Yut
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2008-05-08T09:45:24Z
CommonsDelinker
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Replacing [[Image:Korea_yut.jpg]] with [[Image:Korea_yut_pan.jpg]] (by [[commons:User:Siebrand|Siebrand]] because: Was in category "Duplicate", exact duplicate).
:''This article is about the traditional Korean board game. For the [[IATA]] airport listing see [[Repulse Bay Airport]].''
{{Unreferenced|date=October 2007}}
{{Infobox Korean name |
img =Korea_yut_pan.jpg |
caption = A game of yut with the sticks cast as a ''do''. |
hangul = 윷 / 윷놀이 |
rr = Yut / Yunnori|
mr = Yut / Yunnori|
}}
'''Yut''' (sometimes romanized as '''nyout''' or '''yoot''') is a traditional [[board game]] played in [[Korea]], especially during [[Korean New Year]]. Its origins are unclear, but there is ample evidence that yut was played at the time of the [[Three Kingdoms of Korea|Three Kingdoms]] (57 BCE - 668 CE). The game is also called ''cheok-sa'' or ''sa-hee''. The suffix ''nori'' means "game".
There is a folk explanation for the game, describing a bet by some villagers to raise five different kind of livestock: [[pig]]s, [[dog]]s, [[sheep]], [[cow]]s and [[horse]]s. Each of the villagers would raise only one type.
The board and the game are known to have been used in [[fortune telling]], particularly in mountain areas and small farming villages, but this is no longer practiced.
== Equipment ==
There is the board (''mal-pan'', 말판) which is normally made up of stitched cloth. It comes in a rectangular shape. There are two straight courses and two diagonal ones. Each of the straight courses comes with five stations, the diagonal ones have five stations, too, but one is shared. This brings the number of stations to twenty-nine in total. The board is also known to be drawn onto the floor.
Instead of [[dice]], the yut sticks are used. There are two kinds of yut stick: ''jang-jak yut'' (장작 윷) and ''bam yut'' (밤 윷). Jang-jak yut are made of fire wood. There are four sticks of about 15 cm length and a diameter of 2 cm to 3 cm. These sticks are split into halves. Chestnut wood is most commonly used, but birch wood is also common. These woods are chosen for the weight and the fresh sound when playing. Bam yut, on the other hand, are wooden sticks of about 3 cm length. They have a diameter of about 1 cm, and again are split into halves. The bam yut are played in a small bowl, shaken in the palm, and then released.
There are small tokens (marks) used for the game, called ''mal'' (말). There are four tokens for each team, although there are no common rules what a token can be made of. The only rule is that the mals of the opponent teams must be clearly distinguishable. Apart from black and white plastic tokens generally found today, common mals are coins, buttons, small pebbles, or even chess beads (both from Western [[chess]] and [[Korean chess]]). When choosing the mal, some Koreans consider its ''speed'', because the faster a mal (literally a horse) runs, the better it is thought to run.
== Yut sticks ==
[[Image:korea jang jak.jpg|thumb|Yut sticks (Jang-jak), measuring 17.5 cm]]
The sticks are cast in order to determine how far a token can be advanced. The score is determined by counting the sticks which are over, and those which are up. Each combination has its own name. If one stick is over (flat side up) and three sticks are up (round side up) this is called ''do'' (pig). Two sticks up and two sticks over is called ''gae'' (dog). One stick up and three sticks over is called ''geol'' (sheep). All sticks over is called ''yut'' (cow), whereas all sticks up is called ''mo'' (horse). A ''do'' is worth one point, a ''gae'' is worth two points, a ''geol'' is worth 3 points, ''yut'' is worth 4 points, and ''mo'' is worth 5 points.
[[Image:Yutpoints.png|frame|none|Scoring: The number of points followed by a schematic representation of the sticks, as well as the name of the particular throw]]
== How to play ==
The game is played between two partners or two teams who play in turns. Yut is a popular family game. There is no limit in the number of participants in a game, which means that the game can be played by a considerable group. When played with large groups it is not uncommon for some group members never to cast the sticks: they still participate discussing the strategy.
The start of the game is determined by each team casting the yut sticks. The team with the highest score starts first. Each team then casts the sticks in turn. A player achieving a ''yut'' or ''mo'' is allowed to cast again. There is no limit to the number of times a player can cast again before the end of a turn, provided he or she keeps casting ''yuts'' or ''mos''. The respective scores can be played separately if wished. Each team moves a mal according to the score achieved. If a mal lands on a station occupied by the opponent's team, the opponent's mal is removed from the course and returned to the starting position, and the current player is allowed to cast again. If a mal lands on a station occupied by the own team, these mals can travel together from that point on (counting as one). However, if an opponent lands their mal on a station occupied by several mals of the opponent, all these are removed from the course.
[[Image:Yut board.jpg|thumb|The four possible courses of the game of Yut]]
The mals travel around the board and can move forward only. However, when landing on one of the big stations (in the corner and the centre), the team can choose to take the shorter way should they wish to. There are four possible courses.
The game is won by the team who bring all their mals home first, that is complete the course with all their mals. A course is completed if a mal reaches the station where the game is started (''cham-meoki''). Yut is often played for three or more wins.
== Special rules ==
The game is sometimes enhanced by labelling one, two or three of the yut stick on their flat side. The ''Seoul'' rule can be played if one of the sticks is labelled ''Seoul'' (서울). If this stick is the only one facing down (''do'' so that the letters ''Seoul'' can be read), a mal can be placed directly into the centre (''bang'') which in this case is called ''Seoul''. Are all the mals already on the course, this counts as a ''do''. The ''Busan'' rule is similar. One of the yut sticks is labelled ''Busan'' (부산). Rather than to the centre, the mal travels directly to the far corner (''mo''). Again, this only applies if this is the only stick facing down, and not all mals are on the course already.
There is also the ''back'' rule, where one of the sticks is labelled ''back'' (후퇴). If this is the only stick facing down, one of the mals has to go back one step. Depending on the rules used, if none of the mals are on the course, then this is counted as a ''do''. Alternatively, if the ''do'' rule is not being used, the other most common rule is for a mal to be placed onto the arrow next to the start. The mal remains there until another ''back'' is cast. In this case, however, the mal completes the course at once. There is a possibility to get more than one marker on the same circle. They can travel together. Giving the team a head start.
== Social meaning ==
The game is a popular board game throughout Korea. It is considered a very Korean game. The game is often treated as a social spectacle with onlookers and team members shouting loudly, encouraging each other, or wishing for a certain score. This game is played in almost every Korean Thanksgiving Parties and Gatherings and is played very commonly almost everywhere (in Korea and in Korean homes all over the world) at special occasions. The rare scores of ''yut'' and ''mo'' in particular cause excitement, particularly if cast more than one at a time.
== The stations ==
[[Image:korea mal pan.png|thumb|Yut board (mal-pan) with the different stations]]
Each station of the game board has its own name, although they are obscure to most Koreans. It is thought that the outer stations symbolize heaven, and the inner square, the earth. The whole board can be interpreted as a reflection of universal symmetry and celestial procession, reflecting elements of [[Korean Taoism]].
==Other Meanings==
The Australian film and theatre group, Yut Art, takes its names from the game as a result of the excitement and crowd participation associated with its activities. Yut is also a motivational term used by many United States Marines. The origin of this latter use is unclear.
==See also==
{{Commonscat|Yut}}
*[[List of Korea-related topics]]
*[[Korean culture]]
[[Category:Cross and Circle games]]
[[Category:Korean culture]]
[[de:Yut]]
[[es:Iut]]
[[ko:윷놀이]]
[[ja:ユンノリ]]