My first attempt at drawing my own ‘Snakes and ladders’
As an author, I frequently find myself researching all manner of disparate topics, (for which, I might add, I am often most grateful to Google and Wikipedia). This afternoon, I needed to look up when some popular children’s games came into existence, one of these being ‘Snakes and Ladders’.
Imagine my amazement when I discovered that this simple board game played by generations of small children is actually one of the oldest games in the world, originating in India around the Second Century A.D., and was originally a serious activity promoting the inculcation of moral standards and philosophy. It was called Moksha Patam (Liberation Lesson) or Karma and Kama (Virtues and Vices). Good behaviour and ethical codes were rewarded by a lift up a ladder which brought one nearer to the gods and heaven. Bad behaviour and selfishness incurred the reverse and down a snake you slid.
Unfortunately, one’s board game life does not allow for choices but is dictated by the roll of a dice over which the player has little control. Perhaps this was how life appeared to operate to more ancient peoples – even those who believed in karma.
The game was brought to Western Europe by British army officers and began to rise in popularity in the 1890s. It crossed to the United States of America in 1943 where it was rechristened and designed Chutes and Ladders – a name and format deemed less intimidating for impressionable children.
The discovery that there was originally a deeper meaning and purpose to the game spiked my interest and immediately made it more appealing to me. I looked up some of the older boards to see what imprecations and benevolence was highlighted in the past. Thrift led up the ladder to Fulfilment, Courage to Reward, Penitence to Grace, Confession to Forgiveness, Industry to Success, Patience to Attainment, and so on. Conversely, Indulgence led down the snake to Illness, Dishonesty to Punishment, Mischief to Woe, Indolence to Poverty, Disobedience to Disgrace and Temper to Regret.
It struck me that it would be interesting to create my own updated version of this moral game. I set about thinking up more positive and desirable qualities and actions which might be rewarded, and their less attractive, more negative and potentially destructive counterparts.
What would you choose? What would you feel most worthy of highlighting or promoting? What would take precedence as the least desirable or negative behaviour?
I suddenly became aware of the necessity of not being judgemental, or implying state punishment. Real wisdom and advancement stems from self-regulation, not the rules and regulations imposed by society.
I ended up with fourteen potential qualities and attainments for ladders: Co-operation leading to Unity, Sympathy to Compassion, Hard Work to Satisfaction, Gratitude to Joy, Unconditional Love to Enlightenment, and so forth. The snakes gobbled up Waste, Gossip, Cruelty and Temper which led downwards to Poverty, Woe, Pain and Self-destruction respectively.
These were no easy choices. I attempted to make them as independent of social expectations and reflective of the effects on self-esteem and inner spirit as possible.
Hastily, I marked out a hundred squares board on a piece of blank paper, numbered the squares from one to one hundred and then began marking in my ladders and snakes… but where abouts on the board was it most appropriate to place such penalties and rewards? And should the length of the snake or ladder reflect the seriousness or importance of the topic at hand?
Great fun… and very thought-provoking.
Perhaps you might like to have a go at making your own board with what is most relevant to you and your loved ones? Get them to contribute their ideas and opinions. If nothing else, it should generate some interesting discussions!
I have yet to persuade my family to have a go at playing my more sober and adult version of the game – happy days!
