506 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



or 2 alike. All of these tlirows, in descending' order, enable the player 

 to enter one of the positions from \vhi(;h advancement may be obtained. 

 Subsequent promotion depends upon the tlirows, doublets enabling the 

 ]>]ayer to move once; .'? alike, twice; and 4 alike, 3 times. "Double fours" 

 count highest, "double sixes" next, and so on down to "ones," through 

 which the'player is set back. The appropriate move for eacli throw is 

 indicated in small characters beneath each of the titles on tlie chart. 



A curious contrast is presented between the little sheet reproduced 

 by Dr. Hyde (fig. 13), upon which only the principal officials of the 

 Ming dynasty are represented, and that now current, whereon may be 

 seen the innumerable ramifications of the Chinese "civil service" under 

 the present Tartar domination. 



The charts such as I have seen used in the United States are printed 

 in Canton, and bear an impression about 23 inches square. They 

 are divided into 63 compartments, exclusive of the central one and 

 the place for entering at the lower right-hand corner. The latter 

 contains the names of 13 different starting places from ymi shany, or 

 "honorary licentiate," down to fund *'/'f"'i/, or "student," between 

 which are included the positions of fin man shawj, " astrologer," and 

 i shang, "physician." These are entered at the commencement of the 

 game by the throws of " three, four, five, six," 3 " fours," 3 " sixes," 3 

 " fives," 3 "threes," 3 "twos," and 3 "ones;" and then in the same 

 manner double "fours," and so on down to double "ones." 



The 03 compartments, representing as many classes of officials or 

 degrees of rank, comprise 397 separate titles, of which the highest, and 

 the highest goal of the game, is that of man fa tin tdi 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 the Government. Thus a player whose 

 fortune it is to enter as a physician or astrologer can only obtain pro- 

 motion in the line of his service, and nuist 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 center of the sheet, 

 the players throwing in turn, and each continuing to throw until he 

 has made 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 talc, " virtue," and 

 leads to a higher place than those of other numbers. "Sixes" are 

 next highest, and are to be reckoned as tv'oi, "genius;" and in the 

 same manner, in descending degree, "fives" are to be reckoned as 

 Mng, "skill;" "threes" as leung, "forethought;" "twos" as yaii, 

 "tractability;" and "ones," chong, "stupidity." 



The game is much complicated by being played for money or counters, 

 which is necessary under the rules. \\y this means advancement may 

 be purchased, degradation compounded for, and the winner of a high 

 position rewarded. 



