Juldarigi

Tug of war, two teams pulling on one rope, is among the oldest contests of strength and is played at village festivals from Korea and Japan to Britain and Indonesia; several Asian rope-pulling festivals are listed as living heritage.

How it is played

Teams grip the rope on either side of a centre mark and pull in time to a caller; the side that drags the mark past its own line wins. Rhythm, footing and holding the surge matter as much as weight.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of South Korea, United Kingdom, Indonesia.

Origins

Usually placed in the era of Classical Worlds (about 1000 BCE to 500 CE), although its exact origins are uncertain, within the cultural world of Japan and Korea.