How Was a Pointed Stick Struck into the Air?

This game was known by several regional names, including da ga, da jian and terms that can be translated as tip-cat. The equipment was usually just two pieces of wood: a longer bat and a short stick sharpened at both ends. The material might come from a carpenter’s offcut, an old broom handle or a suitable branch. It did not require fine workmanship, but the two ends of the short piece needed to be reasonably balanced or it would not spring cleanly from the ground.

Players first marked a small circle or made a shallow groove and placed the short stick at its edge. A tap on one pointed end sent it into the air; while it was rising, the player swung again to drive it away. The other side might catch it near the landing point or throw it back towards the circle, depending on the agreed rules. Distance was sometimes measured in lengths of the bat. Scoring and changes of turn varied by place and had to be settled before play began.

The skill was not simply strength. The first tap had to lift the short stick to a useful height so that the second stroke could meet it at the right angle. Companions also had to judge whether it had left the circle, where it landed and whether the measurement was fair. Because the stick could change direction suddenly, the game needed open space and spectators had to stand back. In a period when manufactured toys were limited, two scraps of wood could organise a full contest; what made it work was the group’s shared maintenance of rules, distance and safety.