Traditional Championships sports (Zurkhaneh and Sumo): a comparative historical study of historical origins and traditional rituals

Abstract

Many societies have some sports that play a pivotal role in enhancing human physical strength and martial arts and preserving religious values ​​and beliefs. The most prominent of these traditional heroic sports are Zurkhaneh and Sumo, two sports that have their historical origins in the Iranian and Japanese cultural heritage.

The research aims at shed light on the historical origins, symbolic rituals, and traditional elements of the sports of Zurkhaneh and Sumo, and to highlight the distinctive characteristics of the sports of Zurkhaneh and Sumo through objective analysis and comparison.

The methodology used in this research is the historical approach, using the method of comparative analysis. This method includes analyzing information derived from scientific sources and historical and cultural literature related to the sports of Zurkhaneh and Sumo, in a manner consistent with enhancing understanding and awareness of the sports of Zurkhaneh and Sumo through exploring their historical origins, religious rituals, and cultural traditions.

The most important conclusions were that both sports, Zurkhaneh and Sumo, have deep historical roots and great cultural importance in their societies, still, they differ in origins, historical development, spread, and global recognition.

The most important recommendations were the necessity of archiving historical information about traditional sports to preserve cultural heritage and provide information to researchers and those interested.

Keywords: traditional sports, Zurkhaneh, Sumo, historical origins, cultural sports heritage.