Khorol (game)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Khorol or Khorlo (Mongolian: Хорол or Хорло) is a multi-trick tile-based game played in Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Tuva, usually on Lunar New Year's. It is played between two and eight players with four being the most common. The game appeared during Manchu rule (1645-1912).[1] It is similar to the game of Daaluu (Даалуу) played with a double set of Chinese dominoes.[2][3]
The most common set consists of 60 tiles, usually made from wood. There are 17 different types of tiles ranking from highest to lowest:
- Khorol
- Norov
- Khas
- Khangarid
- Sengi
- Rat
- Ox
- Tiger
- Rabbit
- Dragon
- Snake
- Horse
- Goat
- Monkey
- Rooster
- Dog
- Pig
There are four copies of each rank except for the Dragon, Rooster, Dog and Pig which only have two. Less common sets may forgo the Khas and Norov ranks in exchange for having every remaining rank with four tiles. Older sets may have more ranks taken from the Ashtamangala such as the endless knot, pair of fish, and conch. Numbers 6 to 17 are the signs of the Chinese Zodiac; Tuvans play the game with domino tiles instead.[4] The earliest versions of both types of sets lacked the Ashtamangala tiles.
