Mongolian Ankle Bone Game: "Shagai"
Mongolian Ankle Bone Game: "Shagai"
Mongolian Ankle Bone Game: "Shagai"

Mongolian Ankle Bone Game: "Shagai"

Collection: Everyday Connections

Object Category: Games
Object Type: Games of Chance

Country: Mongolia
Continent: Asia
Geographic Region: Eastern Asia
Materials: Bone
width: 1 in; height: 1.75 in; depth: 1 in

The picture of the shagai set was on display in the "Genghis Khan: The Exhibition" Mongolian exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

The shagai are ankle bones of sheep or goats. When used as dice, the bones usually land on one of four sides designated as horse, camel, sheep or goat. A fifth side, cow, is possible on uneven ground.

A large variety of traditional Mongolian games are played using the shagai pieces. Depending on the game, the ankle bones may be tossed like dice, flicked like marbles, shot at with arrows, caught in the hands, or simply collected according to the roll of a die. In many games, the side on which a tossed piece lands (horse, sheep, camel, or goat) is significant.
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shagai