Snakes and Ladders

This late 18th century snakes and ladders board was then known as the game of Heaven and Hell (Jnana Bagi).The longest ladder reaches from square 17 'Compassionate Love' to 69 'The World of the Absolute'. Courtesy of the Wellcome Library.


As long as three hundred years ago, Indian children were slithering down snakes, who represented vices, and scaling the ladders of virtue. One board in the Library is about 18 inches square, divided into eight rows and nine columns, its ladders in the traditional Jain colours of red and yellow. Just as countless children today have their own set, so would countless Indian children; there would have been thousands of copies of it floating about.
he game of Snakes and Ladders originated in India and there are Hindu, Muslim and Jain versions of the game.

The Jains called their version 'gyanbazi' or 'gyanbaji' which means 'Game of Knowledge'. Jains are particularly fond of playing this game during periods of fasting when the layout of the game means that they have the opportunity to study Jain concepts of morality and ethics.


Game of Snakes & Ladders, 19th century. Museum no. CIRC.324-1972 (click image for larger version)