The National Museum of Taiwan History (NMTH) has collected board games spanning different periods in Taiwan history. They carry within them history, characterizing the changes in the times. Board games are also unique ways of narrating stories and suggest what people in different times and places think and imagine, such as the lives they want to live and the kind of world they long for. These hopes and desires are often satisfied at the gaming table. Most importantly, of course, board games are an irreplaceable part of our common memory and have served as the source of countless moments of happiness and laughter.
The various types of board games shown at NMTH help tie together history, culture, and popular memory. So go ahead and play to our heart’s content. Which game would you like to play first?
1. Board games that “lead you in circles”
Notice that the board games here take you around in circles.
The spin of spirals has a hypnotic beauty of its own. You will frequently come across board games of this sort in Taiwan. Examples include Hu-lu-wen, a dice game which gained popularity during the Qing Dynasty in which players strive to become gods by reciting pithy mnemonic formulas and Sugoroku (literally “double sixes”) from the period of Japanese governance. Let’s follow the spiral into the board game’s time tunnel!
2. Board games take you on journeys
If you could travel the world, where would you go?
With advancements in transportation, traveling, especially around the world, has become a dream for many. A number of board games played during the period of Japanese governance through to the post-war era have globe-trotting as their theme. They not only introduce players to the world, they pique their interest in jaunting about it. Let’s start an exciting adventure around our planet with board games.
3. Board games allow you become a winner in life
Have you ever seen one of the early versions of the game of Monopoly or The Game of Life?
If you could draw your idea of the ideal life on a sheet of game paper, what would it look like? In the 1960s, Chinese versions of board games from the West, such as Monopoly from the 1930s, and Careers from the 1950s, began to become popular in Taiwan. Exciting games of chance like these, which stoked the dreams of Taiwanese players to become big landowners and tycoons, remain popular today.
4. In board games, you, too, can be a high-ranking official
Who’s the big cheese in this game?
Popular in Asia for over 1,000 years, the game Shengguan Tu (literally, government official promotion chart) has at its core the idea that success goes to those who study hard. Initially played by academics, it gradually became popular throughout society and in Taiwan. One of the main features of Shengguan Tu is that the board, actually a piece of paper, is packed full of various government official ranks and players try to advance to the highest position possible. Learning workplace positions is a prerequisite for becoming an official and this game is a good introductory course for that.
5. Learn about history in board games
People and events found in history textbooks actually appear in games.
Old board games can serve as history textbooks that transport us into the world of a game’s historical figures. For example, the Sino-Japanese War and the cession of Taiwan were common board game themes during the period of Japanese governance and games featuring political ideology, like Counterattack and Victory, transfer real-life nations rivalries and conflicts onto the game table.
6. Adorable board game animals
Do you like animal adventure stories? What kinds of endearing creatures appear in board games?
Regardless of the time period, animals have always been a favorite board game theme. The relationship between people and animals can be seen clearly and vividly in board games. Animals found in various legends, cultures, and the imaginations of individuals in various regions around the world are favorite board game elements. Game tables filled with cute, colorful creatures bring joy to the hearts of young and old alike!