Celebrating the Lunar New Year with You | An Appreciation of the Comic Series “One Hundred Scenes of Ancient Customs” (Part 13)

83. Women Kicking a Ball (Ming Dynasty)
 

Willow branches sprout green, then shed their yellow; children gather all day, as if in a frenzy.
 

With the empty clock struck, winter draws near; once again, the bustling crowd gathers at the shuttlecock‑kicking court.
 

——Qing Dynasty, Former Cause Layman, “New Songs from Below the Capital”
 

84. Flying a Kite (Ming Dynasty)

In the painting, do not gaze upon Guo Shuxian; with skillful artistry, he fakes a fluttering dance upon mere paper.
 

The shadow‑carving zither sways its twin ribbons, its sound halting the drifting clouds as it strikes a single string.
 

Sheltering from the rain, I alight on a fragrant meadow; riding the breeze, I roam through a sky of verdant willows.
 

At dusk, a figure leans by the tower’s edge, gazing into the distance, with an extra red lantern hung above.
 

— Yuan Dynasty, Xie Zongke, “Paper Kite”

85. Playing Top (Qing Dynasty)
 

On the fine Qingming day, willow branches hang low, and schoolchildren pick handfuls as they leave.
 

Early in the morning, I’ll take my parents to the gravesite, then seek out a quiet spot to play with a spinning top.

——Qing Dynasty, Li Fuqing, “Du Men Zhu Zhi Ci: Playing Tuo Luo”

86. Six Bo (Han)
 

Liu Bo, also known as Lu Bo, was a popular ancient Chinese board game played with dice and pieces. It derived its name from the six sticks used in the game, and victory was achieved by capturing all of one’s opponent’s pieces.
 

He repeatedly called out “five whites” and played liubo, dividing into teams to gamble over wine, their spirits soaring in high spirits.
 

— Tang Dynasty, Li Bai, “Ballad of Liang Garden”

87. Backgammon (Tang Dynasty)

Backgammon, an ancient gaming apparatus, is also a board game.
 

A single smile wins favor, and he is granted a crimson robe; yet when it comes to the affairs of state, he is utterly inept.
 

All my life I’ve mastered the art of Tan Gong; riding a horse along the frontier, I seem to fly.
 

——Ming Dynasty, Guo Deng, “Backgammon”

88. Swordplay and Cup-Treading Dance (Han)
 

Leaping like a ball, he squandered his sword; walking the tightrope, they met.
 

— Han Zhang Heng, “Ode to the Western Capital”