About:
Whether played competitively on a court, or as a fun group game, the sport
of "Jianzi" is an incredibly popular hobby across China for people of all ages. The
aim of the game is to keep the heavily weighted shuttlecock in the air using all
parts of the body other than the hands. Many
streets and parks in China feature large groups
of people taking part in the game, showing
their skills as they aim to keep the shuttlecock
in the air as long as possible. Particularly
skilled players use special moves such as the
back heel and overhead kick to impress
spectators.
The shuttlecock itself, also known as a
"Chinese hacky sack" or "kinja", typically has
four feathers attached at the base by a number
of washers, weights, or coins to give it the
weight required. The combination of heavy
and light materials creates the perfect balance
to ensure an accurate movement. Due to the
widespread availability and low cost of the materials used to create the shuttlecock,
Jianzi can be enjoyed by people of all backgrounds throughout the country.
As a formal game, Jianzi is played on a court similar to that of badminton
and involves either individuals or teams trying to keep the shuttlecock off the
ground and over the net. However most popularly played as a fun group game,
Jianzi is a very social sport involving large numbers of people of all ages making it
an important part of Chinese social culture.