Ssireum: the traditional wrestling of Korea

Two men kneeling in the sand grip each other by a band of cloth tied at the waist and thigh. Forehead to shoulder, they slowly rise, size up their opponent, then explode into a clash of strength and cunning. In a few seconds, one tips over, back to the sand; the crowd roars. This festival wrestling, as old as Korea itself, is ssireum.

Ssireum is the traditional Korean wrestling, a grappling sport in which two wrestlers try to make their opponent touch the ground. Practised since antiquity, both village entertainment and codified discipline, it holds a place in Korean culture comparable to that of sumo in Japan. To understand it is to grasp a slice of the Korea of festivals, of strength and of honour.

A wrestling by the belt#

The heart of ssireum lies in one accessory: the satba, a long band of cloth tied around the waist and thigh of each wrestler. Before the bout, the two opponents kneel facing each other in the sand and grip the other's satba — one hand at the waist, the other at the thigh. It is through this grip, and it alone, that the whole contest will be waged.

The goal is simple to state, hard to achieve: make the opponent touch the ground above the knee. No strikes, no blows: everything rests on strength, balance and a technique made of pulls, tips and feints. The bout takes place in a sand ring, which cushions the falls and marks out the wrestling area. Often lightning-fast, it may be over in a flash or stretch into a duel of patience.

In ssireum, you never strike: you unbalance. Victory lies not in the clash, but in the art of making the other bend.

Ancient origins#

Ssireum sinks its roots into a distant past. Mural paintings found in tombs from the era of Goguryeo, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, are said to already show wrestling scenes evoking ssireum, a sign that the practice goes back more than a millennium and a half. Hand-to-hand wrestling thus belongs to the oldest stock of the peninsula's culture.

For a long time, ssireum was a popular festival sport, practised at the great celebrations of the calendar such as Dano (the festival of early summer) or Chuseok (the autumn thanksgiving). On village squares, a sand ring would be set up and men would compete in it to acclaim, in a fairground atmosphere blending physical strength and collective joy.

The bull and the supreme title#

Ssireum has its legendary rewards. Traditionally, the winner of a great tournament took home a bull — a considerable prize in an agricultural society, at once trophy and concrete wealth. The image of the champion leaving with his ox has remained emblematic of Korean wrestling and of its rural rooting.

The most coveted title remains that of Cheonha Jangsa, which can be translated as "the strongest man under heaven." Awarded to the supreme champion, it makes its holder a true celebrity. Ssireum also bears a family resemblance to other Asian wrestlings — Japanese sumo, Mongolian wrestling — without being confused with them: its belt, its sand and its rules give it its own identity.

A shared heritage#

After a dip against modern sports, ssireum is enjoying renewed interest and remains a strong identity symbol. In 2018, it was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list — remarkably, as part of a joint inscription of North Korea and South Korea, the first of its kind, which saw the two divided countries agree to recognise this common heritage together.

From the sand of village festivals to the stands of televised tournaments, ssireum continues to embody a certain idea of Korean strength: without blows, without weapons, in the sole embrace of two bodies. To discover it is to touch the Korea of living traditions — and to learn Korean is to be able to grasp the wrestlers' shouts, the names of the grips and the honour attached to the title of Cheonha Jangsa.

FAQ#

What is ssireum? Ssireum (씨름) is Korean traditional wrestling. Two wrestlers grip each other by a cloth belt, the satba, and try to make their opponent touch the ground above the knee, without blows or strikes, in a sand ring.

What is the difference between ssireum and sumo? Both are Asian wrestlings, but ssireum is practised with a belt (satba) that the wrestlers grip, in a sand ring, the aim being to make the opponent fall. Japanese sumo is played without a belt gripped in this way and also aims to push the opponent out of the ring. Their rules and techniques differ.

Why was a bull won at ssireum? In agricultural Korea, the bull was a precious asset. Offering an ox to the winner of a great tournament made it a prize both prestigious and materially considerable, which reinforced the popular and rural image of ssireum.

Is ssireum recognised by UNESCO? Yes. In 2018, ssireum was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Notably, it is a joint inscription of North Korea and South Korea, the first of its kind for the two countries.

Photo credits: the images used in this article come from Pexels and Unsplash and are royalty-free.