A Game Derived from Archery

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:06 am

With the encouragement of some friends in Hong Kong, I am assembling some material about the ancient game of touhu (Chinese 投壶, Japanese tsubo-uchi.)

The game was played in Asia from the Chinese Spring and Autumn period (around 700BCE) and disappeared in China after the Ming Dynasty.

To play the game, two or more players tossed arrows (or arrow-shaped wooden dowels) into a narrow-necked pot.

References in 'Games People Play'. E&J Frankel Ltd. NY, 1999. Transactions of the Oriental Ceramics Society lecture by Isabelle Lee, Oct. 20 1991. 'Album of Ancient Sports Art in China', Ciu Leqian, Beijing 1999.

I attach a Song Dynasty explanation of the game in Chinese. from Shi Lin Guang Ji. (事林广记)

Thomas Duvernay · Post by **Thomas Duvernay** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:13 am

In Korean, it's pronounced 'tuho'; similar, as it was from the same Chinese characters. It was traditionally played in royal palaces and such in centuries past, but can still be found today, both in archery settings and also various festivals.

Here's my son playing it a year ago, at the full moon festival in Kyongju:

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:24 am

Thomas, can we (a) get a set of the rules as used in Korea and (b) get a set of the equipment?

S.

Thomas Duvernay · Post by **Thomas Duvernay** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 1:57 pm

I'm sure that will be no problem.

T

A Game Derived from Archery

A Game Derived from Archery

Tuho