In his book Compulsive Gambling, Yin Teng-kuo points out that cock fighting has a long history in China. King Hsuan of Chou kept a cock fighting trainer in his palace to help his birds 'chances. In the Tang dynasty, the entire capital city of Changan--all the way from the emperor, nobility and wealthy families down to the lower classes-- was cock-fighting crazy.
民俗作家殷登國在「賭癖」一文中提到，鬥雞在中國歷史悠久，周宣王時已有宮廷養雞師，專養鬥雞以為天子贏得賭金；唐朝時，首都長安城中上自天子和皇親貴族、富豪之家，下至販伕走卒，人人都沈迷於鬥雞，甚至傾家蕩產也在所不惜。