“Walking on snow” and “picking pearls” of Manchu Ethnic Group

There are many sports and entertaining activities in Manchu folk. “Walking on snow” and “picking pearls” are two of them.

“Walking on snow” is a kind of traditional woman sports. The participants should wear Cheongsam and mandarin shoes to take part in walking race and who arrives first is the winner. It is called “walking on snow”, because walking with mandarin shoes is like walking on snow.

“Picking pearls” is also a kind of traditional sports. It was popular in the northeast China. The rules of the game: the participants are divided into two groups and there are six persons in each group. The ground is quadrate. The two sides of midline are in turn water area, limited area, block area and score area. One goal means a “pearl”. In each group, there is a person playing the part of “fishing net”. With a net in hand, he catches the ball (fishes peals) in the score area. There are still two persons playing the part of “clam” in each group. With a clam-shaped wooden beat in hand, they stand in front of the “fish net” of the opponents and intercept the ball cast into the “fish net”. The other three persons are the “pearl divers” and launch into “water” (the intermediate range) to scramble for “pearls ” against the opponents. When they get the ball, they should endeavor to avoid the interception of opponents and cast the “pearl” into the “fish net” of their own group. Each goal (picking a pearl) means a score. Ten scores terminate an inning. Winner and loser are decided in three innings.

Pearls, “Nichuhe” in Manchu, are regarded as the symbol of brightness and happiness. It is said that the Manchu women ancestors once picked pearls in Mudan River and this sports came into being by imitating this kind of activity. The sports equipment is very simple and doesn’t have strict requirements of ground. It is suitable to carry on in the folk and is very popular. Up to now, it is still popular in the inhabiting region of Manchus.