Tug of war is one of the folk games the Korean people have played since olden times.
It is introduced in old records including Tongguksesigi (book dealing with folk customs of Korea which was written in the first half of the 19th century) and Tonggukyojisungnam (geography book in the middle ages of Korea which was compiled in 1481).
The folk game was usually played on the fifteenth day of the first month by the lunar calendar, or on Chusok (the fifteenth day of the eighth month by the lunar calendar) according to regions.
According to the specific features of local areas, the rope was mainly made by twisting rice straw or arrowroot vines in those days, and it is said that the thickness and length of the original cord were decided by the scale of the match.
Since the original cord was too thick to be pulled by contestants, two or three metres of thin cords were connected at intervals of about one metre. They were called tongjjul.
According to Kim Son Yong, researcher at the Folklore Research Institute of the Academy of Social Sciences, children aged 12 to 13, divided into two teams, played tug of war game at first, which was called aegijuldanggigi, or pulling a thin rope, followed by the match of adults. On the morning of the contest day, the venue was packed with crowds from different villages.
The game is usually over in 20 to 30 minutes, and it was a custom that the winning team returned home and made a round of their village, carrying the rope on their shoulders and playing farm music, to demonstrate their power.
Though there are some differences in its scale and form, tug of war is one of the popular games enjoyed by all even today.
In the present-day tug of war match, scientific numerical values are introduced to maximize tensile strength, especially players’ posture, tensile angle and frictional force.
“The victory of the game hinges on how to concentrate the strength of players to the maximum,” said Ri Pyong Hun, researcher of the Sports Science Institute. “A number of technical factors exist, but the most important thing is the unity of collective. Therefore, tug of war is the most favourite one among the sports games of any class.”
More From Pyongyang Times
The US recently opened to public the political part of the “Mideast peace initiative” it has hyped as a “deal of the
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
The US recently opened to public the political part of the “Mideast peace initiative” it has hyped as a “deal of the
Local medical scientists developed a new remedy for ischemic cerebral apoplexy by combining traditional Koryo medicine with modern
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
Local medical scientists developed a new remedy for ischemic cerebral apoplexy by combining traditional Koryo medicine with modern
More than 210 schoolchildren’s palaces, halls of schoolchildren and Children’s Union camps have been built across the country
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
More than 210 schoolchildren’s palaces, halls of schoolchildren and Children’s Union camps have been built across the country
The Taedonggang Syringe Factory in the DPRK brought out a two-part retracting syringe.
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
The Taedonggang Syringe Factory in the DPRK brought out a two-part retracting syringe.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez on Feb 20 said on Twitter that the US’ sanctions harm the world trade and aggravate
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez on Feb 20 said on Twitter that the US’ sanctions harm the world trade and aggravate
The director-general of the World Health Organization recently said that the chance of restraining COVID-19 from spreading over
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
The director-general of the World Health Organization recently said that the chance of restraining COVID-19 from spreading over
Measures are being taken to radically improve general education in the DPRK. Detailed plans are drawn up to perfect the
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
Measures are being taken to radically improve general education in the DPRK. Detailed plans are drawn up to perfect the
All nurseries in the DPRK shut from Feb 24 as part of nationwide emergency steps to combat COVID-19.
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
All nurseries in the DPRK shut from Feb 24 as part of nationwide emergency steps to combat COVID-19.
The hygienic and anti-epidemic centres in Pyongyang intensify anti-epidemic work to prevent novel CoV infection. To cope with the
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
The hygienic and anti-epidemic centres in Pyongyang intensify anti-epidemic work to prevent novel CoV infection. To cope with the
Deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly set off on a study tour of the revolutionary battle sites in the area of Mt Paektu
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
Deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly set off on a study tour of the revolutionary battle sites in the area of Mt Paektu
Yonthan County in North Hwanghae Province has gathered dozens tons of Iris pallasii to use it as a raw material for paper.
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
Yonthan County in North Hwanghae Province has gathered dozens tons of Iris pallasii to use it as a raw material for paper.
Tokchon City in South Phyongan Province has carried out a project to draw spring water across the Taedong River in order to supply
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
Tokchon City in South Phyongan Province has carried out a project to draw spring water across the Taedong River in order to supply
The construction of a rayon pulp production process is pushed at the final stage at the Chongjin Chemical Fibre Mill in North
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
The construction of a rayon pulp production process is pushed at the final stage at the Chongjin Chemical Fibre Mill in North
Latin American regional online seminar "The Juche idea and self-reliance" took place in Brazil to mark the Day of the Shining Star
Pyongyang Times February 24, 2020
Latin American regional online seminar "The Juche idea and self-reliance" took place in Brazil to mark the Day of the Shining Star
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message on Feb 21 to Ho Jong Man, chairman of the Central Standing Committee of
Pyongyang Times February 23, 2020
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message on Feb 21 to Ho Jong Man, chairman of the Central Standing Committee of
According to information available, more than 470 million tree saplings needed for spring afforestation have been produced across
Pyongyang Times February 23, 2020
According to information available, more than 470 million tree saplings needed for spring afforestation have been produced across
The Sunchon Thermal Power Station is generating hundreds of thousands of kWh of more electricity than its plan every day.
Pyongyang Times February 23, 2020
The Sunchon Thermal Power Station is generating hundreds of thousands of kWh of more electricity than its plan every day.
A spokesman for the Palestinian president on Feb 20 said Israel’s building of Jewish settlements is a breach of international
Pyongyang Times February 23, 2020
A spokesman for the Palestinian president on Feb 20 said Israel’s building of Jewish settlements is a breach of international
Jagang Province is channelling big efforts into the production of greenhouse vegetables.
Pyongyang Times February 23, 2020
Jagang Province is channelling big efforts into the production of greenhouse vegetables.
The Sunchon Chemical Complex is striving to solve problems arising in the establishment of the C1 chemical industry by relying on
Pyongyang Times February 23, 2020
The Sunchon Chemical Complex is striving to solve problems arising in the establishment of the C1 chemical industry by relying on
More Articles
