Traditional Play Culture 'Yutnori' Designated as National Intangible Cultural Heritage

"Active Transmission Expected in the Future Due to Persistence and Variability"

'Yutnori,' which embodies the identity and values of our people, will be managed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 11th that Yutnori has been designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is a game where players move pieces on the Yut board according to the positions of the yut sticks?whether they land face up or backward?and the first to reach the destination wins. It has been passed down mainly within families and village communities from the beginning of the year until Jeongwol Daeboreum (the first full moon of the lunar year). Despite social changes due to industrialization and urbanization, it has been maintained without interruption and has established itself as a representative traditional play culture. Since the entire nation participates, no specific holders or holder groups have been recognized.

The origin of Yutnori is estimated to be before the Three Kingdoms period, but the term does not appear directly in Goryeo dynasty documents. Some consider it synonymous with games like 'Jeopo (樗蒲).' Jeopo was a game from the Baekje period where wooden dice were thrown to compete based on the outcome. The term corresponding to Yutnori, 'Sahee (柶?)', was first found in early Joseon dynasty documents. From the mid to late Joseon period, it was called 'Cheoksa (擲柶),' and the gameplay has continued to the present day.

Related research has been conducted since the Joseon dynasty. Representative scholars include Kim Munpyo (1568?1608), Lee Gyugyeong (1788?1856), and Shim Ikun (1734??). Kim Munpyo investigated the symbolism of the Yut board and the movement of pieces and described 'Sadoseol (柶圖說)' in the 'Junggyeongji (中京誌).' Lee Gyugyeong advocated the 'Saheebyeonjeungseol (柶?辨證說)' through 'Ojuyeonmunjangjeonsango (五洲衍文長箋散稿),' and Shim Ikun detailed the rules in 'Saheegyeong (柶?經)' of 'Gangcheongak Soharok (江天閣銷夏錄).' The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "Through various historical documents, it is clear that Yutnori has great academic significance and its research value is boundless."

Yutnori is based on the cosmology and astronomy of our people. In particular, it has formal completeness in concepts such as Yin (陰) and Yang (陽), and the 28 lunar mansions. Although the gameplay is simple, it has been diversely transformed, such as Geongung Yutnori, which is played only with words without a Yut board. Even today, it is flexibly passed down in changing social environments, with various gamifications through the internet and mobile communications.

The Cultural Heritage Administration said, "Even now, village communities take the lead in holding Cheoksa competitions, showing high continuity," and added, "Due to its variability using the number of cases (geut-su) rather than mere luck (un), intuitive gameplay structure, and characteristics of being held according to surrounding circumstances, it is expected to be actively passed down in the future as well."