10/05/2026
Multicolored Turtle
On the Eve of the Lunar New Year (Tsagaan Sar), Mongolian children play constructing Multicoloured Turtle under the guidance of adults. The multicolored turtle consists of 92 anklebones. 36 anklebones are laid as a back of the turtle with 6 layers in each direction. In the 4 ends or shanks, there are located 16 anklebones, and 4 clubfeet are represented by 5 and total 20 anklebones. The organs of the turtle are represented by the following number of anklebones: the neck is 6, a mouth is 3, eyes are two, ears are two, a tail is 3, a kidney is 2, a heart is 2, and the bladder is 2 anklebones respectively. Kidney, heart, and bladder are represented by vivid colored anklebones. They are laid on the back of the turtle.
If the game is played on the first day of Lunar New Year, there should be a special part next to the head that 4 red anklebones are laid as a round, and tale is represented by 3 black anklebones. Also, on the left side, 5 blue anklebones are laid as an end of bow and arrow, and called as ‘the Tree’. In the right side of the Tree, 3 white anklebones are placed imitating the point of the arrow and called “the Iron”. Then 4 anklebones are placed on the four paws of the turtle, representing Dust, Air, Mountain and Wind. Therefore, the Multicoloured Turtle game is played with 108 anklebones during the Lunar New Year. The person who has the same year with the coming New Year has a priority to start the game. If there is
no same year person, compatible year person with coming to New Year can start and the next players succeed according to clockwise.Players cast dice and if there is 1-spot, it is available to take one of the Dust, Air, Mountain, and Wind. If 3 is indicated, it allows the players to get the Fire or 4 legs. Then 5 allows taking the Tree. If the anklebones with a same number of the dice are taken already, a player starts taking from the main body of the Turtle. For instance, bladder or heart is taken by 1, ears, eyes and kidneys are taken by 2, the head is taken by 3, shanks are taken by 4, paws are taken by 5, neck or back parts are taken by 6 respectively. When all available numbers of anklebones are finished, the player gives back the same number of anklebones according to the number that dice indicates. The game continues in this way, and the person who collected the most number of the anklebones wins. The winner is considered to be the luckiest one in the coming year.
