Pair of Seated Figures Playing Liubo, Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), 1st century BCE–1st century CE. Earthenware with pigment; a: H. 35.1 cm; b: H. 34.6 cm. Charlotte C. and John C. Weber Collection, Gift of Charlotte C. and John C. Weber, 1992. New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1992.165.23a, b.

Both written records and archaeological finds attest to the popularity of the game of liubo (sometimes translated "six rods") during the Han dynasty. A board divided into roads, and twelve pieces (six for each players) and dice thrown to determine moves, constitute the basic equipment for the game. It is thought the pattern on the board has cosmological significance illustrative of earlier traditions of divinatory casting.

Liubo Board and Pieces, Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), 1st century BCE–1st century CE. Earthenware with pigment and bone. L. 36.2 cm; W. 31.4 cm; H. 5.1 cm. Purchase, Eileen W. Bamberger Bequest, in memory of her husband, Max Bamberger, 1994. New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1994.285a.

A popular game in the Han dynasty, liubo involves two players who gamble using dice, counters, gaming pieces, and a marked board. These figures, captured in a dramatic moment, embody the wish for the continuation of life in the tomb.