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The Origin of Tops

Wooden tops are generally classified according to their size.

A top is a toy that you can spin around on the ground. In the song dynasty there was a toy that resembled a top it was called Qian Qian. The Qian Qian was a needle like form that was about one inch long placed on an ivory disc. People would twist it with their fingers to start it spinning and then see who's top would spin the longest. Concubines and court ladies would pass the time playing with tops in the gardens of palaces. In the Ming dynasty the book spectacles in the capital city, the foot of the lion, when willow leaves bud, spin tops. It was not known weather or not if tops evolved when the Qian Qian formally tops were very popular in Mainland China the ways for playing with tops were very basic.

Children set the tops on the ground and used a small whip to set the top in motion. To make the tops spin and spin they would turn it with their hands and hit it with the whip. In Taiwan with industry advancing with leaps and bounds and great progress being made in manufacturing materials the types of tops have also developed. Method of play are varied especially in regard to wooden tops ranging from the size of your pinkie to those weighing 5, 10, 50, or even those weighing 150 kilograms. Because of this tops are suitable for both young and old men and women.

The tops have many kinds: wood, iron, and plastic, paper, etc, vary in different ways.

Classification of Tops

Wooden tops are generally classified according to their size and divided to the following seven categories:

Miniature tops these have a diameter of about one centimeter and are smaller then the tip of your finger.
Small tops have a diameter of four to five centimeters children less than ten years of age usually with this type.
Medium small tops weighing less than 10 kilograms, fifth and sixth graders can play with this top.
Medium tops weigh between 15 and 30 kilograms, children over thirteen can play with this top.
Large tops this size have a diameter of more then 15 centimeters and weighs over 31 kilograms.
Jumbo tops weigh around 50 kilograms.
King size tops this size weighs over 70 kilograms. In the town of Da Xi the largest kings size tops weigh 170.5 kilograms.

Small tops can be divided into three categories according to their function:

Pin tops - these have a pointed end that resembles a nail or cylinder and easily spins.
Knife pin tops - not only is the knife pin top good for spinning but is also it can cut apart other tops.
Axe pin tops - the pointed end of this top resembles an ax sense this top can rip apart other tops it is thus nick named the murder.

How To Play

Now here are some ways to play with wooden tops. For the miniature top just spin it with your fingers tops that are spun with a string are divided into the following two types:

Water level method - you bend over and throw the top from the side of your body then quickly pull back the free end of the string that has been wrapped around your hand the top then stand erect at water level and spins forward.
Perpendicular method - raises the top above your head and simultaneously release the top and pull the cord upward. This is called the murders movement if you can't do this then you have no way of dealing with other dead tops and you yourself could suffer a loss.

There are two ways to compete with tops the first is team play. Players are divided into two teams and then everyone throw there top on to the ground to see which sides tops fall down first. If you throw it correctly the top should spin a long time. If you throw it incorrectly the top will roll about wildly or only spin for a short time... now there is one top that has stopped spinning and thus the other side has won. At this point the top that is lying on the ground is called a dead top and can be cut apart from tops from the other team. If your top is dead and you want to save your favorite top from being damaged you can substitute an old hard top for the one on the ground. At this point the side that one can take there tops and throws them at the dead top.

The second type of play involves drawing two circles on the ground. Draw one smaller circle inside a larger circle each person takes turns throwing his or her tops inside the circle. When the top hit the ground pull the string to set the top in motion. If the top spins outside the circle it is not considered dead. If the top stops spinning inside the circle or if it never moves at all it is considered dead. Then you place it inside the smaller circle to await the attack by other tops. If the attacking top also stops moving inside the circle it to is placed inside the smaller circle and other people can attack this top to. If a top that is being attack is lucky and is not hit or is hit and not torn apart then you can take another top and remove your top from the circle.

The ways of playing with the medium small to large tops differ from those of small tops. First you must wrap the cord around the top hold the top in you left hand and with your right hand start wrapping the rope at the point so that the rope covers the whole body of the top. Use both hands to cast the top on to the ground and simultaneously swiftly pull the strings back making the tops spin on the ground.

Plastic Tops

There are two types of plastic tops:

The first type of plastic top is the plastic spring top. This type of top is divided into two sections the top part is the launching device and the bottom is the ringing top. After you have tightened the plastic spring press the button and the top come spring out this type is extremely interesting and fun.

The second type of plastic top used a rubber band the top looks like a small flying saucer but there is one axis on the top and the bottom. Place the top in the gun like launching device and use a rubber band to hold it place. With your left hand gently turn the top pulling the rubber band taut when you let go the top will spin. Then pull the trigger of the launching device and the top will shoot out and spin.

Metal Tops

Metal tops are modern day products and also a scientific toy. To play with this top you wrap a string around the handle in the middle of the top. Then quickly pull the string and making the top spin place the top on a stand and not only does the top spin quickly but also the whole top seems to inmate antennas of radar while it spins 360 degrees.

Wooden Tops

Some different ways to play with wooden tops:

Throwing the top forward this is the basic movement of the water level movements.
Throwing the top down this is the basic movements of the perpendicular throw.
Wraps the top with a double rope.
Curves throw around the back.
Throws the top backward through the leg.
Throws the top forward through the legs.
Throws the top up.
Two fisted throw each hand throws one top up.
Single-handed double throw, throw two tops with one hand.