Sports is a language that transcends national boundaries, cultures, and eras, and is an indispensable part of human activities. Through the collection of tens of thousands of precious sports cultural relics, the author gradually realized the profound differences between Chinese and Western sports cultures. Chinese sports emphasize leisure and recreation and self-cultivation, and regard sports as a way to promote physical and mental health and harmonious development. Comparatively speaking, Western sports focus on competition and combat, and its cultural atmosphere is mainly centered on sports competition and military struggle. This cultural difference may stem from China's vast land, abundant products, and relatively comfortable and self-sufficient environment. In contrast, Europe has a more significant competitive character due to the small size of the land and the scarcity of people, and more emphasis on fighting and competition.
Therefore, through these cultural relics, we not only see the differences in form, but also have a deeper understanding of the unique pursuit and value connotation of Chinese and Western cultures for sports.
Ancient Chinese Sports: Instinctive Harmony and Harmony
As one of the important birthplaces of sports in the world, China's sports tradition is rooted in primitive society, and human beings have gradually formed basic sports forms such as walking, running, jumping, climbing, and fighting in the process of coexistence and symbiosis with heaven and earth. With the progress of society, sports activities have gradually evolved into various forms such as folk games, leisure and entertainment, health care, school education, and military skills training. The 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization has given birth to a variety of ancient Chinese sports, and the Chinese nation has gradually evolved a variety of physical and mental activities in activities such as entertainment games, labor production, etiquette education, military operations, health preservation, and folk festivals. The archery in the Western Zhou Dynasty was as famous as the Greek athletics, the beginning of the Warring States Period opened the end of football, the Han Dynasty flourished, the Wei and Jin dynasties developed health culture, the Tang Dynasty people were keen on polo, the two Song Dynasty Keju was popular, the Song and Yuan dynasties were well-known for the pill movement, the martial arts schools in the Ming and Qing dynasties were in full bloom, and the chess games and various amusement arts and customs were enjoyed together.
In ancient China, sports is not only a way of exercising, but also a way to pursue physical and mental harmony, since ancient times, our people have a desire to pursue physical fitness, longevity and longevity, up to the emperor, down to the people have such a dream. The ancients exercised their bodies through various forms of exercise, cultivated skills, and pursued peace and harmony of the mind. Sports activities in the military focus on soldiers' physical fitness and combat skills, while physical education in schools develops physical and mental coordination and cooperation. At the same time, folk games and recreational activities provide a relaxed and enjoyable way for people to maintain their physical health. Overall, ancient Chinese sports culture centered on the pursuit of harmony between body and mind.
The collections exhibited in the ancient sports exhibition hall of Beijing Xiang Sports Museum have been specially identified by the State Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee, the Beijing Municipal Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee, the Beijing Municipal Cultural Relics Entry and Exit Appraisal Institute, the Palace Museum, the National Museum, and the Capital Museum, as well as experts from the Expert Committee of the China Collectors Association, collectors and antique shop veterans to conduct special appraisals and identify them as historical objects. In line with the principle of no exhibition in doubt and no exhibition of replicas, Beijing Xiang Sports Museum has made a conservative mark of "low or high" for the specific historical age of each ancient collection. In the collection of cultural relics in the Beijing Xiang Sports Museum, wooden tops, pottery figurines from the Han Dynasty, and bronze mirrors for playing polo in the Tang Dynasty highlight the unique pursuit of body, movement and health in ancient Chinese sports. Through various forms of artistic expression, these cultural relics emphasize the philosophical concept of "the unity of nature and man", and regard sports as a means of self-cultivation and health improvement. The author combines several ancient sports cultural relics collected by our museum to analyze China's sports culture.
One of the treasures of our museum is the wooden and stone gyroscope of the Neolithic period, which has a history of about 5,000 years. Wooden spinning top is a traditional toy in ancient China, but also a tool for physical exercise, the spinning top in the process of rotation requires skillful human control, cultivating hand-eye coordination and body balance. This toy is not only a joyful companion in childhood, but also a carrier that promotes the harmonious development of the body through relaxed physical activities, and its harmonious beauty is reflected in the harmony and unity between people and toys, sports and entertainment.
Another representative cultural relic is the Han Dynasty Qigong terracotta figurines, which embody the ancients' pursuit of balance between the inside and outside of the body with their stretching movements and qigong integrated with the philosophy of Tai Chi. The terracotta figurines demonstrate the Han Dynasty's unique understanding of qigong exercise, combining the strength of the body with breathing, focusing on the flow of energy within the body. Through these historical relics, the important concept of "qi" in ancient Chinese culture is embodied, emphasizing the harmonious resonance between the body, nature and the universe.
IOC Vice President Samaranch Jr. and other IOCs experience the traditional Chinese sport - pot throwing.
The pottery and copper pitcher of several dynasties was an ancient sporting pastime that required participants to throw the pot with force and accuracy. This kind of game not only exercises the coordination and strength of the body, but also cultivates social skills in entertainment, and during the pitching process, participants need to remain calm and concentrated, reflecting the coordinated development of body and mind, which reflects the unity of body and mind in ancient Chinese sports, and the pursuit of comprehensive and harmonious development.
The Han Dynasty hundred opera acrobatic terracotta figurines unearthed in the author's hometown of Jinan are a cultural relic with important historical and cultural value, and the Han Dynasty hundred opera terracotta figurines collected by the Beijing Xiang Sports Museum tend to focus on sports, through the cultural relics, we can get a glimpse of the ancients' entertainment methods on different occasions, with vivid images and a variety of performance forms, such as singing and dancing, acrobatics, drama, etc., showing the entertainment life of the ancients and the unique pursuit of art.
As one of the outstanding representatives of traditional Chinese martial arts, Taijiquan is unique in the field of martial arts with its unique rhythm and the concept of both internal and external training. Through slow but powerful movements, the principle of both internal and external cultivation, and the cultivation of willpower, Tai Chi is not only a practice of martial arts skills, but also a profound philosophy of life, harmony and cultivation. In modern society, the value of Tai Chi has become even more evident, providing a valuable cultural heritage for those who seek physical and mental health and inner balance.
Through the analysis of the above cultural relics, the uniqueness of ancient Chinese sports is that they often incorporate elements of literature, art, philosophy and other levels. Through the ancient sports relics, we can see the unique pursuit of physical and mental harmony in ancient Chinese sports, and this harmonious beauty runs through all aspects of ancient Chinese sports culture. These cultural relics embody the concept of human beings pursuing harmony, health and balance in sports activities, and are a vivid portrayal of the rich and colorful sports culture of Chinese civilization.
Here, the author also shares his cognition and views on sports. According to the collections of many museums, sports originated from the competition of swords, guns and halberds, and were the product of military and struggle. However, over the years, through my personal collection of sports collections, I have gained a new perspective and understanding of the origins and purpose of sports. In my opinion, sports itself originated from human nature, and originally originated from children's instinct for entertaining games, such as hiding cats, rolling hoops, playing spinning tops, wrestling and other games. Adults do exercises based on their physical condition, such as stretching their arms, kicking, bending over, and other exercises. Therefore, I believe that the ultimate purpose of sports is not war or competition, but entertainment, a way to promote the harmonious and healthy development of body and mind. As Wang Wei wrote: "The juju repeatedly passes over the birds, and the swings compete in the weeping poplars." "Many sports activities in ancient China have flourished for thousands of years and have been passed down from generation to generation, forming a sports culture with distinctive national characteristics and oriental charm.
Ancient Western Sports: Advocating StruggleHeroism withThe charm of competition
Ancient Western sports put more emphasis on competition, combat and individual heroism, and sports relics highlight the charm of competition, which is in stark contrast to the restrained harmony of ancient Chinese cultural relics. In ancient Greece, the apparatus and sculptures of sports activities demonstrated the celebration of strength, courage, and individual heroism, reflecting the heritage of individual heroism, courage, and competition in ancient Greek culture.
There are many reasons for this competitive style. From the perspective of geographical conditions, ancient Greece is located at the junction of Europe, Asia and Africa, with a long and tortuous coastline, and the uniqueness of its geographical location has promoted its cultural characteristics of openness, adventure and competition. These characteristics were deeply integrated into the sports culture of the ancient Greeks, making competitive sports a part of life. At the same time, the influence of religion has to be mentioned, the most famous sports event in ancient Greece - the Olympia Games was a regular sports competition held for the worship of Zeus in the early days, a kind of sports and religious celebration, not only a sports competition, but also a religious ceremony, including the temple worship, sacrificial ceremonies and artistic performances.
In addition, the ancient Greek citizen army system required all men to be soldiers and to develop strong bodies for war. Therefore, the city-states adopted a variety of sports to train talents to meet the needs of war. This makes competitive sports not just a recreational activity, but also a form of warfare and military training. In the education system of ancient Greece, the main content of sports included running, jumping, javelin throwing, discus throwing, wrestling, meat games, horseback riding and swimming, dancing and ball games.
Western sports artifacts vividly illustrate the ancient West's deep focus on athletics, warfare, and competition, as well as the relentless pursuit of honor, courage, and victory. This competitive charm has influenced the development of Western culture and left a deep imprint on ancient sports artifacts. For example, ancient Greek clay pots often depicted people engaging in various sports such as running, wrestling, and boxing. These images clearly show that in ancient Greek society, sports were not only a form of entertainment, but also an important part of warfare and military training, and the depictions on clay pots highlight the strength, skill, and dedication to the spirit of competition of individual athletes. As the birthplace of the Olympic Games, ancient Greece attached great importance to Olympic medals, which vividly illustrated the symbolism of sports competition in ancient Greek culture, as they were not only a simple reward for sports achievements, but also symbolized individual courage and the glory of victory.
The Colosseum was a famous sports venue in ancient Western times, mainly used for fights between gladiators and fights between beasts. This shows that in ancient Rome, sports were closely linked to war and death. The design and content of the arena highlight the frenetic quest for duels, battles and victories, emphasizing individual heroism and symbols of strength. In the museums of Ancient Greece and Rome, you will find numerous statues that vividly illustrate the ancient Greek and Roman culture's reverence for strength, courage and war. The statue outlines the image of a warrior with exquisite muscle lines and heroic posture, closely combining sports and war, and shaping a hero-like appearance. This is a clear reflection of the concept of the close association between sport and combat in ancient Western culture, and has become a unique expression of individual heroism.
Ancient Greece regarded sports as athletics and warfare, and this can also be seen in the field of literature. The ancient Greek philosopher Socrates repeatedly emphasized that success in anything is inseparable from a strong body and spirit, and he especially emphasized the training of the body through perseverance and hard work, so that it can become a slave to the spirit. Similarly, Plato, another ancient Greek philosopher, believed that participation in physical exercise could purify the soul and obtain moral upliftment, and he advocated that young men and women should receive rigorous physical education and education as a way to become excellent patriots.
Conclusion
By comparing the ancient sports relics of China and the West, we can not only observe the differences in form, but also dig deeper into the inner spiritual pursuit of the two major cultures of the East and the West. The development of sports in ancient China has gradually developed through the baptism and integration of different periods, not only the traditional sports activities of the Han nation, but also the sports culture of many other ethnic minorities that have taken root, blossomed and borne fruit in the land of China. In the process of development, these sports activities have integrated the spirit of harmony and simplicity of traditional Chinese culture, and integrated sports into many fields such as literature, art, and philosophy, forming a unique cultural tradition. At the same time, the integration of sports and recreational activities has made the entertainment, interest and game of ancient Chinese sports more obvious. The long-term indisputable character of the Chinese nation has also contributed to the unique characteristics of health care technology, and has gradually become an important form of sports activities in ancient China in the process of development, forming a typical oriental sports culture.
Ancient sports in the West are not only a vivid embodiment of the love of competition and the pursuit of individual heroism, but also a profound reflection of the social and cultural background of the time. Among these artifacts, sport is given a more independent and autonomous status, beyond the level of simple physical exercise and maintaining health, sport is not just a recreational activity, it is seen as a combination of mental and physical strength, a way to show personal courage, strength and willpower. Behind this culture is the passion for competition and the glory of defeating opponents, and these elements have become the core values of Western sports culture.