Squid (game)

Squid, also known as ojingŏ (Korean: 오징어), is a children's game played in South Korea. The game is named as such because the shape of the playing field drawn on the ground resembles that of a squid. There are regional variations of the name such as "squid gaisan" (with gaisan thought to be a variation of the Japanese word kaisen 開戦, "to start a war"), or "squid takkari".[1] It is a multiplayer game, and the game is divided into two teams, offensive and defensive. There are two main purposes, either for the attackers to achieve the purpose of the attack, or for the teams to annihilate each other.[2]

This article is about the children's game. For the television series, see Squid Game. For the unrelated video game, see Squids (video game).
Diagram showing playing field. It consists of five areas:
(1) Offensive house (공격진영 gong-gyeogjin-yeong)
(2) Promotion area for the defense (공격목표 gong-gyeogmogpyo)
(3) Defensive house (수비진영 subijin-yeong)
(4) Promotion area for the offense (승급영역 seung-geub-yeong-yeog)
(5) Out of bounds (기타 gita)

Gameplay

There are multiple versions of the rules for different areas and groups. Regional names differ.

General rule elements

The home bases for each of the teams are called "houses" (Korean: 집, romanized: chip). The top circle is the house for the offensive team, the bottom rectangle is the house for the defensive team, and the middle triangle is the neutral ground between them.[1]

The objective for the offensive team is to leave their house and move outside the figure around to the bottom of the defensive house (shown "open" on the diagram above), then pass through the figure back into the offensive house.[3][4]

Attacking players are required to move only by hopping on one foot until they "promote" by either reaching area two having passed through area three; or by hopping over the thin part of the figure between the two areas marked four. Once promoted, they may use both feet.[3]

The defensive team tries to eliminate the members of the offensive team by pushing them across a line of the figure they are not permitted to cross. Typically this means pushing players who have entered the figure out, or pushing players attempting to hop over the figure at 4 into the triangle. Defensive team members who leave the figure are also eliminated, so it is possible for the attackers to win by pushing all defenders out of the figure.[5]

Regional variations

Because of the fact the game is informally played among children, there are no official rules, and their common features are mainly attested through multiple people who played it as children. However, a few examples of regional variations in rules are listed.

Regional names

In some parts of Busan Geoje and other regions in southern Kyungsang province, the game is called "ojingeo dalguji". Jongno region called the game "ojingeo po", Songpa district used the title "ojingeo isang", Daegu Gyeonggi province and southern Seoul used the name "ojingeo gaisan".[6]

Squid ttaeng (Busan)

Squid ttaeng (오징어땡 ojingeo ttaeng) is a regional variation of the squid game that is popular in Busan. The game usually involves ten or more participants. The origin of the game is assumed to be influenced by both the large presence of squid in the waters around Gadeokdo island and by the popularity of squid as a snack among local children. The game starts by dividing two teams, with at least ten people per team. A squid with a pentagon-shaped body and a round tail is drawn. The team that wins a game of rock paper scissors becomes the defensive team and the team that loses becomes the offensive team. If the offensive team reaches the house of the defensive team and shouts Ttaeng! (땡, the "ding" noise of a bell), the game is won by the offensive team and the two teams change sides.[7]

Squid unification game

Squid unification game (오징어통일놀이 ojingeotongilnoli) is a regional variation of the squid game that is based in Haenam. The game is said to have originated from the Three Kingdoms period of Korea when the three kingdoms were fighting for land. In this version, the area which the offensive team has to reach while passing the defensive team is called the "unification area".[8]

Ojingeo dalguji

For this variation, the person who is promoted is called cheolin (철 , "iron man"). The game starts when the offensive team yells the word ojingeo! (오징어, "Squid!") and the defensive team replies with the word dalguji! (달구지, "cart").[9]

The 2021 streaming television series Squid Game is named after this, with a deadly version played during the Netflix series.[10] For the Netflix version, the term for the promoted person was "Inspector Royal" (암행어사 amhaengŏsa).[9]

References
  1. Lee, Sang-ho. "오징어놀이". Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture (in Korean). National Folk Museum of Korea. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  2. Ha Eun-sun (September 29, 2021). "'오징어 게임'이 뭐길래..." [What is 'Squid Game'?]. The Korea Times (in Korean). Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  3. ""오징어놀이"". YouTube.
  4. "How to play [SQUID GAME] (korean traditional children's play ) [ENG SUB]". YouTube.
  5. 김종만 (2017). 보리 어린이 놀이도감. 보리. pp. 190–191. ISBN 978-8984289826.
  6. "오징어 게임, 우리 동네는 어떤 이름을?". bravo.etoday.co.kr. 2021-09-26.
  7. "오징어땡". 향토문화전자대전.
  8. "오징어통일놀이". 한국향토문화전자대전.
  9. "추억 속 아재들의 온•오프라인 고전 게임 3선". iminju. 2021-10-11.
  10. "Everything to know about 'Squid Game', the surprise Netflix hit series". Fortune. October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
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