Chinese Shuttlecock (Jianzi) 毽子

Chinese Shuttlecock (Jianzi) 毽子

Play, Kids, Sports

Jianzi is a traditional Chinese national sport in which players aim to keep a heavily weighted shuttlecock in the air by using their bodies, apart from the hands.

Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD)

Cuju

Palm size, Colourful

Craft

The method of making traditional shuttlecocks is as follows: Rooster feathers are tied together and inserted into the square hole of a coin which is then tightly wrapped by cloth and sewn. There are different kinds of shuttlecocks, some made of rooster feathers, some of hair, some of paper strips, and some of woolen threads.

Feathers, Cloth, Wool, Paper, Coins (traditional)

It was believed that it was first created for the Chinese military to have an enjoyable form of exercise. The popularity of the shuttlecock spread to the common people for leisure and recreational purposes

There are essentially four kicking techniques: "kicking with the inner side of the foot, with the leg bent inside; kicking with the outer side of the foot, with the leg bent outside; kicking backward with the heel; and kicking forward with the instep." Competitions are organized on the basis of the kicking technique. The traditional matches include number play, time play and variety play. Shuttlecock kicking is a good exercise for strengthening the whole body. It requires no special venue or equipment. The amount of physical exertion can vary from person to person. It is a good game for people of all age groups for improving flexibility, coordination and fitness..

In the early 1970s two Americans came up with a ‘new’ game which they called Hacky-Sack. Actually inspired by Jianzi, they formed a company, trademarked the game and the little sacks/balls they manufactured with which to play it.