Wushenzoumajingji
01 · Historical Records
The local custom of ambling-horse racing was already flourishing in the Qing dynasty and has a history of more than 300 years to the present.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Wushen Ambling Horse Racing is a traditional sports activity that formed and developed with the Wushen horse as its vehicle. The Wushen horse, one of the Mongolian horse breeds, is produced in the southwestern part of the Ordos Plateau. It is an excellent endurance breed: handsome in build, sturdy in constitution, docile in temperament, quick in response, and strongly resistant to adversity; it is good at walking on sand and is especially skilled at the lateral gait (ceduibu); after training, it can become an outstanding ambler. The project is now mainly transmitted in Uxin Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and its surrounding areas. Wushen Ambling Horse Racing tests not only flowing, water-like gaits but also speed, and three rounds of competition are required before rankings can be determined. In competition, every ambler must complete the entire course without a single fault; if there is even one misstep or failure to meet the standard, no score is recorded. The arena is relatively flat sandy ground, and the race distances include 200m, 350m, 400m, 500m, and 1,000m. Training and rearing is an important link in Wushen Ambling Horse Racing, and has given rise to a tradition of ambler training. The training process comprises a complete set of extremely strict procedures, steps, timing, principles, and requirements for selecting horses, feeding, and taming. Horse selection is judged by the animal's appearance as well as the condition of its teeth, sinews, hooves, whorls, habits, and internal organs. Training begins when the horse is two or three years old and proceeds through such stages as gelding, feeding, removing mud and sweat, clearing internal heat, releasing stagnant blood, standing restraint, conditioning, and walking; through tireless effort, day-and-night care, and emotional bonding, a high degree of tacit understanding between human and horse is achieved, so that in competition the ambler can accurately grasp the rider's commands and its skills can be brought to their fullest expression. Wushen Ambling Horse Racing has its own ambler grades, venue requirements, competition rules, selection standards, and training traditions; its features are distinct, its system is complete, and it has a deep foundation among the masses. It emphasizes the unity of human and horse in deep tacit understanding, reflecting the consciousness of harmony between humanity and nature. Wushen Ambling Horse Racing has a deep foundation among the masses and is of positive significance for enlivening the cultural and recreational life of the people and exploring the integration of culture and tourism.
The Uxin horse and its lateral gait
Bred in southwestern Ordos, the Uxin horse is hardy, calm on sand and especially adept at the lateral gait that defines a good ambling horse.
The training sequence
Training starts at two or three years old and runs through gelding, feeding, de-sweating, cooling, bloodletting, tethering, schooling and walking out.
How a horse is chosen
Selection judges appearance along with teeth, tendons, hooves, whorls, temperament and internal condition.
The three-round contest
Competitors are judged on gait as well as speed over three rounds, a single misstep voiding the run.
Sand track and distances
A gently sloping sand track hosts distances of 200, 350, 400, 500 and 1000 metres, part of a complete system of grades and rules.
Rapport between rider and horse
The contest prizes unity of horse and rider, achieved by constant care so the horse reads every command precisely.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Wushen Ambling Horse Racing is transmitted with Uxin Banner, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, as its center, radiating to surrounding banners and counties; the Uxin Banner Cultural Center is the project protection unit. The Wushen horse is one of the Mongolian horse breeds, produced in the southwestern part of the Ordos Plateau; it is an excellent endurance breed, handsome in build, sturdy in constitution, docile in temperament, quick in response, and strongly resistant to adversity; it is good at walking on sand and is especially skilled at the lateral gait (ceduibu). The local custom of ambling-horse racing was already flourishing in the Qing dynasty and has a history of more than 300 years to the present. Competition takes place on relatively flat sandy ground, with race distances of 200m, 350m, 400m, 500m, and 1,000m; three rounds of competition are required to determine rankings, and every ambler must complete the entire course without a single fault — if there is even one misstep or failure to meet the standard, no score is recorded.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Wushen Ambling Horse Racing is a group-based sports transmission project: its ranks of inheritors are large, its competitions and activities are rich and varied, and its participants are numerous, making it a cultural phenomenon unique to the Ordos region. Wushen Ambling Horse Racing is an important component of traditional Chinese sports and a living vestige of the ancient culture of the Mongolian people, with important historical and cultural value.
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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