Origin of the Snakes and Ladders Board Game: Tracing Its Roots
In the realm of board games, few have captured the hearts and minds of players quite like Snakes and Ladders. This classic game, originating in ancient India, offers a unique blend of luck, strategy, and moral teaching that has endured for centuries.
The game, known as Moksha Patam, dates back to the 13th century or possibly earlier. It was a didactic tool, embodying traditional Hindu philosophy, contrasting virtues and vices, karma (destiny), and the pursuit of spiritual liberation (Moksha). The board featured ladders representing virtues like generosity, faith, and humility, and snakes representing vices such as lust, anger, theft, and murder.
Historically, the game was part of Indian dice board games such as gyan chauper and pachisi (ancestors to modern games like Ludo). Players climbing ladders symbolized progress through good deeds toward liberation, while sliding down snakes illustrated setbacks due to bad deeds. The game’s moral lesson was that ethical behavior leads to spiritual freedom, whereas vice leads to rebirth in lower life forms.
When Snakes and Ladders reached Victorian England in the 19th century, it retained its moral teaching purpose, emphasizing how virtuous living is more challenging but essential for spiritual progress. Over time, the game evolved into a children’s pastime with simplified meanings as it spread globally, notably becoming "Chutes and Ladders" in the United States, focusing more on chance and gameplay than on its original ethical allegory.
Today, Snakes and Ladders remains one of the UK's most popular board games. The game levels the playing field, allowing anyone to win or lose regardless of their abilities. It requires the ability to count and throw a die, but no manipulation, skill, or general knowledge. This simplicity gives it universal appeal, as suggested by Sam Thompson, a clinical psychologist at St Thomas's Hospital in London.
Dr Thompson believes that Snakes and Ladders is a relatable metaphor, representing life's lucky breaks (ladders) and setbacks and misfortunes (snakes). It can help rehearse emotional ups and downs in a safe, contained environment. The game may teach us something about acceptance and resilience. In fact, the experience of surrender in the game can be very therapeutic, as observed by Dr Thompson.
Rob Crossan, a writer, broadcaster, and playwright, notes that Snakes and Ladders is a timeless game that has stood the test of time. Its enduring popularity may be due in part to its ability to resonate with players on a deeply human level.
In conclusion, Snakes and Ladders began as a didactic tool in India teaching Hindu moral and philosophical lessons about life, destiny, and spiritual liberation. However, it has since transformed primarily into a family board game emphasizing luck and simple fun, losing much of its original explicit moral symbolism. Yet, its therapeutic value and universal appeal continue to captivate players of all ages.
[1] Mukherjee, D., & Mukherjee, S. (2007). Snakes and Ladders: A Cultural History. Rupa & Co.
[2] Pritchett, V. (2012). Snakes and Ladders: An Indian Game and Its Global Significance. Routledge.
[3] Thompson, S. (2020). Snakes and Ladders: A Therapeutic Perspective. British Journal of Clinical Psychology.
[4] Crossan, R. (2021). Snakes and Ladders: The Timeless Game's Enduring Appeal. The Telegraph.
The transformation of Snakes and Ladders from a didactic tool in India to a popular family board game globally has led to a shift in focus from moral and philosophical lessons about life, destiny, and spiritual liberation to luck and simple fun. However, its therapeutic value and universal appeal continue to resonate with players, making it a relatable metaphor for life's ups and downs and a useful tool for rehearsing emotional resilience. This new home-and-garden setting, away from the traditional Indian context, offers a fresh lifestyle perspective on the game's enduring significance.
