Han Dynasty

Black Green Jade Han Dynasty Loyal Honor Guan Yu Pendant
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Chinese Jade Han Dynasty Loyal Honor Guan Gong Pendant
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Chinese Antiques Han Dynasty 206 BC 220 AD Medium Sized Jar
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SHANGHAI Chinese Comic Story from the Han Dynasty 6
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RARE UNUSUAL ARCHAIC CHINESE TWO PIECE STEAMER HAN DYNASTY 206BC – 220AD
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China Classical HanFu Han Dynasty CosplayCostume Cotton
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The original game of blind man's bluff can be traced back to ancient China, all the way back to the Han Dynasty: circa 500 BC. This game was played a little like tag is played today only the person trying to 'tag' the others is blindfolded. This popular version was also a traditional party game in the Victorian era and there are many internet references and photographs of children, and adults, playing blind man's bluff from the early 1800's.

One popular variation of blind man's bluff that is played exclusively in a swimming pool is called "Marco Polo". In the Marco Polo version of this game the person trying to tag the others has his eyes closed and shouts "Marco", to which the other players respond (just as loudly) "Polo". The person trying to tag the others then uses his sense of sound to try and locate the other players. I have seen a version of this game under which the players (being tagged) can leave the pool and re-enter at another location. If the person shouting "Marco" happens to shout "Fish on deck" when a player is out of the pool then that player is deemed to be tagged and he or she takes the turn of the person trying to tag the others.

A not so well known version of this game, which was also popular during Victorian times, was called "Blind Man's BIFF". The idea of this variation was that two players would be blind folded and lay on the floor. They would each hold a rolled up newspaper in one hand and hold each another's hand with the other. The players would then take it in turns to try and "biff" each other on the head with the newspaper. The idea was they would try and locate the head of their opponent by listening to him (and this game was usually played by boys, I wonder why!), speak. The speaking was achieved by a question and answer, something like "Are you there Mr. Jones?" followed by the other person answering "Yes I am here Mr. Smith?" As soon as Mr. Smith, in the example, had finished speaking then Mr. Jones would try and biff (hit) Mr. Smith with his newspaper. In the previous example as soon as Mr. Smith had answered he would try to alter his head position to avoid being hit. As the vintage instructions for this game state, "It is more for the amusement of the spectators than the participants".

Whilst there are many other variations of blind man's bluff one favorite has endured for years and that is "Pin the tail on the Donkey". This game simply involves the party guests, who are blind folded, trying to pin a tail (in the correct position) on a picture of a donkey. One delightful girls party game that is similar to Pin the tail on the Donkey is "Kiss the Frog". In the Kiss the Frog game each blind folded girl, e.g. "would be" princess, has a cellophane pair of lips formed as a kiss. In turn the young ladies try to place their 'kiss' as close to the lips of a pictured frog, as possible. This is one of my favorite girls party ideas for a princess themed party, especially for the younger children. In all cases the first time the girls see this variation of blind man's bluff they will be demanding their mothers buy it for their own next party.

Whether or not the original bland man's bluff game is played or a variation, the fun of people being blind folded and trying to tag, hit or place a tail on a donkey (or a kiss on a frog) has endured for over 2,000 years.

Alex Goodyear researches Victorian parlor, and other vintage, games that will make suitable girls party ideas for today's teenager. Blind man's bluff and it's variations has proved to be one of several vintage games that truly engages today's youth (both girls and boys) in joyful 'in person' interaction.

Han Dynasty Seismograph in 132AD