Traditional games of Korea

Yutnori, a board dice game with four wooden sticks, is one of the most popular traditional games of Korea and usually played on the first day of the New Year by two players (or teams). Each player (or team of two players) takes turns throwing yut sticks. Each stick has two sides (round and flat), which makes the stick roll. Five combinations are possible with yut sticks: do, gae, geol, yut and mo. A player achieving a yut or mo is allowed to roll again. If a board piece lands on a space occupied by an opponent, it is returned to the start and the player goes again. If a piece lands on a space occupied by one's own team, the pieces can go together (counting as one). The combinations determine how the board pieces are moved, and the team that moves all four pieces around the board first wins. The game has its roots in divination rituals.[1]

Sangbak (상박; 相撲) by Kim Hong-do, late 18th century

Ssireum is similar to Japanese sumo wrestling, with two opponents wrestling each other in a sandy ring. The player who throws his opponent to the ground scores a point. Annual competitions are held, which are popular. Ssireum, a contest of strength and technique, is a form of wrestling unique to Korea.[2]

Traditionally practiced as combat and self-defense, ssireum was also part of rituals conducted in the ancient tribal states. Rules evolved, allowing ssireum to develop into a national sport valued for competition and entertainment.

Tops spinning

In top-spinning, played primarily by children, a player spins a wooden top with a stick to make it spin on ice or on the ground. Popular in winter, the games have names which vary by region. The best tops (made from birch, jujube or pine) are heavy, with strong tips, and they are often spun in groups.[3]

Kite flying

Kite frames are generally made of bamboo, with paper attached. Most kites, rectangular or stingray-shaped, are tethered with string on a reel. Kite flying is a traditional winter game for children and adults. There is a period of kite flying from New Year's Day to Daeboreum, after which the kite string is cut for it to fly away. Kite flying is less common today, due to work obligations, but kites were flown as a distraction from the cold winter.[4]

Tuho

Tuho was originally popular among royal families and the upper class. In a manner similar to horseshoes, tuho players attempt to throw arrows into the top of a narrow-necked wooden jar. The score is determined by the number of arrows in the jar. Tuho is presently played by people from all classes.

According to Rebecca Lucas, tuho was played on the Korean Peninsula during the Gorguryeo Kingdom (37 BCE–668 CE) and is mentioned in the History of Old Tang (舊唐書) and the Book of Sui (隋書). The game waned in popularity because King Yejong of Goryeo (c. 1105–1122) received a tuho set from the Song emperor in 1116 and did not know how it was played. During the Joseon dynasty, it was promoted as Confucian. The game was played by both women and men, including Prince Yangnyong (양녕대군, 讓寧大君, 1394–1462) and his sisters, and King Hyeonjong of Joseon (현종, 顯宗. 1641–1674) and his family.[5]

A variety of Pong Hau K'i, Gonu's name (goni, ggoni, ggon or gonni) and rules vary by region; examples are pond, line or pumpkin gonu. This game is played with a small pebble (or piece of wood) and a game board drawn on the ground or a piece of paper. Players move their pebbles one block forward, and the player who blocks their opponent's pebble wins.

Neolttwigi is a Korean seesaw. Unlike Western seesaws, where riders sit at each end, neolttwigi participants stand and jump (launching their partner into the air on the opposite side).[6] The game is popular among girls during traditional holidays and festivals such as Dano and Chuseok.[7]

In jegichagi, players kick a jegi and the player with the greatest number of kicks wins, similar to Western Hacky Sack. Usually played in winter, jegichagi's name varies by region. The jegi, similar in appearance to a shuttlecock, is made from a coin and hanji (handmade Korean paper). The player kicks the jegi into the air and continues kicking it to keep it off the ground; switching the kicking foot is permitted. In a one-on-one game, the player with the highest number of consecutive kicks wins; in a group game, players stand in a circle and take turns kicking the jegi. A player who lets the jegi fall to the ground loses and tosses it to the winner to kick. When the loser catches the jegi with their hands, they can rejoin the game.[8]

Gonggi (Hangul:공기, pronounced gong-gee) is a popular Korean children's game that is traditionally played using five or more small grape-sized pebbles or coloured plastic stones. It can be played alone or with friends. Since only a few stones and a flat surface are needed for play, the game can be played by anyone almost anywhere. The same game also exists in Nepal and it is called Gatti. It is similar to Knucklebones in Western tradition. There are many ways to play Gonggi, but the most typical way to play Gonggi is playing with five marbles or pebbles. Also, Gonggi was played in many other places.

Hitting Tombstone (Hangul:비석치기) is a traditional Korean game that uses tombstones, which are small square pillar stones. The aim is to knock down the other tombstones. The game used to be played in spring and autumn. There are many different rules and names in different regions.

The game originated from the stones that people threw to protect themselves from savages.

The game is played by two players; the order is decided first. Two lines are drawn on the floor and players stand at regular intervals. The player has to use their tombstone to knock down the other player's tombstone; if they succeed, they have to put their tombstone on top of their foot. The tombstone then needs to be carried to the other player's tombstone without it falling from the foot. Once this is achieved, the previous stages are repeated, but the tombstone is put at a higher part of the body. If the tombstone falls or the player cannot knock down the other tombstone, the turn is handed over. Whoever completes all the stages is the winner.

The game improves balance and flexibility; it is also amusing since the players make peculiar poses.

Juldarigi (Hangul: 줄다리기, also chuldarigi) is a traditional Korean sport similar to tug of war. It uses two huge rice-straw ropes, connected by a central peg. The ropes are pulled by teams that represent the East and West sides of the village (the competition is often rigged in favour of the Western team). A number of religious and traditional rituals are performed before and after the actual competition.

Rolling hoop is a Korean traditional game that uses an iron stick. In the past, people used an old wagon wheel instead of an iron hoop. In the opening ceremony of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, there was a performance that featured rolling hoop.

Jwibulnori is a Korean traditional game played on January 15 of the lunar calendar. This day is said to have the largest moon of the year. Many events are done on this day and Jwibulnori is one of them. Cans are filled with flammable items, then people light them on fire. Using a wire connected to the can, it is spun over a person's head. This makes a beautiful image.

The exact origin of this game is unknown. However, it is known that people have used cans since the Korean War. During the war, many military supplies including cans were imported. The cans were played with and it was combined with Jwibulnori.

In the past, people used mugworts. Nowadays, people use cans with many holes that are filled with wood pieces and pine cones. The holes help the can to burn longer since air goes through it. As time passed, the original Jwibulnori and other games were made. The games were slightly changed to make them more enjoyable. One example of the game is people getting into groups and competing. Farmers or young people get into groups and run with torches, burning large areas or turning off the torch from the other side.

While people do Jwibulnori, other people piled some straw and sticks and burnt the pile. Using this as a sign, people lit fire on fields. The event is done to wish a year of prosperity and prevent harmful insects from damaging the crops; the fire kills harmful insects. It kills mice, which can carry infectious diseases. The soil of burnt weeds becomes manure for the crops, which make the soil richer and the crops grow better. Spinning the can symbolizes evil and bad luck.

Bossaum in English is called ‘dam wrecking’.  Children created ‘dam wrecking’ through observation of adults and created their own dams. Through the creation of these small dams, they invented the game, bossaum.

A game where players compete to destroy opposing team's dams.

Players are divided into two teams and then proceed to decide where teams will set their dams: upstream or downstream. The players will then start building their dams with anything around them (ex. stones, dirt, grass, sticks, etc.) in order to build a dam.  To get the correct thickness and create a durable dam, players must take into consideration the conditions of the water stream such as the flow and volume of the water. Once the dam is completed, the game is ready to begin. The upstream team will ask the downstream team if they are ready once as a certain amount of water is collected. If they are ready, the upstream team will start to deconstruct their dam as much to the extent that the stored water will flow out and damage the downstream team's dam. As this is happening, to prevent collapsing, the downstream team will reinforce their own dam. If they don't succeed, the upstream team wins, but if they protect it from collapsing, the downstream team wins the game. When the round ends, the teams switch locations.[9]

Players trying to find hidden garakji (hidden object).

The game is also called Garakji Gamchigi Nori. Garakji is a pair of big rings that married women wore. They are usually made out of metal such as silver or stones like jade. Although rings were typically used to play the game, other objects were used as well which then would change the name of the game. This game was usually played indoors during the winter time and is typically played by young and/or grown women.

The game is often played with about ten people. The group will sit in a circle and someone among the group is chosen to be the finder (sometimes called tiger or cat). The finder has to sit in the middle and covers their eyes. The garakji will be passed around under their skirts or knees as the people in the circle sing a song. The group must try not to show the garakji to the finder and be careful not to drop it. When the finder says stop or the song ends, they will start looking the garakji. In order to confuse the finder, the players sitting in the circle may try to trick the finder through their actions or words. The finder will point to a person who they think has the garakji or object. If the assumption is wrong, they must stay in the middle and go for another round. However, if the person with the garakji/object is caught, they are now the finder.[10]

Two teams must work together to pull the rope using their core strength to move the rope further into their side from the center line.

This variation of tug-of-war is a traditional game played by community members in the Gamcheon-ri (Gamnae) of Bubuk-myeon, Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do Province area. Gamcheon was a popular stream where local residents would fight over good spots for catching crab. In this community, the elders would suggest a game of tug of war to resolve fights. The rope is not like the ropes used in a typical game of tug of war, but was a rope that was knotted in the middle in the shape of a crab. During these competitions, songs and instruments would be played to excite the audience and create tension between the competitors. In the 1920s when crab production increased, the traditional game was ceased and made its return during special holidays.

The game is a simple tug-of-war competition but with a bit of a twist: players, instead of standing as they pull onto the rope facing each other, they are crawling away, facing opposite directions as they hitch the rope on their shoulders and use their core to pull. There are 2 teams typically from differing communities and players are placed in a specific positions. A gong is played and the players start to plow into the ground like cows, trying to tug as far off as they can. The game time is often a count to 100 (3 minutes). The team that is capable of tugging the rope further over their side from the centerline is declared the winner. If the round ends in a tie, two more games will be held until there is a winner. Every country with rich culture and traditions has characteristic food, clothing, festivals, music and games. Korea’s vivid culture and beliefs gave birth to many folk games which were enjoyed by the people on various occasions like festivals and holidays, or simply in the leisure time. Though some folk games have faded with time, due to the change in the day-to-day practices, these folk games continue to be a part of the rich heritage of Korea.

Cheollyeop is a folk game of catching fish in creeks, mostly enjoyed by men in summer. Cheollyeop was also played during spring or autumn.

The game was about having fun in the water and was enjoyed as a way of getting the most out of the summer season. Takjok was a way of avoiding the summer heat by the waterside among male adults. They would place their feet in running water by the rivers or mountain streams. Seonbi (literati) would write poetry and partake in games of Cheollyeop during Takjok.

Until the 1950s, people enjoyed catching fish in the Jeongneung Valley of Seoul, which was not unique to the city, but a custom that prevailed nationwide. Many people still enjoy the summer season by the waterside, while munching on seasonal food, which perhaps originates from the memories of Cheollyeop. People wanting to enjoy themselves in the peak of summer would go swimming in the creeks or rivers, catch fish using nets, and make hot fish stew using the fish they catch. Drinking alcohol along with stew made from fish freshly caught during Cheollyeop was one of the seasonal customs to beat the summer heat. Cheollyeop was primarily witnessed at the peak of bongnal during the sixth month of the lunar calendar, including Chobok (the initial stage of the summer heat) and Jungbok (the middle stage of the summer heat). Cheollyeop was mostly enjoyed in the water while catching fish to cook up a delicious stew, it provides a chance to put to practice the saying, “Iyeolchiyeol”, meaning ‘to fight heat with heat’.

Donchigi is a game of throwing coins into a hole from a fixed distance to win the coins in the hole and hitting the coins outside the hole by throwing rocks.

Donchigi was usually played on Seollal (Lunar New Year’s Day) or Daeboreum (the 15th day of a lunar month), which was probably because children rarely had money with them, except on Seollal when they may receive sebaetdon (a gift of cash on New Year’s Day). The playing methods of Donchigi differs depending on the region, but there are common set of rules which are as follows:

• A big circle is drawn in a yard or vacant lot 2-3 metres from a set line, from which players throw coins. A smaller circle is drawn within the big circle (Some regions dig a hole instead).
• After drawing the general game area, players throw coins one by one. The player who throws a coin into the circle (hole) wins. Other players are then ranked according to the proximity to the smaller circle and must give one or two coins to the winner.
• The winner then throws coins to the small circle while holding the coins in the other hand. Afterward, depending on the place of the thrown coins, the winner can take the money or pay a penalty, before moving on to the next round.
• Here, one possible scenario is that the winner manages to throw all coins into the circle and then takes all the coins, which rarely happens. The second scenario involves only some coins being tossed into the circle. Here, the winner can take coins only in the circle and must hit the coins outside the circle, which is designated by others with a mang (palm-sized stone). The coins that the player hits will be given to the player. However, if the player hits an undesignated coin, the player must pay a coin as a penalty. The third scenario is where one coin falls on to other coins. These coins go to the player without trying to hit the coins outside of the big circle. The fourth scenario is that there would be no coin or no overlapped coins in the circle. A player is required to hit a coin that is designated by others with a mang in order to take the coin. The fifth scenario involves more than half of the coins being outside the big circle, leading to disqualification. Disqualified players are then out for that round without having a chance to throw a mang.

This process is carried out by children, starting with the winner, and moving on to the next round. If there are no coins left, they begin from the first stage again.

Traditionally, money carried great significance from the children’s point of view. However, there were very few chances for them to own money, for example, on receiving sebaetdon. Also, even if they could receive sebaetdon, it was not enough, leaving a desire to have more. They would be then forced to extort other children for their, however, this was not considered an option. The only chance they had was playing a round of Donchigi. Of course, there was the risk of losing money; nevertheless, they would actively participate at the thought of winning money, less concerned about the risk of any loss. Children who were too young to play typically watched the game, as it was clear that they would only lose. Compared to other games, this game provided greater amusement amid the joy and sorrow that came along with betting money, despite the menial amount. The game was witnessed across the country. However, as the school system grew more universal following Korea’s liberation, Donchigi was regarded as a speculative game and, therefore, was banned. At the same time, as marble games gained popularity, children were hardly able to bet money directly. As a result, it remained as a game for adults to play among themselves. On a side note, India is also found to have a traditional game of a similar ilk.

Hwaetbulssaum is a game of battling with torches between children of neighbouring villages on the evening of Jeongwol Daeborum. Hwaetbulssaum is typically conducted along with the Jwibul Nori (mouse fire game), Dalmaji (welcoming the moon), and Daljiptaeugi (burning of daljips) on the eve or on the evening of the Jeongwol Daeboreum (the first full moon of the lunar calendar).

Hwaetbulssaum were often fought in mountainous rural areas, and they looked like real battle scenes at the height of performance, with the multitude of torches illuminating the surroundings. A few days before the night of the full moon, children and young people began making as many torches as needed. Old and worn-out bamboo brooms, bush clover wood or bark-stripped cedar were wound with straw, which was mixed with wormwood stalks, or the resinous knots of pine trees, to make them tougher. A handler stick was then put into the brush to create a torch. For Hwaetbulssaum of Chungcheong-do Province, the end of a stick was wrapped tight with a bundle of cotton, which was then fully soaked in dense, boiled honey residues or oil to ensure a long-lasting flame.

A team is generally made up of residents from the same village, while the number of members depends on the size of the village. On the evening of the full moon, children would carry their torches outside and play Jwibul Nori by swinging the torches. A torch would start to light when dry grass, or leaves, are pushed into the brush and set it on fire. These fires grow in scope to reach the boundaries of neighbouring villages. Children from neighbouring villages then try to set fires across their village boundaries, as the competitive atmosphere begins to develop into a torch battle. They play Jwibul Nori within their own village at first, while teasing their counterpart to start a torch battle upon the rise of the full moon. The bravest member leads the team to fight against the opposing team in a torch battle, and the leaders swing their torches at each other. A team begins to lose the battle when the other team gets the support of young people from the same village to win the game. The losing team can also call for support from their reserves, elevating the battle into some sort of a real war. When young men start a torch battle, they begin the fight carrying touches up on a hill or a mountain. Immediately following the moonrise, they light their torches and attack their opponents from the neighbouring village by swinging torches and saying offensive words toward one another. They encourage members of the same team by dancing to the traditional music performed by farmers. The competing team also prepares for the battle on another mountain or hill on their side. With the signal for Hwaetbulssaum to commence, both groups run toward the other, attacking by swinging torches over their head. Some people carry torches in both their hands and move as if performing a sword dance. If competing teams come close enough, they brawl by wielding torches like a sword. They shout, deliver a blow, kick, and brandish torches, so they are highly likely to burn their body parts or clothing during battle. If a torch almost dies, then they throw it away toward the opposing team and bring out a new one. Players often burn their hair or clothing by thrown torches from their enemies, but they do not stop fighting until the last torch goes out. The people of the village cheer on their team by performing traditional farmers’ music.

A team will lose the battle if it has more casualties or has lost more torches than its competitor. In addition, a team also loses the battle if its base is taken by the competitor or when many people surrender to the competing team. Hwaetbulssaum, Daljiptaeugi, Jwibul Nori and other battles using fire are folk games based on the shamanic belief that the games can expel evil spirits, as well as invigorate the earth to enhance its productivity. Hwaetbulssaum began with children’s Jwibul Nori and concluded with a grand finale amid a vast group of neighbouring villages battling on the eve of Jeongwol Daeboreum. Children are major players at an early stage of the battle, while young and middle-aged people join the battle during the later stages by organizing their teams in a systematic manner. Hwaetbulssaum features two primary functions. The size of the fire could foretell productivity and fortunes of the village for the year, while the mouse fires could prevent damage to agricultural produce and crops by getting rid of mice. Meanwhile, it also promotes continued solidarity and unity of villages through competition. Children also built upon and strengthened their cooperative spirit, courage, bravery, and competitiveness through this unique traditional custom.

Kkotchatgi nori is a game of taking a team member from another team through continuous rounds of rock-paper-scissors while singing a song.

Depending on the region, it is either called the Kkotchatgi (Looking for flowers), Saramppaesaogi Nori (Steal the player Nori), and Dalmaji Nori (welcoming the moon). Each team has four to five members. A space that is big enough for many people to shout is required for the game. Larger the area, the better.

At first, players create two teams and stand face-to-face. The teammates hold each other’s hands while standing side-by-side. Once everyone is ready, team A starts to walk toward team B, saying, “Why did you come, why did you come, why did you come to our house? (우리 집에 왜 왔니 왜 왔니 왜 왔니?)” until their song ends, while team B walks backward. After team A’s song ended, team B would begin walking forward singing their song, saying “We came, we came, we came to look for a flower. (꽃 찾으러 왔단다 왔단다 왔단다)”, while fending back the team A. While singing the song, team A asks, “What kind of flower did you come to find? (무슨 꽃을 찾으러 왔느냐 왔느냐?)” In return, B answers, “We came, came to look for ‘…’ flower (‘…’ 꽃을 찾으러 왔단다 왔단다),” calling out the name of a certain flower (person) in team A. The person from team A called by team B and one person from team B play a round of rock-paper-scissors, and the loser becomes the teammate of the winner. After rearranging the lines, the winning team walks forward, saying “We won the flower basket!” Meanwhile, the losing team pulls back saying, “How terrible it is, we lost!” This process continues until one team takes all the members of the other team. The point of the game is placed in threatening the other team. Players raise their voices and stampede the other team to domineer them in a repetitive way. Here, Gawi Bawi Bo for taking a member of the other team is just another way to continue game play.

Pansu Nori is a game of trying to catch other players or guess the name of other children.

Pansu Nori is a folk game that has been passed down to ordinary people since the Joseon Period. The game is known by various names in different provinces, such as Bongsa Nori, Bongsa Japgi, Jangnim Nori, Kkamak Japgi, or Sogyeong Nori. Pansu was a name used for blind fortune tellers, while the game itself has many different names which were not only about being blind, but also about acting haphazardly, like a pansu. The player who is “it” is not just blindfolded, but aims to act like a pansu who can guess people's names and tell their future. Pansu Nori was widespread across the country and played in the large yard of a house, or in an empty lot. Though the game has been traditionally passed down among girls, girls and boys played the game together, as well as young and middle-aged adults within some regions.

The first step to playing the game is deciding who will be “it” through a round of Gawi Bawi Bo. That chosen player is then blindfolded with a handkerchief or a strip of cloth in order to be fully blinded. Pansu Nori has been played using different variations according to region, but there is a common set of rules to follow. Some of the variations are:

1. Once the player who is “it,” i.e., the pansu, is chosen, other players wander around and clap their hands to let the pansu know where they are. The pansu then moves forward to where the clapping sounds are heard while sweeping both arms from side to side in an effort to catch other players, who continue clapping and running around to avoid being caught. A player should stand still when they are caught, before the other players ask the name of the player who has been caught. The pansu may try to guess the player's name having touched the face, other body parts, or clothing. If the name is guessed correctly, that player becomes the next pansu. However, if the guess is wrong, game play continues.
2. Players sit in a circle around the blindfolded player while a player goes around the circle from left to right before stepping out of it for a moment. The pansu says, “I can see (player's name),” and other players reply, “Can you really see (player's name)?” If the pansu calls out the correct name of the player outside the circle, other players ask again, “Who is (same player's name) hiding behind?” If the pansu guesses correctly, the other players shout, “You are right! You are right!” otherwise they shout, “You are wrong! You are wrong!” If the tagger is wrong twice in a row in guessing the name of the person, the player performing the role of the pansu continues, making it very difficult to be freed of the role. Once the pansu guesses the name of the second player correctly, the two exchange roles.
3. Players choose to take the role of a cat or a mouse, and the cats run around trying to catch the mice. First, the players are divided into two teams following a few rounds of Gawi Bawi Bo. The members of the teams then take turns going in between one another as they sit in a circle. Each team picks a player that is agile and smart enough to imitate the movements of a cat or a mouse. The game starts when the blindfolded cat runs after the mouse, who in turn, runs away from the cat and keeps clapping both hands to tease the cat. Another rule is that the mouse cannot leave the circle formed by the chain of players of the two groups. If the mouse breaks the rules or is caught by the cat, the chaser and the runaway exchange their roles. The game then continues, and the team that catches the highest number of mice wins the game.

North Koreans play a similar game called Saram Chatgi (searching for a person) where players decide to take one of the two roles: a tiger or a rabbit. The tiger is then blindfolded and guesses the name of the rabbit who teases the tiger with a poke in the back before running away.

Nat Chigi Nori is a game of throwing sickles at trees from a certain distance for it to hang or stick while cutting a tree and/or grass on a mountainside.

Nat Chigi Nori was typically enjoyed by grown children or teenagers. In the past, cutting grass and trees was part of the mundane every life of children in farming or mountain villages. Grass was fed to cows or used to make compost for farming, while trees were used as firewood. As such, cutting grass and trees was an important task in traditional societies. However, this kind of work was not done in a hasty manner and required some breaks, which was when the game was traditionally played. This game was played across the country with small differences between the different types. Typically, the one succeeding in throwing and sticking a sickle in the ground wins a bundle of firewood or grass. Under another rule, the one getting a sickle to hang on a tree, after having thrown it, is declared the winner.

Before starting the game, the players cut down a certain amount of grass, gather it into a heap, and fix a stick in the middle of it. According to the outcome of Gawi Bawi Bo, they decide the order of the turn and throw a sickle towards the stick. Players must give the whole portion of grass to the winner who succeeds at getting the sickle to hang on the stick, which rarely happens. Therefore, players were ranked depending on the proximity of their sickle to the stick, which often led to difference in opinions and, ultimately, scuffles in disagreement. The loser, whose grass is taken away, must stay behind to cut grass or trees, before returning home late. There is a variation of this game where players pile up their bundle of grass or firewood nice and high and throw their sickle from a distance of 3 - 4 m, one by one. A player who sticks the sickle to one's bundle wins. It is difficult to throw a sickle over a great distance in order to precisely stick a sickle to a stack of grass or firewood set at a higher location. The one to stick a sickle accurately takes all the bundles, resulting in some children routinely practicing throwing a sickle. The game with firewood applies different rules as it is played on a mildly inclined slope, rather than on a flat ground. The starting point is then marked with a leaf of a tree or grass. This time, however, a sickle is not tossed, but rolled. The player able to roll a sickle the farthest wins all the bundles of firewood. A skilled player makes the hilt of their sickle shorter so that it can roll further. The game eventually disappeared as people no longer cut down trees or long grass, however, it remains as a memorable game for those who spent their childhood in rural communities from the 1950s to the 1970s.

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