Ancient Koreans were recorded to have been engaged in many
sports, including the traditional games "guhui," "sarye," "tugi," and "toin."
Few of the games mentioned are played now as they were played many hundred years
ago, and many of them have long been forgotten. "Guhui" means playing with balls,
and it included "ghukkuk" which was somewhat similar to today's soccer, "gyeokgu"
is something like polo, and "bonghui" is similar to golf. According to historic
records, these games, flourished throughout the Three Kingdoms, and the Unified
Silla period (57B.C.-A.D.935) and the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). "Jangchigi"
was something like today's field hockey, and was enjoyed by Koreans until long
after other games lost their popularity.
Other traditional sports included "gungsi" or "gungsul," which
means archery, and "gisa," which is the sport of shooting arrows from a running
horse. "Toin" was a routine physical exercise in which all the body parts, from
fingers to toes, are stimulated to boost one's spirit, or gi. "Tugi," or physical
fighting, is still being played in modified form. "Seokjeon" is a group competition
between people of neighboring villages. "Geune," or swining, "jegichagi," or
shuttlecock, "neolttwigi," or jumping on the see-saw are still popular during
folk festivals. "Ssireum," similar to wrestling, and "subak," or taekwondo are
the two traditional sports that have very large followings today.
Following are other traditional sports and games that are still
popular among Koreans:
Kite Flying
Kite flying is a popular traditional sport during the winter
season when strong winds are present. According to historical records, kite
flying originated from the ancient Silla Kingdom.
The kites used are of various shapes and colors. Traditionally,
New Year's Day was a day set aside for flying kites. Villagers would write Chinese
characters naming various bad omens on the kites and when they reached the sky,
the strings of the kite would be cut in order to drive all the bad spirits away
from the village for the coming new year.
A popular traditional kite game involves a contest between
kite flyers who try to cut their opponents' kite strings. In preparation for
the contest, the kitesmen paste a mixture of ground up stone and glass powder
on their kite strings; by maneuvering the strings to criss-cross the strings
of other kites, they initiate a series of cutting movements until one of the
kite strings gives way.
Tug of War
The tug of war game is a popular folk game which involves a
large group of people. It is usually played over a period of three days. Since
ancient times, all members of the village participated in the tug of war game.
The game requires a good deal of cooperation. When tug of war is played, village
bands play folk music and cheer their team to victory.
The tug of war is a large-scale game and the period needed
to prepare for it is considerable. Villages must collect rice straw from each
member of the village and make a long thick rope. This consists of a male rope
(sutjul) and a female rope (amjul). Members of each team pull at the ropes which
are bound tightly together. Because of a belief that the winning side shall
have a good harvest, each side strives hard to pull its opponent to its side,
yelling and shouting as they do so.
Chajeonnori
Also known as "dongchae ssaum," this game was said to have
originated after Wang Geon's victory against Gyeon Hwon during the battle of
Andong in 935. To make dongchae two 10-meter logs are crossed in a trapezoid,
with the upper part tied firmly with straw rope. A plank is fixed on the inside
of the trapezoid. Getting onto the plank, each one of general-in-command is
chosen among the members at the two teams, east and west, and leads the fight.
When the fight begins, the horizontal dongchae is raised up
vertically, with the heads of both dongchae striking against each other. The
commander holds the plank in his left hand and command members of his team with
his right. Those who do not hold the dongchae on their shoulder also participate
in the ritualized battle; they fight hand to hand with their teammates holding
the dongchae by helping them to advance forward.
Victory or defeat is settled when the dongchae of either team
is forced to the ground. The winners then express their joy by throwing their
straw sandals up to the sky in a gesture of victory.
Gossaum
The term "gossaum" has its origins in the compound words "go"
(the round, tied knot called otgoreum, or coat string, which is attached to
the Korean traditional dress, or hanbok), and "ssaum," meaning a fight. This
game is played between two teams: the east team and the west team. The huge
"go" used in the game is made of rice straw.
When the "go" is ready, the participating villagers perform
a ritual exorcism, praying for victory for their respective team. They then
select a julpaejang or general who will lead the fight. The julpaejang climbs
on head of the his team's "go" and from there commands his team to maneuver
away or to trample down the opponent's "go" The game ends when one team's "go"
is shoved to the ground.
Gossaum is a cooperative sport between villages and it possess
the same principles as the tug of war game. It requires a great deal of labor
and thus takes several days to prepare for. This game is still popular among
the Korean people during traditional festive occasions. |