Today, China is one of the countries with the strictest gambling laws in the world: virtually all forms of gambling, except lotteries, are prohibited under severe penalties. However, the history of gambling in the country spans over 3,000 years.
💭 THE PAST OF GAMBLING IN CHINA
It is believed that the first form of gambling in China appeared during the Xia dynasty (c. 2070−1600 BC) and was known as 博 "bo" or 六博 "liu bo." It was a board game involving 12 pieces, which some researchers consider to be a precursor to chess. As the game’s popularity grew, the character 博 ("bo") gradually became a general term for all types of gambling in China.
During the Spring and Autumn period (770−476 BC) and the Warring States period (475−221 BC), new types of gambling emerged. Animal competitions and betting on them gained particular popularity. Horse race betting was especially common among the wealthy, as mentioned in "Records of the Grand Historian" by Sima Qian. Less affluent people preferred dog races and cockfights.
However, the negative impact of gambling on people became increasingly evident, attracting government attention. During the Warring States period, the Canon of Laws of the state of Wei prescribed fines for those caught gambling. Under the Qin dynasty (221−206 BC), gamblers were punished by being tattooed on the forehead.
Despite these measures, gambling continued to evolve. In the later years of the Han dynasty, a game called 樗蒲 "chu pu" emerged, where players threw five wooden dice, and the winner was the one with the most black sides showing. This game remained extremely popular until the beginning of the Song dynasty (960−1279).
During the Tang dynasty (618−907), cricket fights became fashionable and remained popular throughout the subsequent Song and Ming (1368−1644) dynasties. Emperor Daozong of the Liao dynasty (907−1125) was also known as an avid gambler, and according to the "History of Liao", he even ordered officials to throw dice to determine their promotions.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties (1616−1911), card games gained popularity, and Mahjong—a Chinese gambling game using tiles—was invented.
Thus, gambling persisted in China throughout the reigns of all dynasties despite legal bans. The negative effects of gambling were noted by educated people, leading to further restrictions and prohibitions on gambling in modern China.
🔜 THE PRESENT OF GAMBLING IN CHINA
It is believed that the first form of gambling in China appeared during the Xia dynasty (c. 2070−1600 BC) and was known as 博 "bo" or 六博 "liu bo." It was a board game involving 12 pieces, which some researchers consider to be a precursor to chess. As the game’s popularity grew, the character 博 ("bo") gradually became a general term for all types of gambling in China.
During the Spring and Autumn period (770−476 BC) and the Warring States period (475−221 BC), new types of gambling emerged. Animal competitions and betting on them gained particular popularity. Horse race betting was especially common among the wealthy, as mentioned in "Records of the Grand Historian" by Sima Qian. Less affluent people preferred dog races and cockfights.
However, the negative impact of gambling on people became increasingly evident, attracting government attention. During the Warring States period, the Canon of Laws of the state of Wei prescribed fines for those caught gambling. Under the Qin dynasty (221−206 BC), gamblers were punished by being tattooed on the forehead.
Despite these measures, gambling continued to evolve. In the later years of the Han dynasty, a game called 樗蒲 "chu pu" emerged, where players threw five wooden dice, and the winner was the one with the most black sides showing. This game remained extremely popular until the beginning of the Song dynasty (960−1279).
During the Tang dynasty (618−907), cricket fights became fashionable and remained popular throughout the subsequent Song and Ming (1368−1644) dynasties. Emperor Daozong of the Liao dynasty (907−1125) was also known as an avid gambler, and according to the "History of Liao", he even ordered officials to throw dice to determine their promotions.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties (1616−1911), card games gained popularity, and Mahjong—a Chinese gambling game using tiles—was invented.
Thus, gambling persisted in China throughout the reigns of all dynasties despite legal bans. The negative effects of gambling were noted by educated people, leading to further restrictions and prohibitions on gambling in modern China.
🔜 THE PRESENT OF GAMBLING IN CHINA