With Loyola’s International Night coming up February 28, it is prime time for a highlight on what the Chinese club is doing.

The club is going to be performing an interactive show that utilizes a “Jianzi,” also known as a shuttlecock or a hackey-sack. The jianzi has a weighted bottom, adorned with brightly colored feathers.

The point of the game is to keep it in the air, without using your hands, and also using mostly your feet. It can be played on a court with official rules, or just a casual game in the park. It is easy for a wide variety of ages, and also acts as a good way to stay in shape.

Part of the wide popularity is the ease of the game because the jianzi is so portable and small. The small space required combined with the infinite styles and tricks makes the shuttlecock an activity that is here to stay in the modern world. 

The game is not a recent fad, but instead has ancient origins. It was said to be invented nearly 2000 years ago during the Han Dynasty. The original purpose is thought to deal with training and entertaining soldiers in the military, especially to increase hand eye coordination.

The practice picked up relevance in the Tang Dynasty, 1300 years ago, as shops that sold shuttlecocks began to appear. Around 400 years ago in the Ming Dynasty formal competitions finally appeared. 

The Chinese Hackey-Sack was officially instituted as a national sport in 1933. Soon after, elementary and middle schools incorporated the jianzi into the physical education curriculum in China. It has become an integral part of Chinese culture, slowly developing throughout the years.

It gained international attention when a Chinese athlete performed an intricate demonstration during the 1936 Summer Olympics. Lastly, in 1999, the International Shuttlecock Federation was founded to host championships across the globe.

If you are interested in learning more about the activity, or even trying it for yourself, make sure to come to International Night next Friday!