Rare Old

Chinese Miao games combine acrobatics with martial arts

Who are the Miao?

Residing in the mountainous south and southwestern China, the Miao ethnic group have a long history and splendid culture. Their embroidery, silver jewelry, and batik art is second to none in the world. Across the Miao areas, different groups have different customs, but there are some unique games which you may have never heard of.

Climbing a knife ladder

A Miao knife ladder is 12 meters high, with 72 knives as rungs. The Miao climbers will first cut a piece of cloth or their hair with the knives to prove how sharp they are.

The barefoot player then start to climb the ladder, while keeping their feet unhurt. While climbing, they will also show their acrobatic skills such as flips and somersault.

Walking on the flaming iron board

To start this game, an iron board has coals burned on it for over 1 hour and can reach temperatures over 800 degrees Celsius.

The unshod Miao player then treads onto the iron boards.Some smoke runs off his/her feet, but unbelievably their feet aren't injured.

Throw the iron boards into the water, which at once bubbles and a mist of white vapor ascends.

Horse fighting

Horse fights and horse races are all held on June 6 of the lunar calendar, to express the Miao wishes for a good harvest.

The exciting horse fighting games attract many people, young and old, to come and watch. Girls will dress up with beautiful silver ornaments like silver bracelets, as this is also a holiday for them to have fun.

Two fellows walk their horses into a large field, then the game begins. The two horses quickly start a war when they encounter. They bite and kick each other fiercely. After several fighting bouts, one horse is beaten and escapes, with the other pursuing after it.

The audience around the rink yell excitedly for the horses. At last, the winner will get a red cloth sash to decorate his body.

Horse races

Horse races are held on steep mountain roads. When the game begins, the rider keeps himself 5 or 6 meters away behind the horse.

The rider then runs and jumps onto the back of the horse, which then in turn starts to gallop immediately. For safety, the rider's legs have to be kept close to the body of the horse, as there is no saddle on the horse.

The race is really amazing. Besides receiving a reward, the winner will probably be able to capture the heart of the local girls.

The Miao have even more exciting games and sports, visit my website to learn more about Miao culture and silver jewelry here.

The Dubliners – In The Rare Old Times

Libbey Polaris Drinking Glasses and Tumblers, Set of 16 $26.99 16-piece set of drinking glasses with heavy, 1-inch-thick rounded bases that impart substance and stabilityWith 16 glasses total, the set includes eight tumblers and eight glassesThe glasses measure 2-3/4 by 2-3/4 by 6-1/2 inches and hold 16-1/4 ounces; tumblers are 3 by 3 by 4 inches and hold 12-1/4 ouncesLayers beautifully with a variety of dinnerware and table settings; crystal-clear glass cons…

Royal Albert 100 Years of Royal Albert Teacups and Saucers, Set of 5, 1900-1940 $202.98 As it embarks on a new century of fine china design, Royal Albert honors the artistic achievements of the one it has so faithfully chronicled with this stunning 100 Years of Royal Albert tribute collection. Employing classic shapes and delicate floral motifs, the 10-part series, which includes teaware, figurines, and brooches, recalls major British historical events and style trends from each deca…

Tupperware Ice Tups Popsicle Frozen Treat Makers NEW Rare $27.95 …

Abbey Road [Vinyl] $9.95 Sealed Limited Edition Mid 1990 s Reissue With Custom Sticker On Shrink Wrap Pristine Copy With The Original Tower Records 13 99 Price Tag On The Shrink Wrap…

Disney’s Greatest 1 $8.30 No Description Available.Genre: ChildrensMedia Format: Compact DiskRating: Release Date: 27-FEB-2001…

Hello Nasty $7.13 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Walt Disney’s Masterpiece) [VHS] $2.74 Walt Disney’s Classic Masterpiece movie. Comes in plastic protective case enjoyable entertainment for young and old….

Planet of the Apes 40th Anniversary Collection (Planet of the Apes / Beneath the Planet of the Apes / Escape From / Conquest of / Battle for) [Blu-ray] $79.99 Planet of the ApesBilled as a “reimagining” of the original 1968 film, Tim Burton’s extraordinary Planet of the Apes constantly borders on greatness, adhering to the spirit of Pierre Boulle’s original novel while exploring fresh and inventive ideas and paying honorable tribute to the ’68 sci-fi classic. Burton’s gifts for eccentric inspiration and visual ingenuity make this a movie that’s as e…

Beauty and the Beast (A Walt Disney Classic) [VHS] $2.00 A Walt Disney Classic movie, Beauty and the Beast is a childs redention of the classic story. comes in a plastic protective case and VHS tape plays good….

CH Hanson 03040 Magnetic Stud Finder $5.22 The Stud 4 Sure is a stud finder that uses powerful rare earth magnets to pinpoint the exact location of screws or nails in a stud. The tool doesn’t require batteries and never needs calibration. By keeping the tool free of moving or electronic parts, the Stud 4 Sure is easy to use and fits easily into any tool pouch. Just place the stud finder on the wall and sweep in an “S” pattern to loca…