Reviving traditional sports at the beginning of Spring.
(Baonghean)Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of spring festivals, traditional sports are the most distinctive and impressive highlights. Preserving and developing these unique and humane sports is also one way to honor Vietnamese culture.
Speaking of sports during Tet (Lunar New Year), a refined and intellectual pastime is human chess. Currently in Nghe An province, human chess has developed extensively in many villages and communes in the lowland districts and cities such as Cua Lo town, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu, and Nam Dan districts. This is one of the sports that attracts much attention and draws a large number of participants from all walks of life. Chess matches usually take place in spacious areas such as temple courtyards or pagodas.
The chessboard was drawn wide, and the "chess pieces" were young men and women from the village. The "general" had to wear a general's hat, a formal court robe, embroidered shoes, and a parasol behind him. The "advisor" usually wore a winged hat, while the "pawn" had to wear a hat and neat clothing in a pre-selected color for each side. Each participant in the game held a gilded staff inscribed with the corresponding character for each chess piece, which the player used to track and make moves.
A scene of people playing chess.
Before the match, the two chess teams will perform a drum-beaten demonstration to signal their arrival at their positions. The players are usually people of age, status, and respect. Each carries a five-colored flag to lead and control the game. Each move is accompanied by the sound of a large drum. The atmosphere becomes particularly tense and exciting when the rapid drumming signals checkmate or a potential checkmate.
Spectators surrounded the arena, discussing, enjoying, and commenting on each move of the players. The excitement and suspense intensified if any representative challenged the winner.
Besides human chess and board chess, traditional wrestling is also being chosen by localities in the province for competitions during the Lunar New Year and festivals. Wrestling is a martial art. To encourage talent and training among young men, many villages offer very high prizes during the three days of Tet (Lunar New Year). Traditionally, prizes were awarded in the form of money, copper trays, copper pots, etc. The general rule of the match is that the winner must wrestle their opponent to the ground (falling flat on their back) or lift their opponent off the ground. In terms of technique, there are also specific moves such as cushioning, lifting, and grappling, depending on the circumstances and conditions. Wrestlers must know how to take full advantage of opportunities to throw or lift their opponent. Every year during the Lunar New Year and festivals, many villages in Nghe An province, such as Yen Thanh, Nam Dan, and Quy Chau districts, hold wrestling matches that attract a large number of wrestlers and spectators.
In mountainous and highland areas such as Tuong Duong, Quy Chau, Que Phong, Quy Hop, and Ky Son, traditional games like stick pushing, buffalo fighting, crossbow shooting, and throwing are considered popular sports that attract large numbers of participants and spectators. These games are deeply rooted in the culture of ethnic minorities. On joyous occasions in the villages, while the elders nod off and sip their wine, the young people eagerly flock to the village to participate in, or simply to watch, these traditional games.
The most lively, crowded, and exciting events are the stick-pushing competitions. Boys and girls stand around a circle marked with white lime to cheer on the boys competing. Whenever you see a crowd huddled together in a circle, sometimes sighing with regret, sometimes cheering with excitement, interspersed with the sound of drums, sometimes rapid, sometimes slow... that's definitely where the stick-pushing game is taking place.
Crossbow shooting is a typical game representing the martial traditions of ethnic minorities. Currently, in Nghe An province, many young men and women are enthusiastic about and skilled in crossbow shooting. Those participating in crossbow shooting competitions usually prepare very carefully before Tet (Lunar New Year). Participants are often renowned hunters and strong young men. Crossbow shooting competitions are usually held during Tet.
The game of throwing a ball involves tossing a ball through a circle high above the ground for someone on the other side to catch and throw back through the same circle. Some places even organize a dedicated ball-throwing area. It's usually held in the courtyard of a village temple. In some places, it's played in a large, high-ceilinged cave. In the middle of the area, a 9-meter-high bamboo (or rattan) pole is erected, with a 50cm diameter circle covered in red paper tied to the top. The ball throwers stand 9 meters from the pole, holding the string and swinging the ball three times clockwise. On the third swing, they release the string, allowing the ball to fly through the paper circle and pass to the person on the other side to catch and throw back. Each time the ball passes through the circle, the villagers watching cheer enthusiastically. This is a popular game enjoyed by people of all ages.
Besides the very popular sports mentioned above, many other traditional folk games with strong sporting elements are gradually being revived and attracting young people to participate, such as traditional martial arts performances, card games like "to tom diem," tug-of-war, swing games, cockfighting, and rice cooking competitions. Organizing traditional sports at the beginning of the Lunar New Year is an excellent way to transmit the traditional cultural and spiritual values of the nation to the younger generation, contributing to meeting and enhancing the recreational needs of the people, while preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Vietnamese nation in general and the people of each region in particular.
Thanh Thuy
