Diabolo, or kongzhu in Chinese, means “empty bamboo.” For hundreds of years, the toy was commonly seen in the hands of Beijing children, just as often as the kite or the hackey-sack. It is an hour-glass shaped hollow toy that consists of a wooden spool that is whirled and tossed on a string tied to two sticks, one in each hand. Although diabolos are small, it takes every muscle in the body to manipulate them. Since diabolo spinning is a good form of exercise and can generate a lot of heat, it is a popular traditional pastime in northern China during cold winter days. During the Spring Festival, the sound of diabolos in Beijing is especially resonant. Sometimes people compete with each another when playing diabolo to express their jubilation. The performer spins the diabolo rapidly, twirling it around the body, throwing it up or passing it onto another player with grace and dexterity.
Ways to spin the Diabolo
Diabolos generally fall into two categories -- single and dual axes -- that are hollow, with four or five holes in each to produce sound. Attached to the axis is a cylindrical handle, which is very slender in the middle. The diabolo is first tied to a string attached to two small sticks at the end and then rolled on the ground. The sticks are held up by the players as the string is reeled around the diabolo axis. The diabolo is rolled again and again as the sticks are manipulated, making the string vibrate. This way, the diabolo spins as it is manipulated from side to side; it can be flung into the air and retrieved again while spinning. When the diabolo spins fast enough, it produces a humming sound. It can resemble the sound of a cicada or that of a pigeon, depending on the type of diabolo. For this reason, diabolos were also called "clap-less bells" during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and "vibrating bells" in southern China. Diabolo players say that producing and maintaining the spinning motion and hum gives them a great "rush" of excitement.
The history of Diabolo spinning
Diabolo spinning has a long and enduring history in China. As early as the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), Cao Zhi, a famous poet, wrote a poem entitled "Ode to the Diabolo," in which he depicted the skills and sounds involved in playing the diabolo. Liu Tong of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) also related the techniques of making and playing diabolo in one of his articles. Historical records show that by the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), diabolo spinning had become a favorite acrobatics program. During this period, performers added many new stunts and high-level skills to their act. During its development, the appearance of the diabolo also changed and some performers even used teacups and small vases as substitutes. During the Republic of China (1912-1949), Tianjin folk artist Tian Shuangliang even used wine gourds to play the diabolo.
Editor: Dong Jirong
