Equestrian Skills — Vigour of the Dragon and Horse, Galloping a Thousand Miles
In the pre-Qin era (before 221 BCE), mastering horse riding was essential for a nobleman. During the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties, many emperors within the Forbidden City were skilled riders, especially in the Qing dynasty, since the empire was “won” on horseback. Riding and archery became mandatory courses for the imperial princes to ensure that future rulers remembered their ancestors' toil and bravery. To support this, the imperial palace established stables and horse-training institutions like the Imperial Mews and the Court of Imperial Steeds.
Many paintings from the Qing court depict horses, as emperors would often showcase their riding skills during hunting seasons. They would venture to the Mulan Hunting Ground or imperial gardens to display their equestrian abilities alongside Mongolian chieftains, observing performances from the Eight Banners soldiers. Some stood on horseback to shoot arrows, performed handstands on horseback, juggled as pairs on galloping horses, or played flutes while riding—astonishing manoeuvres that dazzled all spectators.
Chuiwan — Emperor Xuande’s “Golf”
Known for its formalities, golf is often referred to as a gentleman’s sport. But did you know that centuries ago, a similar game involving striking balls into holes was popular in the Forbidden City? Emperor Xuande (r. 1425–1435) of the Ming dynasty was an enthusiast of this game, called chuiwan (ball-hitting), which was particularly loved by the nobility and bore striking similarities to golf.
Emperor Xuande rarely participated personally in most recreational activities. Instead, he enjoyed having scenes of himself watching the games painted into artworks. But for chuiwan, he couldn’t resist joining in for a round himself. Look! On the imperial field, the ground was meticulously levelled, with no obstacles. Flags marked the distant holes, and the clubs were neatly arranged on a pavilion’s table, overseen by attendants. Several eunuchs served as "caddies", presenting clubs to the emperor—a scene closely resembling modern golf!
Dragon Boat Race — Splitting the Waves, Racing for Centuries
Though dragon boat racing wasn’t originally a custom of the Qing rulers before they took control of the Central Plains region, they quickly grew fond of it thereafter. In 1725, after the renovation of the Old Summer Palace, Emperor Yongzheng (r. 1722–1735) often resided there while managing state affairs. Every Dragon Boat Festival, a dragon boat race would be held on Fuhai Lake within the Old Summer Palace. To add to the spectacle, the emperor, empress, princes, ministers, and consorts would dress in traditional Han attire, creating a unique and vibrant scene.
One painting of the Emperor Yongzheng’s Leisurely Activities in Twelve Months series depicts Emperor Yongzheng personally overseeing a dragon boat race during the Dragon Boat Festival: Several ornately decorated boats raced across the lake, and athletes performed breath-taking acrobatic movements atop the high tails of the dragon boats. The race was not only an intense and thrilling competition but also an entertaining spectacle. "Splash! Splash!" Two leading dragon boats each had a team member leap into the water, vigorously competing to catch a frantic duck. Emperor Yongzheng sat in a high pavilion overlooking the water, savouring fragrant tea while enjoying this extraordinary dragon boat race alongside his consorts.
Cuju — Consummate Football Skills in China
Cuju, recognized worldwide as the ancient Chinese form of football, was a popular pastime among the common people and nobles alike. It was also used in military training.
Ancient cuju had two styles: Zhuqiu (with goals): In this style, players were responsible for passing the ball, while the team captain (called qiutou) aimed to shoot the ball into a goal approximately three feet high and one foot wide. If the shot missed but was caught by a teammate, he could pass it back to the qiutou for additional attempts. However, if the ball touched the ground, it was considered a loss, and possession would switch to the opposing team. Baida (without goals): This style of game judged victory or defeat based on the complexity and difficulty of the kicking techniques. It could be played anywhere, with two to ten participants. The playing method resembled the later game of shuttlecock kicking.
Emperor Xuande once held a cuju match where players competed in the baida style: Both teams took their positions, showcasing an air of calm confidence while performing dazzling tricks to impress the emperor with their newly mastered movements. The display was mesmerizing, with unexpected feints and comical gestures that had Emperor Xuande clapping and laughing in delight. The leather ball moved back and forth under their feet, and after hundreds of rounds, the match was still too close to call.
Archery — Bow Bent as the Crescent, Arrows Swift as Meteors
The Manchu people, known for their martial prowess, established their dynasty on horseback and by the bow, and successive Qing emperors upheld the traditions of horsemanship and archery. The Forbidden City’s archery pavilion and field witnessed generations of skilful archers. By the late Qing dynasty, as modern firearms replaced bows, archery transformed into a sport, losing its military significance and laying the groundwork for modern archery in China.
Look! In the Chengde Mountain Resort, Emperor Qianlong (r. 1735–1796) was practising archery. The arrow was already nocked, and he was about to shoot. Known for his exceptional skill, Emperor Qianlong often hit the bullseye with a single shot. Consequently, three attendants took turns resetting the target, while another guard, holding the retrieved arrows, jogged back to the shooting point. Behind the emperor stood a row of guards, one of whom had already stepped forward, holding an arrow respectfully, ready to present it at any moment.
Ice Games — Emperor Qianlong’s Ice-Skating Party
Emperor Qianlong repeatedly emphasised establishing ice games as a national custom, demonstrating the Qing court’s deep affection for the sport. After the Winter Solstice, when the cold gripped the land, the Taiye Pond to the west of the Forbidden City froze into a vast ice mirror. Accompanied by officials and guards, the emperor sat on a luxurious, ship-shaped ice sledge, gliding from the lakeshore to the ice field.
The Eight Banners soldiers, wearing ice skates and waiting in formation, were already eager to join! Beyond the speed skating competition (known as qiangdeng) and ice polo (called qiangqiu), the highlight was the team figure skating performance by the Eight Banners soldiers. Three colourful ceremonial gates were erected on the ice. Athletes from the Eight Banners entered one by one along a curved course, skating through the gates while performing intricate movements to showcase their skills. Some danced while spinning staves, others performed human pyramids in pairs, and others shot arrows at decorative balls while gliding—all kinds of figure skating tricks dazzled the spectators.
After each round of ice games, joyous rewards followed. Exceptional winners received special prizes from Emperor Qianlong himself. Inspired by the spectacle, the emperor often composed poetry on this event, engaging in literary exchanges with his ministers before returning to the imperial palace, satisfied and delighted.
Wrestling — Soaring and Leaping like Dragons and Tigers in the Arena
In the Qing dynasty, Italian court painter Giuseppe Castiglione (Lang Shining) depicted the wrestling scene in his painting Four Events of the Banquet in the Frontier Regions. The artwork portrays Emperor Qianlong hosting a banquet for civil and military officials, as well as Mongolian princes and envoys, at the Garden of Myriad Trees (Wanshu yuan) in Chengde, during which the Shanpuying (Official Wresting Troupe) performed the buku (Manchu word for wrestling) game. At the top of the painting is Emperor Qianlong's imperial inscription. According to his notes, Qing palace wrestling mainly featured two styles:
Manchu Wrestling: Practiced by the Qing dynasty's native Manchu people. Wrestlers, known as buku, wore short-sleeved garments with rolled-up cuffs, boots, and no hats. Victory was achieved by throwing the opponent to the ground. Winners were rewarded with wine.
Mongolian Wrestling: Practiced by the Mongols. Wrestlers, known as buke, competed barefoot and hatless, with their upper bodies bare. Victory required forcing the opponent’s head and shoulders to fully touch the ground. Winners were rewarded with mutton.
The painting Four Events of the Banquet in the Frontier Regions features three pairs of wrestlers in action. Their attire and movements vividly reflect these two distinct wrestling styles.