Far West China

Buzkashi Explained: Rules & Traditions of the World’s Most Dangerous Game

August 18 | 26 Comments

What is “Buzkashi” and how is it played? I’ve had the privilege of witnessing a number of games of Buzkashi and in addition to sharing some of my favorite photos from these experiences, I’d also like to explain the rules of Buzkashi as best I understand them.

Buzkashi (pronounced “booz-ka-shee”) is a popular Central Asian game that has been around for centuries and yet surprisingly few people in the west have ever heard of it.

My first time to witness Buzkashi occurred while cycling down the Chinese Karakoram Highway in Xinjiang. My friends and I stopped in the small town of Tashkorgan near the border of Pakistan and China and stumbled upon a few games being played.

It. Was. AWESOME!

Armed with my camera and plenty of questions for the locals standing around watching, I was able to better understand the rules and traditions surrounding this mysterious game of Buzkashi.

Here’s what I’ll share with you:

• What is Buzkashi?
• History of Buzkashi as a Sport
• General Rules of the Game
• Different Variations of Buzkashi
• Trivia and Little-Known Facts about Buzkashi

Let’s dive in!

What is Buzkashi?

Buzkashi, translated as “goat pulling”, is a traditional Central Asian game that is played on horseback or yak back. In this game, players vie for control of a headless goat carcass, which acts as the “ball”, in an effort to score points for themselves or their team.

It’s the national sport of Afghanistan, but you’ll find different variations of the game being played all across Asia, including China’s western region of Xinjiang.

Many have called this the “most dangerous sport in the world” and after you see how it’s played for yourself, I’m sure you’ll agree!

Don’t miss the rest of this season! Subscribe to FarWestChina on YouTube.

Sadly, as horse ownership becomes less common, the sport of buzkashi seems to slowly being disappearing.

History of Buzkashi as a Sport

Legend has it that the game of Buzkashi was first invented centuries ago when Afghan tribes would gallop up on horseback to steal a rival tribe’s goats from their flock.

Both defensive and offensive strategies were used which developed into a formalized game whose rules are to this day a bit mysterious.

The game migrated across Central Asia where it has been adopted by a number of different ethnic groups including the Kazakh, Tajik, Kyrgyz and many more.

The name Buzkashi literally means “goat pulling.”

Each ethnic group has their own special way of playing Buzkashi, and there are a number of different facets of the game that change depending on where you are.

These changing parts of the game include:

• The “Ball”: In most cases it’s a headless goat carcass, but some groups also use a calf or a sheep carcass. I know some people who get offended by this. It’s really no different than our basketballs or American footballs that are made out of other animal hides.
• The Transportation: Most games are played on horseback, but it can also be played on yak back.
• The Field: While in some cases Buzkashi can be played on an officially marked field, often it is played on an open field with no boundaries.
• The Team: In some countries it’s two teams against each other; in others it’s every man for himself.
• The Objective: For some games, the objective is to get the goat carcass in a hole, others in a basket. Some ethnic groups need to get the goat around a flag or into a designated area.

As you can see, there’s a lot that changes from country to country with the game.

For this reason it’s difficult to define the “rules  of Buzkashi”… but for some reason I’m going to be foolish enough to try ;)

General Rules of Buzkashi Explained

No matter which version of Buzkashi you find yourself watching, the basic gist of the game remains the same:

Players on horseback (or yak) are struggling to take control of a headless goat carcass in an attempt to drag it to a designated hole/flag/zone.

That’s it. The number of points needed to win or the number of games played in a match isn’t set (something I’ll go into in more detail next).

While most games throughout the plains of Central Asia aren’t governed by a referee, there are still a few rules that players expect others to abide by:

• Players cannot attach the goat carcass to their saddle; all 100+ lbs must be held by hand or wrapped by the leg.
• Players must remain on their horse/yak at all times to be eligible for play.
• Players may whip their own horses and those of their opponents, but they cannot hit opponents in an attempt to knock the carcass out of the grip of their hand or leg.

Other than these rules, it seems that most anything goes.

Players and horses often walk away from games bloodied or worse (think broken bones, dislocated shoulders, etc.).

For this reason, it has been said that “this is what polo would look like if played in prison.”

Different Variations of Buzkashi

Different ethnic traditions govern the playing of Buzkashi throughout Central Asia.

In some countries like Afghanistan, the games are very formal and often involve the sponsorship of teams or individual players by a wealthy benefactor.

Each player who scored a point was awarded a monetary prize…”

In countries like Tajikistan or among the Tajik people of Tashkorgan in China’s Xinjiang region, the games are more often associated with a wedding. As part of the festivities, the father of the bride is often expected to sponsor games of Buzkashi.

The games that I personally witnessed were part of a local wedding. The father had put up about 5,000 RMB (US$850 at the time) per game, with each point being worth 500 RMB (US$85).

Each player who scored a point was awarded this monetary prize, and whichever team scored the most points was awarded a larger prize such as a TV, refrigerator, or washing machine.

In such a case, the number of points needed to win or the number of games being played is all dependent upon how much money the game’s benefactor– be that a bride’s father or a wealthy member of society– is willing to donate.

Trivia & Little-Known Facts About Buzkashi

In some places, a Buzkashi match can last for days…”

The game of Buzkashi isn’t very well known in general, but there is some fun trivia surrounding the game that I think you’ll find interesting.

For example, did you know that…

• The name “Buzkashi” literally means “goat grabbing” when translated into English.
• Buzkashi was featured in Rambo III (1988) when Sylvester Stallone was actually seen playing the game.
• When the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, they banned the game of Buzkashi.
• In the 1940s, a group of men in Cleveland, Ohio introduced a version of the game in the United States. They called the game “Kav Kaz.” It only lasted for less than a decade.
• Before the game, the goat carcass is often soaked in water for 24 hours in order to toughen the skin and make it harder to tear when players pull in opposing directions.

• In some places, a Buzkashi match can last for days.
• The horses are more valuable in a game of Buzkashi than the player himself. In some cases, a horse may be trained for up to 5 years before playing its first game.

Final Thoughts on Buzkashi

If you have a chance to experience Buzkashi on your own, I definitely recommend you seize the opportunity!

It’s not only fun to see the game being played; it’s also great to be a part of the group of spectators that gather for the games.

For us in Tashkorgan, it was the perfect blend of gorgeous natural scenery (grasslands and mountains), fascinating culture (Xinjiang Tajik), and the traditional game of Buzkashi.

• About the Author

About Josh Summers

Josh is the author of Xinjiang | A Traveler's Guide to Far West China, the most highly-reviewed and comprehensive travel guide on China's western region of Xinjiang. He lived, studied and run a business in Xinjiang, China for more than 10 years, earning recognition for his work from CCTV, BBC, Lonely Planet and many others.