Sho

Two to four players throw two dice and race nine coins each around a ring of 64 shells, with captures, blocking and exact-count finishes.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of China. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

Usually placed in the era of River Valleys and First Cities (about 3000 to 1000 BCE), although its exact origins are uncertain, within the cultural world of China.