古代體育

　　中華民族有燦爛輝煌的古代文化，豐富多彩的古代體育是中國古代文化的重要組成部分。
　　中國古代體育從遠(yuǎn)古人類的生存活動中逐漸獨(dú)立出來的時(shí)候，便被賦予了游戲的、競技的、健身的以及教育的內(nèi)涵和功效，并與人類的其他文化一樣，開始了自己的歷史進(jìn)程。
　　數(shù)千年的歷史長河中，中國古代體育經(jīng)過不同時(shí)期的流傳融匯，逐漸地在廣袤的中華大地上生根發(fā)展了起來，傳承不絕。這些傳統(tǒng)的體育活動，既有體現(xiàn)軍事特點(diǎn)的身體訓(xùn)練內(nèi)容，又有以延年益壽為特征的養(yǎng)生保健形式，同時(shí)還包括了消閑、娛樂性的特點(diǎn)。這些由中華各民族創(chuàng)造的傳統(tǒng)體育活動，共同繪成了中國體育文化絢麗多彩的歷史畫卷。
　　與人們生產(chǎn)、生活密切相關(guān)，為人們的生活提供積極健康、快樂的方式，使根植于民族文化土壤之中的中國古代體育，為中華民族不斷注入青春活力。在中華民族漫漫的歷史長河中，中國古代體育無論是活動形式，還是技術(shù)方法，都在不斷地變化、發(fā)展著，為中華體育文化筑起了一座令人稱羨的豐碑，成為支撐世界體育文化輝煌殿堂的一根重要支柱。

Ancient Period (Before 1840)

　　　As an integral part of the splendid Chinese culture, sport is deeply rooted among the labouringly people and may be traced back to time immemorial-indeed as early as hoary past when our ancestors learned how to subsist, when the Chinese civilization had just begun to take shape. Yet sport was a human activity on its own, as a means to keep fit, to improve skills, to recreate, and to educate. It also developed in a course of its own on the Chinese soil, taking a great variety of forms, spreading far and wide, finding favor with and with different communities and age groups, amusement an Oriental color, and serving multiple purposes- for physical fitness, longevity, amusement, and military training. With their contents constantly enriched and instilled with youthful vitality, the traditional games and sports have prospered and come down to us as glittering gems in the treasure house of physical culture-not only of China, but also of the whole world.