Culture insider: China, birthplace of football (3)

Interesting facts about cuju:

1. Many emperors were football fans in ancient China

Throughout the country's long history, many Chinese emperors were big fans of cuju, such as Cao Cao, lord of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280), Liu Bang and Liu Che, emperors during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), Li Shimin and Li Longji, emperors during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

Emperor Hangaozu Liu Bang, the first emperor of the Western Han Dynasty was a cuju fan, who not only liked watching cuju games, but always tried his footwork on the playground.

Liu Che, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, who was crazy about cuju, would establish a cuju court wherever his army arrived during the war. He used cuju as a way of training soldiers.

The painting portrays Emperor Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty watching and taking part in a cuju game. [Photo/Palace Museum]