Pair of Seated Figures Playing Liubo

Pair of Seated Figures Playing Liubo

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Both written records and archaeological finds attest to the popularity of the game of liubo (sometimes translated "six rods") during the Han dynasty. A board divided into roads, and twelve pieces (six for each players) and dice thrown to determine moves, constitute the basic equipment for the game. It is thought the pattern on the board has cosmological significance illustrative of earlier traditions of divinatory casting.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pair of Seated Figures Playing LiuboPair of Seated Figures Playing LiuboPair of Seated Figures Playing LiuboPair of Seated Figures Playing LiuboPair of Seated Figures Playing Liubo

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.