Shuttlecock (Jianzi)

Kicking the shuttlecock is a traditional folk sport in China. The shuttlecock is made with feather, thread or paper. From young children to old people, almost everyone can enjoy the game. The bricks carved with images in Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) tombs show people kicking the shuttlecock. The game has been popular since ancient times, which is not surprising. Some ancient records describe the game as interesting and elegant as "admiring flying butter flies or a nimble swallow, picking lotus roots, searching for Chinese mei blossom in snow".
The shuttlecock is easy to make and play. Both the players and the audience enjoy the game. In parks and squares across the country, there are shuttlecock kickers almost every morning and dusk.
There is no international match for the game yet. But its influence on common Chinese is comparable with Olympian games. Playing the shuttlecock demands more skill than strength, which is just like table tennis, badminton, gymnastics and diving. Chinese people usually excel in such sports. Saving a shuttlecock that is about to fall on the ground with a dashing pose can bring the same pleasure as winning an Olympic game.