捶丸，“捶”即击打，“丸”即小球，是我国古代以球杖击球入穴的一种运动项目。关于捶丸最早的系统记载，见于元代宁志斋老人所著的《丸经》。它的诞生并非一蹴而就，而是经历了漫长的演变与融合。捶丸是中国古代比较后起的球类运动，被认为是一种高雅休闲的娱乐。
Chuiwan, meaning “to strike a ball,” was an ancient Chinese sport involving hitting a ball into a hole with a club. First detailed in the Yuan Dynasty’s “Manual of Balls,” its development was a gradual process of evolution. Considered a refined and leisurely pastime, Chuiwan emerged as one of the later ball games in ancient China.
中国的球类运动源远流长，球类萌芽可追溯到旧石器时代石球的应用，陕西南郑县（今汉中市南郑区）梁山出土的青灰色石球是我国迄今发现最早的石球，距今约100万年。石球最早被认为是用于狩猎器具或武器，而后从生产工具发展成为球类文体活动的重要器具，为古代球类运动的多样化演进与传承揭开序幕。
China’s ball sports have a deep-rooted history, tracing back to the Paleolithic era with the use of stone balls. The earliest known stone ball, discovered in Liangshan, Shaanxi, dates back around a million years. Initially tools or weapons, these stone balls eventually paved the way for a rich tradition of diverse ball games in ancient times.
梁山出土的旧石器时代石球
Stone balls from the Old Stone Age
excavated at Liangshan
原始人用石球狩猎（AI示意图）
Early humans using stone balls for hunting (AI illustration)
跳丸，又称“飞丸”或“弄丸”，是中国传统百戏之一，是杂技艺人用手熟练而巧妙地抛接球丸的一种表演。《丸经》作者认为跳丸是捶丸的缘起，跳丸所用陶球的制作，为捶丸后期的制作奠定了基础，虽然跳丸和捶丸没有直接的衍生关系，但跳丸的出现说明了我国古代先人对球类活动的喜爱及创造性开发。
Tiao Wan, also known as “Flying Balls,” is a traditional Chinese performance art where acrobats skillfully juggle balls. Although not directly related, it’s considered a precursor to Chuiwan. The craftsmanship of Tiao Wan’s clay balls laid the groundwork for later ball sports, showcasing the ancient Chinese love for creative ball games.
山东滕州西古村出土的东汉画像石上的跳丸表演
A depiction of a ball performance on an Eastern Han engraved stone unearthed in Xigu Village, Tengzhou, Shandong.
当手抛球的杂耍活动逐渐转变为以脚踢球，为蹴鞠的诞生创造了条件。中国古代的蹴鞠是足球的起源，传说在五千多年前的黄帝时代就创造了蹴鞠，“蹴鞠，传言黄帝所作（汉 刘向《别录》）”。汉朝是蹴鞠发展的高潮时代，不仅是休闲娱乐活动，也是军队的训练手段，拥有强对抗性与竞技性。
As juggling evolved into kicking, it paved the way for Cuju. Often regarded as the ancient origin of soccer, Cuju is said to date back over 5,000 years to the time of the Yellow Emperor. During the Han Dynasty, Cuju reached its peak, serving both as entertainment and military training due to its competitive nature.
【宋】 蹴鞠纹青铜镜 中国国家博物馆藏
[Song Dynasty] Cuju Pattern Bronze Mirror
Collected by the National Museum of China
【北宋】 苏汉臣《长春百子图》局部 台北故宫博物院藏
[Northern Song Dynasty] Su Hanchen
Partial of "The Hundred Children of Changchun"
Collected by the National Palace Museum in Taipei
【元】钱选 《宋太祖蹴鞠图》 局部 上海博物馆藏
[Yuan Dynasty] Qian Xuan
Partial of "Emperor Taizu of Song Playing Cuju"
Collected by the Shanghai Museum
【宋】白釉黑彩孩儿鞠球纹枕 河北省博物院藏
[Song Dynasty] White-glazed black-patterned baby's ball-playing pattern pillow.
Collected by the Henan Provincial Museum
马球，是骑在马上用球杖击球入门的球类运动。中国古代称为“击鞠”，始于汉代，与当时极为盛行的马术与广为流行的蹴鞠活动有一定的关系。东汉曹植《名都篇》以“连翩击鞠壤，巧捷惟万端”诗句记载早期马球活动。唐代马球被列为军事训练科目，章怀太子墓壁画《马球图》及唐代陶俑均展现其竞技场景。
Polo, known in ancient China as “Ji Ju,” is a sport played on horseback where players aim to score using a mallet. Originating in the Han Dynasty, it shares roots with the era’s popular equestrian activities and Cuju. The Eastern Han poet Cao Zhi captured its essence in his work, highlighting the sport’s skill and swiftness. By the Tang Dynasty, polo was part of military training, as depicted in murals and pottery like the famous “Polo Players” tomb mural.
唐章怀太子墓壁画《马球图》
The mural "Horseball Scene"
from the tomb of Emperor Tang Zhanghuai
唐 打马球俑
Tang Dynasty Polo Player Figurine
击鞠在唐代盛行，一度成为“唐代第一运动”，但由于在马背上的竞技过于危险，唐人将高大性烈的马换成了相对矮小，性格温顺的驴，这样既减少了风险，还保持了击鞠的竞技性和趣味性，使其在唐代宫廷女子中广为流行。至宋代，驴鞠已娱乐表演化。
In the Tang Dynasty, polo was a major sport, once called the “first sport of the Tang.” Due to its high risk on horseback, the Tang people replaced horses with smaller, gentler donkeys. This made the game safer while retaining its excitement, making it popular among court women. By the Song Dynasty, donkey polo had evolved into a form of entertainment.
唐朝女子驴鞠（AI示意图）
A Tang Dynasty woman playing Luju (AI illustration)
步打球是中国唐代兴起的徒步持杖击球运动，由马球演变而来，类似现代曲棍球球。参赛者使用弯月形球杖击打硬木球，两队以击球入门得分，采用“筹”计分规则，盛行于宫廷且男女皆可参与，寒食节常设表演赛。《宋史·礼志》记载：“步击者，乘驴骡击者，时令供奉者朋戏以为乐“。将在马或驴背上的运动转至地面，更加安全，老弱妇孺均可参与。
Originating in the Tang Dynasty, Walking Polo was a pedestrian adaptation of polo, resembling modern field hockey. Players used crescent-shaped mallets to hit wooden balls, scoring by hitting goals with a tally system. Popular in the courts, it was enjoyed by both men and women, with exhibition games often held during the Cold Food Festival. As noted in historical records, this ground-based version offered a safer alternative to horseback play, making it accessible to all, including the elderly, women, and children.
敦煌榆林窟15窟步打球壁画
The Walking Polo mural in Cave 15 of the Yulin Grottoes in Dunhuang
2025年8月世运会 非遗步打球展演
2025 August World Games
Traditional Artistic Ball Game - Walking Polo Performance
随着步打球运动的发展，其规则逐渐发生了变化。原本设置于地上的球门被改为挖地为穴的球窝，比赛场地中设有数个这样的球窝，以先将球打进球窝者为胜。这一规则与后来西方出现的高尔夫球有着诸多相似之处。后世将这一创新项目称作“捶丸”，并为此专门撰写了一本名为《丸经》的著作。
As Walking Polo evolved, its rules transformed. The original ground goal became a hole in the earth, with several of these “ball holes” set up in the playing field. The winner was the first to get the ball into the hole, similar to modern golf. This innovative version was called “Chuiwan,” and a dedicated manual titled “Wan Jing” was later written about it.
【宋】童子捶丸石刻画 泰安市博物馆藏
[Song Dynasty]
The stone carving of the child playing Chuiwan
Collected by Taian City Museum
【宋】捶丸图瓷枕（陈万里《陶枕》著录）
[Song Dynasty]
A porcelain pillow depicting the game of Chuiwan
(recorded in Chen Wanli's "Porcelain Pillows")
【元】《捶丸图》 山西广胜寺壁画
[Yuan Dynasty] "Chuiwan Painting"
Murals of Guangsheng Temple in Shanxi Province
【明】商喜 《宣宗行乐图》局部 北京故宫博物院藏
[Ming Dynasty] Shang Xi
Partial of "Illustration of Emperor Xuanzong's Entertainment"
Collected by the Palace Museum
从石球→跳丸→蹴鞠→击鞠→驴鞠→步打球，最后到捶丸，见证了我国古代球类运动为适应社会风俗和文娱需求的不断发展演变，是古人灿烂智慧，与时俱进的创新精神的展现。
六悦博物馆·六悦捶丸将以中国古代捶丸为范本，于博物馆呈现兼具传统与创新的捶丸活动场地，敬请期待！
From stone balls to jumping balls, cuju, kicking balls, donkey ball, walking polo, and finally chuiwan, the evolution of ancient Chinese ball games reflects the adaptation to social customs and entertainment needs. This progression showcases the brilliant ingenuity and innovative spirit of our ancestors.
Coming soon at Six Arts Museum: Experience the tradition and innovation of ancient Chinese Chuiwan on our newly designed - Six Arts Mini Golf. Stay tuned!
资料参考：
《中国古代陶瓷捶丸》科学出版社
《捶丸——中国古代的高尔夫球》上海古籍出版社
For more insights, check out “Ancient Chinese Ceramic Chuiwan” by Science Press and “Chuiwan: Ancient Chinese Golf” by Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing.
部分图片来源于网络，仅供参考。
Some images sourced from the internet are for reference only.