Traditional Games in Malaysia - Gasing

Gasing 

Gasing or tops spinning is a traditional game popular among the Malays especially among the villagers living in the state of Kelantan and Melaka. The game is usually played traditionally before the rice harvest season when several villagers will come together to challenge each other in an ultimate test of skill. The player requires strengths, co-ordination and skill to play this game. If the gasing is hurled expertly, it can spin for up to 2 hours. The villagers believe that the spinning tops would bring good harvest.

History

Gasing game is popular almost in all provinces in Indonesia and they have the same term: gasing. In East Kalimantan, the game is called begasing. The origin of begasing in East Kalimantan in unknown, yet, according to the stories by the local people, the game is considered to be delivered from Sumatera and Java. This is due to the fact that a certain culture is strongly attached to its supporters, and is always carried along when they move to a new area. That culture is then socialized and developed in accordance with the new setting. From here then emerged several versions of that culture, gasing is an example. 

How to play 

Both adults and children can play the game. But bigger or giant top spinning is more of a game for adults than children. The one used by adults are much bigger in size and can spin for a period of time whereas the one played by kids are much smaller. 

Gasing or top spinning is split into two categories. One is for ornamental purposes whereas the other is for playing.There is no fixed number of players and the game can be played either in teams or individually. The first thing to do before playing a gasing is choosing a firm ground as a space or arena to throw gasing. To start playing gasing, coil the string on the gasing neck strongly. Then, insert your middle finger into the grip hole on the string. Raise or pull your hand backwards, throw gasing to the ground as powerful as possible. Gasing will spin immediately as its poited base touches the firm ground. Top with the longest spin and also spin within the drawn circle will win the competition. Once the top spins out of the circle, the player will lose the game. 

Different shapes of gasing 

There are actually five different shapes of gasing found in Malaysia namely: 

1. Plate-shaped 

2. Heart-shaped 

3. Hat top 

4. Egg-shaped 

5. Berembang-shaped