The Tang emperor Xuanzong (ruled 1426-1435) excelled at polo, and to find favor with him the palace ladies were eager to try their hand at the game. But polo is not for everyone, so the less athletic and more timid concubines invented a horseless version in which the who could hit the ball highest and furthest.
由於唐玄宗球藝高超，後宮為博得皇帝青睞，也躍躍欲試，只不過，劇烈的馬球並非人人能打，宮女中體弱膽小的因此發明了「步打球」，打球人不需騎馬，以跑步揮杖擊球，看誰打得最高最遠。