The sixty-three compartments, representing as many classes of officials or degrees of rank, comprise three hundred and ninety-seven separate titles, of which the highest, and the highest goal of the game, is that of man fá tín tái hok sz’, or “Grand Secretary.” This, however, under favorable conditions, can only be reached by a player who starts from a favorable point, advancement in the game being regulated by rules similar to those which actually regulate promotion under government. Thus, a player whose fortune it is to enter as physician or astrologer can only obtain promotion in the line of his service, and must be content with a minor goal, as he is ineligible to the high civil office of “Grand Secretary.”
The dice are thrown into a bowl placed in the centre of the sheet, the players throwing in turn, and each continuing to throw until he makes a cast of doublets or higher. It is noticeable that “fours,” as in Dr. Hyde’s account, constitute the highest throw. A pair of “fours,” according to the rules, is to be reckoned as tak, “virtue,” and leads to a higher place than those of the other numbers. Sixes are next highest and are to be reckoned as ts’oi, “genius;” and in the same manner, in descending degree, “fives” are to be reckoned as kung, “skill;” “threes” as léung, “forethought;” “twos” as yau, “tractability;” and “ones,” chong, “stupidity.” The game is much complicated by being played for money or counters, which is necessary under the rules. By this means advancement may be purchased, degradation compounded for, and the winner of a high position rewarded.
The main point of difference between the game as it exists to-day, and as described by Dr. Hyde, is the number of dice employed, six being the number mentioned by him. The enlarged form of the diagram is of minor importance, as he himself says that the names of officials written on the tablet are many or few, according to the pleasure of the players. With the game of Shing kún to may be seen a copy of Dr. Hyde’s treatise, De Ludis Orientalibis, containing the reproduction of the chart of the game which he made in London 200 years ago. The names of titles of the Ming dynasty appear upon it, in curious contrast to those of the present Tartar domination. The two hundredth anniversary of the date of the imprimatur of this precious volume occurs on the 20th of September of this very year.
There is a very great variety of games of this character in Japan, new ones being published annually at the season of the New Year. Illustrations of the more formal game played upon a board divided into twelve parts are figured in the Chinese-Japanese cyclopædias. According to the Kum mō dzu e tai sei, the twelve compartments, called in Japanese me, or “eyes,” symbolize the twelve months, and the black and white stones with which the game is played, day and night.
Italy contributes several forms of the dice game played upon a board having many stations. The oldest specimen in the collection, purchased in Parma, is a manuscript game bearing the title of Oca Franchese. Others printed in Florence bear the printed labels of Giuoco dell’ oca and Giuoco del Barone, while late examples more fanciful, both in name and design, appear as Giuoco del Tramway and La Battaglia del 48. A French game is shown under its proper title as Jeu de l’oie, beside which is placed a similar American game published as the “Game of Goose.”
A number of packs of Oriental cards other than Chinese are contained in this case, among which are included several packs of East Indian Hindu cards which they call Gungeefa. They are all circular, varying in diameter in the different sets from 1⅝ to 3⅛ inches. One pack from Lucknow comprises eight suits, each composed of twelve cards, ten of which are “numerals,” from one to ten. The two remaining cards are designated respectively as Badsha and Sawar. No satisfactory explanation has yet been afforded as to their origin.
The Japanese call the cards which are now current in Japan by the name of Karuta, a word evidently derived from the Portuguese carta. Those commonly used by gamblers, a pack of which is exhibited by Mrs. J. K. Van Rensellaer, are called Hana Karuta, or “Flower cards,” and comprise forty-eight pieces, a number, it will be observed, identical with that of the present Spanish pack. They bear pictures, chiefly flowers, emblematic of the twelve months, four cards being placed under each. Their names are as follows: Matsu, “pine;” Sakusa, “cherries;” Momidzi, “maple;” Butan, “wild rose;” Hagi, Lespedeza; Kiku, “golden-colored daisy;” Kiri, Paulonia; Fudzi, Wisteria; Soba, “tiger lily;” Ume, “plum-tree;” Yama, “mountain;” and Ame, “rain.”
The Iroha, or Proverb cards, also consist of ninety-six cards, half of which bear a picture and one of the forty-seven characters of the Iroha, or Japanese syllabary. Each of the other cards is inscribed with a proverb, the first word of which is written with one of the characters. There are several methods of play, the commonest being that of laying out all the picture cards face up. One of the older players reads the proverbs in turn, while the others endeavor to select the card from the table bearing the corresponding initial character. The Uta Karuta, or “Cards with songs,” contain, according to Mr. Karl Himly, the well-known one hundred songs (Hiyaku nin issiu, 1235 A. D.), or the poems of the “Old and New Collection” (Ho kin schiu, 905 A. D.). The picture cards have the pictures of the poet or poetess, with the commencement of the poems. The rest is on the corresponding cards. The game is the same as that played with the Iroha Karuta.
CASE VIII.
AMERICAN BOARD GAMES PLAYED WITH DICE.
The first of American board games played with dice is said to be the “Mansion of Happiness.” This game is said to have been published in 1852, and copied from an English game. Thirty-three specimens of similar games published in this country are exhibited. They form a small part, however, of the entire number.