古代蹴鞠和现代足球

中国古代民间的足球，始于战国，至汉初，传入皇宫和军队，并作为锻炼士兵体魄的运动。唐朝把原来的实心球，改成用动物膀胱充气的皮球；又在球场中间竖立一座带网的球门，使比赛双方脱离了接触，降低了足球的攻防战术，转以娱乐性为主。中国足球的特点是，场地和人数不拘，男女人人都爱玩足球。明朝武术兴起，清朝提倡狩猎、射击等，足球遂进一步 衰落。欧洲足球起源于希腊时期，但现代式足球只有百余年历史，它的进展与殖民主义的兴 起同步。中国式足球是农耕民族的产物，西方足球是畜牧业转向资本主义的产物。此外，中西自然环境的差异，也不可忽视。

Ancient Chinese Cuju and Modern Soccer

The ancient Chinese type of soccer originated in the Warring States Period. It developed into a popular sport in the court and the military forces in the early Han Dynasty. The solid ball was replaced in the Tang Dynasty by an inflated animal bladder. A tennis goal was established at the center of the playground so that the game became less aggressive and developed into more of a modern idea of a game. The uniqueness of this type of a game was that it could be played anywhere all by any number of both men and women. With the rise of the martial arts and hunting, cuju was neglected. Modern Western soccer, though originated in the Greek time, has a history of only a hundred years and its development is closed related with colonialism. While the Chinese type of football are an invention of a cultural nation, Western soccer was the product of the historical shift for animal husbandry to capitalism.