【TOUHU】
Chinese Traditional Folk Sports
Touhu is a traditional activity that involves throwing arrows into a pot. It is an extension of archery, one of the six arts in ancient China.
Through the pot-throwing competition that combines traditional skills with emerging sports, students can learn about ancient etiquette, experience the spirit of mutual courtesy and piety among people, and face today's fiercely competitive society with the demeanor of a gentleman.
Touhu's Features
why Touhu are so popular!!!
Pursuing projection accuracy
Games to add entertainment to parties
Physical exercise: (1) Repeatedly draw the bow and arrow (strength training)
(2) Make the brain more focused (increase the function of the nervous system and improve reaction speed)
Touhu Equipment
Pot, Arrow
Pot
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Usually made of copper
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Wide body, narrow mouth, with two handles on the sides
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The height of the pot is 1 foot 2 inches, and the diameter of the mouth of the pot is 2.5 inches.
Arrow
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Generally made of wood, but nowadays mainly made of plastic safety arrows
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The total number of arrows depends on the number of participants. Each person has four arrows per round, and each person takes turns to shoot a round.
Touhu Court
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A generally flat outdoor area will suffice.
Starting Setup
Traditional Rules
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Equipment: A pot (wide belly, long neck, narrow mouth, ears on both sides, about 28 cm high, mouth about 6 cm wide) and arrows (without arrowheads, length depends on the venue, about 46–83 cm).
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Placement: The pot is placed opposite the host and guest, at a distance of "two and a half arrows."
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Participants: Each player has four arrows per round; the host stands on the left, the guest on the right.
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Etiquette: The host and guest must invite each other three times with courtesy before starting.
Modern Simplified Gameplay
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Use plastic or wooden safe pots and arrows; pots may have multiple scoring zones.
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Number of participants is unlimited; pot distance can be adjusted according to age (commonly 1.5–2 meters).
1
Basic Gameplay
Traditional Rules
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Participants take turns throwing arrows into the pot.
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The higher-ranking person may place the arrows on the ground and pick them up one by one to throw; the lower-ranking person must hold the arrows while throwing.
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Each player throws four arrows per round, and scoring is done after all arrows are thrown.
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The arrow must enter the pot with the front end first to be valid; if the tail enters first, it is invalid.
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Throwing order must not be rushed or consecutive; otherwise, even if the arrow hits, it will not count.
Modern Simplified Gameplay
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Each player has 4 arrows per round, taking turns to throw.
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Multiple pots can be set up, with different pots having different scores, or obstacles can be added for fun.
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Arrows entering the pot score points; misses score zero.
2
Winning Conditions
Traditional Rules
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The first arrow in is called "You Chu" (First Hit), scoring 10 points; the second and third arrows each score 5 points; the fourth arrow in is called "You Zhong" (Last Hit), scoring 20 points.
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If the first arrow misses but the second, third, and fourth arrows all hit, an extra point is added, called "San Jian" (Scattered Arrows).
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If no arrows enter the pot, it is called "Yi Gan" or "Dao Zhong" (leaning or inverted), no points are awarded.
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After all four arrows are thrown, the total score is calculated; the higher score wins. The game is best of three rounds, and the first to win two rounds is the final winner.
Modern Simplified Gameplay
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The player with the most hits or highest score wins.
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Time limits, arrow limits, or team competitions can be set.
3
Touhu Rules
Fouls
Traditional Rules
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Incorrect throwing order (rushing or consecutive throws) results in no points even if the arrow hits.
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Arrows entering tail first (inverted) do not count.
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Throwing without following the prescribed distance or posture invalidates the arrow.
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Traditionally, losers or those who commit fouls must drink a cup of wine as punishment.
Modern Simplified Gameplay
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Throwing out of turn, crossing the line, or violating safety rules are fouls, and the arrow is invalid.
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Penalties can be set (e.g., re-queueing, losing a throw).