commanded to launch a westward expedition. After arriving at Tengchong, Wang Ji set up camp in the area of Guyong, and with the active cooperation ofthe local Lisu people, he quickly quelled the border problems.While pacifying the border people, General Wang organized the people to reclaim the land and train their troops, creating a stable and peaceful environment where people could live a happy life. Later, Wang Ji was killed by a traitor on his way back to the capital. To commemorate this national hero who shared the hardships of the people, the Lisu people have held the “Climbing the Knife Pole” event for generations, expressing the courageous and tenacious spirit and symbolizing the resourcefulness and bravery ofthe Lisu people.
A sword pole is comprised oftwo wooden or bamboo poles of 13 to 20 meters long and 72 sharp swords. The two poles are placed on the ground in parallel, fixed in position by six bamboo sticks twisted into a drawstring. Every two feet ofthe pole bundles a long sword to form a trapezoid. The first sword is wide and thick, followed by two swords crossed into an X-shaped. Sword edges are all facing up. The two poles are tied with red and yellow paperflowers. Colored flags are placed on the drawstring. Four red flags are at the top of the two poles, indicating the four directions- east, west, south and north.
A grand “baptism” ceremony, also called “going to the sea of fire”, is always held on the night before this event. The Lisu people dress up in festive attire, light bonfires, sing and dance to bless the climbers who is going to climb the sword pole on the next day. The climbers follow their master, barefoot and with shirt off, roll around and jump in the redhot chestnut coals. They hold up the red-hot coals to wipe their faces and lick the sparks of the plowshare with their tongues. The next day, people set firecrackers before climbing the sword pole. The climbing team follows the masters, walks three circles around the sword pole. When the gong rings, climbers start to climb up the pole barefooted from one side,and climb down to the ground on the other side. The whole process is very thrilling.
(3) Swing
Swing is one of the most popular sports in Lisu villages. It is often held in the Kuoshi Festival. The swing is made of rattan and rope, and is set up on the horizontal branch of a large tree in the village. If there is no such natural condition to set a swing, then people could make a swing frame with wood and set it on a lawn. There are two ways to play swing: single and double. The winner of a swing competition goes to the one who can swing high enough to bite down the leaves on the tree or goes to the one whose swing level parallels with the transverse bar.
(4) Bar topping
The bar topping aims at competing strength is often held in leisure time for recreation.The bar is over 160 cm long, 5-10 cm- diametered-bowl wide wooden stick, oran ox harness. In the game, the bar’s two ends are puton the competitors’ body, 3 cm above their navels. Either ofthem holds one end ofthe bar tightly while keepslegs in the shape ofa bow(generally left foot in the front, right foot in the back), forming a sheep’s top position. The front foot works to stabilize the body and keep balance, the back foot works with strength to top forwarduntil pushing the opponent out ofthe specified boundary. This event requires a combination of strength and skill. The front hand will be slightly upward lifting the top bar, the back hand downward increasing pressure. The tricky use of the lever theory can help win the game. The feature ofthe game is its simplicity. Neither special equipment nor special venues are required.A wooden stick and a small piece of flat ground can be perfect for topping a bar.
(5) Wrestling
Wrestling plays a very important role in the Lisu traditional sports. It is not a formal competition game which is often held during work recessions and other free time. In the game, two wrestlers hold together in a wrestling posture. On the command of the referee,wrestlers make all-out effort to fall their opponents. It is characterized by the combination of upper body strength and foot movement skills, and it requires flexibility and coordination.In addition to being a recreational sport, wrestling is also a form ofdueling. The Lisu people never use swords or daggers to fight against each other, even when they have bitter quarrels.They compete in wrestling.