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Gasing

Gasing, or top spinning, is a traditional game popular among Malays in the olden days. In rural areas, gasing contests were held during the rice-ripening season. Kampung folks believed that the spinning tops would help bring good harvest.

Description
Both adults and children can play the game. The object of the game is to keep the top spinning for as long as possible and the player who's top spins the longest wins. This game is fast becoming extinct and efforts are being made in Malaysia to revive interest in the game by organising top spinning competitions.

Equipment
The gasing or top is usually made of wood or hard fruits. It comes with a string, which is tightly wound round a nail at the base of the top. There are five different shapes of tops: plate-shaped, heart-shaped, flat-top, egg-shaped and berembang (a reference to the shape of a fruit of a familiar seaside tree).

Method
There is no fixed number of players and the game can be played either in teams or individually. A circle is first drawn on the ground marking the circumference within which the top is to spin. A player holds the top in his hand and grips the loose end of the string between the fingers and throws the top in the circle while at the same time pulls the string backwards which sends the top into a spinning action. The one who's top spins the longest and within the specified circle becomes the winner. Once the top spins out of the circle the player loses the game.

Variations
Another variation of the game is called the striking match, whereby the player tries to knock his opponents' top out of the circle with his own. This game is known as Gasing Pangkah in Malay.

Top spinning competitions are held in various parts of Malaysia, especially Malacca and Kelantan. Here huge tops weighing up to 5 kg are used which makes it more a game for men. Great skill is required to spin these huge tops.



Author
Zaubidah Mohamed



References
Singapore days of old: A special commemorative history of Singapore published on the 10th anniversary of Singapore Tatler (p.156). (1992). Hong Kong: Illustrated Magazine.
(Call no.: SING 959.57 SIN).

Games Spore Children Used to Play. (1989, November 8). The Straits Times,  p. 21.

Audrey, Lim. (2001). What's spinning around? Retrieved February, 24 2004, from www.thingsasian.com/goto_article/article.1211.html 

The information in this article is valid as at 2004 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

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