The development process of trophies has gone through a long evolution, mainly including the following stages:
Ancient Origin Stage:
China: The earliest physical trophy in China can be traced back to the "Zhabo Gui" in the early Western Zhou Dynasty. According to the inscription on the Zhabo Gui, King Zhao of Zhou held an archery competition in the capital city of Haojing. Zhabo hit the most bullseye and was rewarded with ten pieces of red copper and two musical instruments by King Zhao of Zhou. Zhabo used these copper materials to make a precious Gui for worshipping Duke Zhou. This is the earliest recorded sports trophy with detailed information. In ancient China, in addition to this special trophy form, there were other similar reward items, such as flags made of silk in the Sui and Tang dynasties as souvenirs to reward the winners, called "trophies"; During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang in the 9th century, the winner of a Go competition was awarded a gold flower bowl; In the Song Dynasty, silver bowls were awarded in the Loong Boat race.
The West: The Western trophy originated from the "Love Cup" in the UK. According to records, there was a king named Edward in England who was stabbed to death by an assassin while receiving a toast from someone on horseback. Afterwards, a etiquette was formed at British banquets, where a large wine glass was passed among the guests one by one, circling around. Whenever a guest took the glass, they and the people next to them stood up to "protect" the drinker. This "love cup" was later presented to the winners of the competition and evolved into a trophy. The original Western trophies retained traces of the ‘love cup‘, usually larger and with two long ears.
Modern development stage:
Sports event promotion: Since the 19th century, with the rise and development of modern sports events, trophies have been widely used as important reward items in sports competitions. For example, the Olympic Games have been held since 1896, awarding trophies and other rewards to winning athletes, which further promoted the development and popularization of trophies in the field of sports. Various sports have gradually formed trophies with their own characteristics, such as the Jules Rimet Cup and the World Cup trophy.
Progress in materials and craftsmanship: Driven by the Industrial Revolution, the production materials and craftsmanship of trophies continue to improve. Metal materials such as copper, silver, gold, etc. are widely used in trophy making. Through casting, forging, electroplating and other processes, trophies are made more exquisite and durable. At the same time, materials such as glass and crystal have also begun to be used for trophy making, with crystal trophies being highly favored for their crystal clear texture.
Modern diversification stage:
Diversified design: Modern trophy designs are more diverse and personalized. Designers combine different cultural elements, artistic styles, and event themes to create various unique trophy designs. For example, some trophy designs are inspired by natural landscapes, animal forms, geometric shapes, etc., while others incorporate modern technological elements such as the use of luminescent materials, 3D three-dimensional graphic carving, and other special techniques.
Expansion of application areas: Trophies are no longer limited to sports events, but have also been widely used in cultural, artistic, academic, commercial and other fields. For example, the Academy Awards in the film industry and the Grammy Awards in the music industry are important trophy awards in their respective fields. Enterprises, schools, social organizations, etc. will also hold various competitions and selection activities, awarding trophies to commend outstanding individuals.
The demand for customization is increasing: With people‘s pursuit of personalization, the demand for customized trophies is gradually increasing. Customers can choose the material, shape, color, engraving, etc. of the trophy according to their own needs and preferences, and customize a unique trophy to meet the needs of different occasions and events.
