Traditional Sports
TheJinuo sports attach more importance to the value of spiritual culture than the social practice ofphysical training.
First of all, the function of Jinuo sports to strengthen the body is combined with people’s lifestyle and survival needs. Jinuo people often collect and hunt in valleys ofJinuo Mountain. Climbing mountains becomes their daily sports and basic survival. The skill of shooting crossbow displays their ability and competence. The Jinuo believe they are the descendents of the muntjac, that is to say they move fast and agilely. And the girls often cast their admiration and adoration to the outstanding hunter. In festivals or in leisure time,young people carry out a variety of sports activities to strengthen their bodies, sustain the group survival and meet the needs ofpractical life.
Secondly, the sports of Jinuo are involved into all aspects of their social life. On the one hand, it is a good way to let theyounger generation know its own history. On the other hand, it serves the purpose of exchanging skills and ideas among people and satisfying their psychological desires in a cheerful way. There is no doubt that sports became the main means of recreation in the closed natural and social environment in the past. The sports helpedregulate their psychological emotions and enrich their cultural life, even without any regulated skills or utilitarian prayers.
Thirdly, the Jinuo sports are the reflection oftheir ethnic spirit. Resourcefulness, courage and strength are universally valued virtuesin the Jinuo community. They are the very essences ofthe Jinuo’s sports spirit.
(1) Bamboo Pole Pushing
Bamboos have an inseparable bond with the living of the Jinuo people. Because almost all oftheir daily utensils, houses and furniture are made ofbamboo, the Jinuo people have profound emotional ties with bamboo. Accordingly, the bamboo becomes a part of their sports and entertainment. Bamboo pole pushing, bamboo pole twisting, bamboo pole turning, bamboo pole pulling, and bamboo pole climbing, etc. are all bamboo-applied sports activities.
The bamboo pole used for bamboo pole pushing is 2.5-3.0m long and about 10cm thick.A line is drawn on the ground below the middle of the horizontally placed bamboo pole.Before the game, the two players untie their head-cloth and wrap it around the waist. As soon as the game starts, the two players push hard against their end respectively, with both legs standing firmly in the shape like a bow. During the game, the two players push hard against the bamboo toward each other until one touches the middle line and fails.
The bamboo pole used for bamboo pole twisting is about 2.5m long and about 8cm thick. The two players squat at either end of the bamboo pole, holding the bamboo pole tightly with both hands, and twist the bamboo pole in opposite directions. The game is generally played abiding by the rule ofthe two out ofthree.
The bamboo pole used for bamboo pole turning is 2.5m long. The bamboo pole stands upright on the ground, supported by one player, while the other player holds the lower end of the bamboo pole and turns it in one direction. the two hands cannot leave the bamboo pole simultaneously. Either side that turns the bamboo pole the fastest and for the largest number of times with the center of gravity kept lower wins the game. The two players in one group should work together closely and turn the bamboo pole alternately. During New Year and other festivals, the Jinuo people gather together to carry out this kind ofactivities.In most cases, the bamboo pole is supported by a girl and turned by a young man.
The bamboo pole used for bamboo pole pulling is 2.5m long and 8cm thick. The two rivals stand with both legs in tandem and hold onto the bamboo pole with both hands. A line is drawn on the ground below the middle ofthe bamboo pole. The two players pull the bamboo pole with exertion until one touches the middle line and fails.
Two bamboo poles are used for bamboo pole climbing. Either bamboo pole is about 6-10m tall. During the game, there are two players in each group, and the one to climb up to the top first wins.
(2) Mud Slingshot
The mud slingshot is generally made of a bamboo strip. First, the bamboo is cut into a bamboo strip that is 133cm long and 3cm wide. The bamboo strip is hunched like a bow.Then, an animal tendon is tied to the bow as the string. There is a small square hole in the middle of the string for placing the mud balls. The mud ball is a small round ball made of daub and must be dried in the shade so that the mud ball could be very hard. This type of mud slingshot can be used to hunt small animals. When using it, the user puts a mud ball in the hole first, and then draws the bow and holds it with one handwhile the other hand pulls the mud ball back. The mud ball will dash out at the target as soon as the grip is released.The Jinuo people hold a mud slingshot competition on holidays. Generally there are two types of shooting postures, i.e., running and standing. There is a burning candle or incense on every target, and the one who hits the largest number oftargets wins.
(3) Rooster-feather Ball
Rooster-feather Ball striking is the Jinuo people’s favorite sport. The Rooster-feather Ball is made of beautiful feathers from the chicken neck inserted tightly into charcoal wrapped in a piece of oil cloth. In the past, the Jinuo people had no written language. They used chicken feathers and charcoal in place of letters to convey messages. Later, they developed the sport of Rooster-feather striking, a game with the distinctive characteristics of Jinuo culture. Rooster-feather Ball striking literally means kicking Rooster-feather, but the Jinuo people do not kick Rooster-feather Ball. Instead, they play Rooster-feather Ball with hands in many ways, e.g., one vs one; the married vs the unmarried; family vsfamily;village vs village. A middle line is drawn on the ground. One player hits the ball and the other player must strike back. The one who fails to get the ball and cross the line fails.