East Asia and Southeast Asia have a history of tugging rituals and games that ensure abundant harvests and prosperity. Most variations include two teams, each of which pulls one end of a rope in an attempt to tug it from the other.
These rituals and games promote social solidarity, entertainment, and the start of a new agricultural cycle. Religion is also deeply rooted in these rituals and games. Its deliberately uncompetitive nature means there is no emphasis on winning or losing. Many tugging games symbolize the strength of natural forces, including the sun and rain as well as mythological elements or purification rites while also reminding communities of the importance of cooperation.
Tugging rituals and games are popular in Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Korea where Juldarigi, also known as chuldarigi, is the traditional Korean sport similar to tug of war. It is performed at festivals and community gatherings throughout the country.
In most cases the ceremony before the tug of war begins around midnight, when each team makes a pilgrimage to the rope and offers prayers for victory. This ritual is known as goyu. Most communities of the Tay in Lào Cai province of Vietnam have an established tradition of the old team always beating the young team and the elders always being placed at the head of the water source, a desire for abundant water.
It is also believed that tugging rituals and games also contribute to increasing the cohesion of the community as it is easy to play. All ages can participate in the tugging games, as it is easy to play for anyone of all ages. Elders play a crucial role in guiding the younger generation by orally transmitting the element and by direct practice.
The bearers and practitioners of tugging rituals and games in Vietnam were mostly farmers in the past. Today, due to urbanization and industrialization, some of bearers and practitioners are doing jobs other than farming, such as workers, officers, and students.
Elders who know the rituals and tugging skills can teach younger generations. The selection of players for tugging games varies by ethnic group. Women may involve themselves in community affairs today, which helps to boost female status. For instance, ethnic groups such as Tày and Giáy often have both men and women involved in tugging games, with the male team often giving precedence to the female team in even years.