Nina Caldwell
While golf is widely considered a Scottish invention, with the first recorded mention of the game dating back to 1457 in Scotland, there is a compelling argument that China invented golf centuries before it emerged in the West. A painting from the Ming dynasty, rendered in mineral pigments on silk, depicts a member of the imperial court swinging what appears to be a golf club at a small ball, with the apparent objective of putting it into a hole. This game, known as chuiwan in Chinese, which translates to hit ball, was played as early as the 11th century during the Song dynasty and featured in paintings as late as the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | China |
| Game | Golf |
| Chinese Argument | The Chinese played golf first |
| Evidence | "The Autumn Banquet", a Ming dynasty scroll |
| Evidence Location | A museum in Hong Kong |
| Earliest Reference | Nantang dynasty |
| Authority on the Subject | Ling Hongling, a professor of physical education |
| Supporting Evidence | Other art works, songs, an account of a 10th-century county magistrate teaching his daughter to play |
| Game Name | Chuiwan |
| Translation | Hit Ball |
| Earliest Date | 1271-1368 |
| Book | "Wan Jing" or "Manual of the Ball Game" |
| Book Description | First known guide to the game that seems a lot like golf |
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What You'll Learn
- The Autumn Banquet, a Ming dynasty scroll, depicts a man swinging a golf club
- Chuiwan, a game similar to golf, was played in China 1,000 years ago
- The earliest reference to golf in China can be traced to the Nantang dynasty
- A book, Wan Jing, published in 1282, is the first guide to a game like golf
- The Scots maintain that they invented golf, not China
The Autumn Banquet, a Ming dynasty scroll, depicts a man swinging a golf club
The Autumn Banquet is a Ming dynasty scroll that depicts a man swinging a golf club. The scroll is rendered in mineral pigments on silk and is believed to date back to as early as 1368. It shows a member of the imperial court swinging what appears to be a golf club at an object that resembles a golf ball. The objective seems to be to put the ball into a hole in the ground, similar to the modern game of golf. The painting illustrates Chinese people playing a game called "chuiwan," which translates to "hit ball."
The discovery of this scroll has sparked a debate about the origins of golf. Some argue that the game may have been invented in China and later spread westward, challenging the traditional notion that golf originated in Scotland. The scroll provides evidence that a game similar to modern golf was played in China centuries before the first recorded mention of golf in Scotland, which was in 1457 when it was banned by an act of Parliament under James II.
The Autumn Banquet scroll was exhibited for the first time outside mainland China at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in March 2006. Tom K.C. Ming, the chief curator at the museum, acknowledged the similarities between chuiwan and golf. He stated that the game depicted in the scroll included elements such as a green, a hole, and equipment similar to modern golf.
In addition to The Autumn Banquet scroll, there is other evidence that suggests a game similar to golf was played in ancient China. For example, a mural found in a temple dedicated to the water god in Shanxi Province, dating back to the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), also depicts courtiers swinging sticks. Furthermore, a book titled "Wan Jing," or "Manual of the Ball Game," published in 1282, is believed to be the first known guide to the game. It mentions that certain Song and Jin dynasty emperors enjoyed playing "hit ball," suggesting that the game may date back to the early 12th century.
While the evidence suggests that a game resembling golf was played in ancient China, the question of who invented golf remains a matter of debate and sensitivity for some. The exhibition "Ancient Chinese Pastimes," curated by Tom K.C. Ming, presents this information with diplomatic delicacy, acknowledging that the game of chuiwan is quite similar to modern-day golf.
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Chuiwan, a game similar to golf, was played in China 1,000 years ago
While golf as we know it today was first played in Scotland in the 15th century, there is evidence to suggest that a similar game was played in China as early as the 10th century.
Chuiwan, which translates to "hit ball" in Chinese, was a game played during the Song dynasty (960-1279) and featured in paintings as late as the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Players used ten clubs to hit wooden balls towards brightly coloured flags. Among these ten clubs was a cuanbang, equivalent to a modern-day driver, and a shaobang, equivalent to a three-wood or spoon. Royalty inlaid their clubs with jade, edged them with gold, and decorated the shafts elaborately.
The earliest reference to the game can be traced back to the Nantang dynasty, five centuries before the parliamentary act that first mentioned golf in Scotland. A description of the sport, written during the Song dynasty, has been found in a volume called the Dongxuan Records. The book refers to a Chinese magistrate instructing his daughter "to dig goals in the ground so that he might drive a ball into them with a purposely crafted wooden club".
Further evidence of Chuiwan's existence is provided by a Ming dynasty scroll called "The Autumn Banquet," which depicts a member of the imperial court swinging what appears to be a golf club at a ball, with the apparent object of putting it into a hole. Another painting from the same period, rendered in mineral pigments on silk by an artist named Youqiu, shows courtiers playing a similar game.
In addition to these artistic depictions, a book called "Wan Jing" or "Manual of the Ball Game," published in 1282, stands as the first known guide to the game that resembles golf. It outlines various rules, including the requirement for a non-flat playing surface, and notes that certain Song and Jin dynasty emperors enjoyed playing Chuiwan.
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The earliest reference to golf in China can be traced to the Nantang dynasty
The origins of golf have been a topic of debate, with the Scots widely credited with having invented the game. However, some argue that golf was first played in China centuries before it appeared in Scotland.
The earliest reference to golf in China can be traced back to the Nantang dynasty, according to Professor Ling Hongling of Lanzhou University. Professor Ling is considered the authority on the subject in China, and his scholarly writings provide compelling evidence to support this claim.
The professor's thesis mentions a game called "chuiwan," which translates to "hit ball." This game, featuring players using clubs to hit balls towards flags, became popular during the Song dynasty (960–1279) and was even depicted in paintings from the later Ming dynasty (1368–1644).
A description of chuiwan, written during the Song dynasty, can be found in the "Dongxuan Records." This text describes a magistrate teaching his daughter "to dig goals in the ground so that he might drive a ball into them with a club." The game was also mentioned in the "Wan Jing" or "Manual of the Ball Game," a book published in 1282 that provided rules and guidelines for playing "hit ball."
Beyond the written records, there is also artistic evidence to support the Chinese claim to the origins of golf. A Ming dynasty scroll, titled "The Autumn Banquet," depicts a member of the imperial court swinging what appears to be a golf club at a ball, with the apparent objective of putting it into a hole. This scroll, along with other artworks and songs, provides a glimpse into the Chinese version of the game that existed centuries ago.
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A book, Wan Jing, published in 1282, is the first guide to a game like golf
There is some evidence to suggest that a game similar to golf was played in China as early as the 11th century. The game, called "chuiwan" ("hit ball" in Chinese), was featured in paintings from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and was said to be played by Chinese emperors 1,000 years ago.
A book called "Wan Jing" or "Manual of the Ball Game" was published in 1282 and is believed to be the first guide to a game similar to golf. The book includes rules such as "the playing surface must not be flat" and notes that certain Song and Jin dynasty emperors enjoyed playing "hit ball", suggesting that the game dates back to the early 12th century.
"Wan Jing" was discovered along with a mural found in a temple dedicated to the water god in Shanxi Province, which dates back to the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). The mural depicts courtiers swinging sticks, similar to golf clubs, at what appears to be a ball.
The discovery of "Wan Jing" and the mural provides compelling evidence that a game similar to golf was played in China centuries before it was first mentioned in Scotland in 1457. While the Scots have been widely credited with inventing golf, the existence of chuiwan and the early written records discovered in China suggest that the game may have originated in China and spread westward.
The debate over the true origins of golf is likely to continue, but it is intriguing to consider the possibility that the game may have arisen independently in different parts of the world, as a natural evolution of human leisure pursuits.
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The Scots maintain that they invented golf, not China
The first recorded mention of golf in Scotland dates back to 1457 when it was banned by an act of Parliament under James II. This is nearly 100 years after the earliest evidence of chuiwan in China, which comes from a mural found in a temple in Shanxi Province dating to the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). However, it is important to note that chuiwan may have died out in China during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912), while golf as we know it today was first played in Scotland in the 15th century.
The Scots can also point to the fact that the first rules of golf were formalized in Scotland in 1744 by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in Muirfield. Ten years later, the Society of St Andrews Golfers was formed and became the governing body of the sport. St Andrews, a town in the Kingdom of Fife, has long been known as "the home of golf."
Additionally, while chuiwan was played with 10 clubs, golf as it evolved in Scotland has always been played with 14—a number that has been maintained to this day. This suggests that the Scottish version of the game was a significant development of any version played in China.
Finally, while the Chinese may have a claim to inventing a game similar to golf, the Scots can take credit for inventing one of the most important golfing traditions: the 19th hole, where players relax after a game with a drink.
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Frequently asked questions
There is evidence to suggest that a version of golf was played in China as early as the 11th century. A game called chuiwan (literally "hit ball" in Chinese) was featured in paintings from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and was mentioned in a book from the Song dynasty (960-1279).
A Ming dynasty scroll called "The Autumn Banquet" shows a member of the imperial court swinging what looks like a golf club at a golf ball with the apparent object of putting it into a hole. Other artworks, songs, and a 10th-century account of a county magistrate teaching his daughter to play a similar game also support the claim that golf originated in China.
The first recorded mention of golf in Scotland was in 1457 when it was banned by an act of Parliament under James II. The first rules of golf were drawn up by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers in 1744. Scotland is widely credited with inventing the game, and the town of St. Andrews in the Kingdom of Fife bills itself as "the home of golf."
Yes, there is some debate over whether China or Scotland invented golf. While the evidence from China suggests that a version of golf was played there centuries before it was mentioned in Scotland, the Scots argue that the Chinese game of chuiwan was not the same as the golf that they invented. The debate over who invented golf is a matter of national pride for both countries.
