When you think of traditional Korean games, what games come to mind? Do you know the traditional Korean game called ‘Yutnori’? Additionally, have you ever played the traditional Korean game called ‘Yutnori’?

Those who come to Korea to study abroad are expected to have learned some about the traditional Korean game 'Yutnori' while learning Korean at a language school. However, we expect that there are many people who do not understand the rules and methods of this game. 'Yutnori' is a traditional Korean game that you can often see many Koreans enjoying. Therefore, this time we will learn more about the traditional Korean game ‘Yutnori’.

Introduction to Yutnori

Source: Rediscovery of ‘Yutnori’ (hankookilbo.com)

Yutnori is a traditional Korean game in which players compete by throwing four yut sticks and moving their pieces according to the results. Yutnori is a game played on the first full moon of the New Year with family or friends. It is a fun game that requires both luck and strategy. The origins of Yutnori date back to the Goryeo or Joseon Dynasties, and it is said that Buyeo's Sachuldo tradition was reflected in Yut. Yutnori consists of a yut stick, a yut board, and a horse, and the yut stick is a wooden stick with a half-moon-shaped cross section or half a bean. The yutboard is square or circular and has horse paths and vertices marked on it. Horses use pieces of wood, coins, or baduk balls.

History of Yutnori

Source: Yutnori: Naver Blog (naver.com)

The exact history of Yutnori is unknown, but it is presumed to have existed before the Three Kingdoms period. Yutnori is a game similar to Baekje's Jeopo (摴蒲) or Aksak (握槊), and is also mentioned in Chinese literature. Yutnori was spread to Japan during the Silla Dynasty, and there is content related to Yutnori in Japan’s Manyoshu. During the Goryeo Dynasty, Yutnori spread widely and became a folk game, and during the Joseon Dynasty, it was also enjoyed in the royal court. Yutnori is a game that embodies the traditions and culture of Korea, and is still enjoyed with family on Lunar New Year's Day or the first full moon of the year.

Rules of Yutnori

The rules of Yutnori are as follows.

Source: [Chuseok Special] Chuseok Yut Play Guide: Naver Blog (naver.com)

Participants take turns throwing the yut and placing the pieces on the yut board according to the yutsem rules and the malgil rules.

According to the Yutsem rule, the flat side of the yut stick is called the front (belly), and the round side is called the back (back). Depending on the number of Yut fingers with the front facing up, it is divided into Do, Gae, Geol, Yut, Mo, and Back Do (Baekdo).

If there is only one head, the pawn advances one space.

In the case of two heads, the dog moves the piece forward two spaces.

If there are three heads, the checker advances three spaces.

If all of the yuts are heads, the piece moves forward four spaces and the yut can be thrown again.

In the case where all of the mos are tails, the piece moves forward five spaces and the yut can be thrown once again.

A back-do (white-do) is a case where there is one head but the word 'back' is indicated, causing the piece to retreat (send backwards) one space.

Nak occurs when one or more of the yut sticks leaves the mat, and the turn passes.

The rule for the horse route is to start from the starting point, make one lap, and return to the finish point called Chammok. This is called ‘batta’ or ‘putda’. However, the important thing is that the horse has to pass through the true food to be born, and if it stops at the true food, it will not be born.

If you capture the opponent's piece, you move your piece to the spot where you captured it and return the opponent's piece to the starting point. If you capture the opponent's piece, you can throw it one more time. However, when catching it with a yut or moro, it is not thrown again.

The winner of the game is the participant whose horse returns to the food first.

Yutnori is a cultural heritage of Korea and is a game that connects tradition and modernity. We recommend that you learn about the history and culture of Korea through Yutnori and have fun!