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Tug-of-War in Asia

Tug-of-War in Asia

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Photo and Video

CambodiaRoyal plowing ceremony in Veal Preah Men located to the north of royal palace in Phnnom Penh.

CambodiaAn open space along the road in the village where the teanh prot was played.

CambodiaThe rope which was bought from the market and used in the teanh prot

CambodiaThe Teanh prot in Chres village,, Chikreng district, Siem Reap province.

CambodiaThe Teanh Prot in Kambor Or temple, Chikreng district, Siem Reap Province. The images shows two team of mixed age participants.

CambodiaA man and a woman were referees in the game. Image was taken in 2006. (The game was not played in this village this year.)

CambodiaValin holds the tail of the naga during the churning of the ocean of milk, end of 12th beginning of 13th centuries Banteay Chmar temple.

CambodiaBas-relief of the churning of the ocean of milk, end of 12th Angkor Wat temple.

CambodiaOne of the early lintel of end of 9th century temple of so-called Kutisvara, depicting the bas-reliefof churning of the ocean of milk.

CambodiaLintel of 12thcentury temple of Beng Mealea, depicting the churning act.

CambodiaSand-mountain, one of the ritual objects made during the New Year celebration.

CambodiaLintel of the 11th century Ek Phnom, depicting the tugging act between the gods and the demons.

PhilippinesSettlements and the rice fields of Hapao bisected by the river.

PhilippinesVines called a-e (Tinospora sp. ) and rice stalks are the materials used to make the kina-ag.

PhilippinesThe vine, a-e, is strong enough to withstand the forces of pulling during the punnuk.

PhilippinesEvery part of the kina-ag is securely tied with a-e vine.

PhilippinesHerminio Madiwo of Barangay Hapao shows off the almost finished kina-ag.

PhilippinesHerminio Madiwo completing the face of the tinaggu by putting the mouth made of knotted
a-e vine.

PhilippinesA hukup (cooked rice basket) is used as container for the food offerings sacrificed during the huowah, and the dried pig intestine called binodbod . The intestine came from the pig that was sacrificed during the dupag ritual (harvest ritual), hanged to dry and saved until the punnuk . The chicken and intestine are cooked together and are eaten before people go to the river for the tugging ritual. The pig’s intestine symbolizes the a-e vine used to strengthen the kina-ag.

PhilippinesWaving stalks of dong-a the contingent from Barangay Baang, coming from the southwest, was the first to arrive at the nunhipukana .

PhilippinesBearing an innovative anthropomorphic kina-ag, the contingent from Barangay Baang trail down to the river followed by supporting women and children.

PhilippinesArrival of participants from Nungulunan coming from the northwest bearing their symbolic kina-ag and the pakid decorated with dong-a leaves; while the rest waves the red leaves as they march to the river.

PhilippinesGirls from Barangay Baang wave the red leaves of the dong-a, believed to be attractive to the gods, as the symbolic kina-ag nears them.

PhilippinesBoys from Barangay Baang use a makeshift ladder to climb down from the dike going to the riverbank.

PhilippinesAt the venue, participants from Hapao (foreground) and Baang (across the river) prepare for the start of the punnuk .

PhilippinesThe munggopah from Hapao, wielding a spear and holding a dong-a stalk, chants a prayer before the start of the game to implore blessings from the gods.

PhilippinesThe hooks of the pakid are securely fastened to the kina-ag .

PhilippinesThe contending men secure the hooks of their pakid to the kina-ag.

PhilippinesA view upriver showing the rapids and the contending Barangays.

PhilippinesThe victorious group from Barangay Baang strains at their pakid with the kina-ag in their hands.

PhilippinesTwo pairs of pakid secured to the ring-like kina-ag .

PhilippinesSome men prefer to play the hangul or arm wrestling.

PhilippinesThe original site of the punnuk but due to the strong current, the actual tugging ritual was transferred to another part of the river where the water is less violent. Security ropes are strung across the river.

PhilippinesThe root hook of a pakid . Shaving parts of the pakid was not simply a decoration but to provide a better grip.

PhilippinesTwo participants hang on to the rope as the used kina-ag is swept downstream by the strong current.

PhilippinesA participant from Nungulunan holding a pakid .

PhilippinesMen from Barangay Nungulunan who were not able to participate in the actual tugging ritual with the other barangays decided to make use of their pakid, in their own tugging game sans the kina-ag at the actual site of the punnuk.

PhilippinesA participant from Barangay Nungulunan is seen holding a pakid while standing on a large rock on the western side of the river.

VietnamTug-of-war ground setting before the game started.

VietnamCord and ironwood stake at tug-of-war ground.

VietnamRattan cord used in Huong Canh tug-of-war festival must be at least 45m in length and has a diameter of 3-4cm.

VietnamGathering before get into a tug-of-war match

VietnamDong Nhat team on the ground

VietnamTien Huong - Dong Nhat match

VietnamThe rattan cord was tugged back and forth through a ironwood stake's hole

VietnamLeaning on the stake to reinforce their tugging strength

VietnamCheering up their team

VietnamWhen the cord got burnt

VietnamOverall view at the festival

VietnamHerbal warm water was used to soften players' hands

VietnamAward ceremony was hold right after the festival finished.

VietnamCertification of Recognition awarded for four teams of Huong Canh Tug-of-War festival in 2013.

VietnamAfter the rope is prepared, it is displayed in front of the communal house so that the villagers report to the tutelary god that preparation is finished.

VietnamThe rope is now removed from the communal house to the playground to start tug-of-war.

VietnamFour other men act as flag waving men wave the flag and go along the tugging team several rounds before the tugging competition starts.

VietnamPlayers settle their position on the playground.

VietnamAccording to custom, tug-lof-war of Huu Chap village are implemented three times. The team of the east side wins for the first competition, the team of the west side wins for the second competition, and for the third competition, all the visitors join and support the contenders of the West side team to gain victory. It is believed that a win from the team of the east side will bring favourable weather and therefore a good havest because it is the direction of the sunrise.

VietnamThe team from the east (the direction of the sunrise) customarily wins the game, representing the beliefs for favorable weather and a bumper harvest.

Video on Tugging Rituals and Games in Cambodia, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Viet Nam