Liubo Game Player, Han dynasty, 1st century BC–AD 1st century. One of four figures; earthenware with pigment, 32.7 × 27.62 × 16.51 cm. Gift of Senator Hugh Scott, by exchange, and Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund, 99.39.2. © Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Liubo Game Player, Han dynasty, 1st century BC–AD 1st century. One of four figures; earthenware with pigment, 33.02 × 20.64 × 21.27 cm. Gift of Senator Hugh Scott, by exchange, and Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund, 99.39.3. © Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Liubo Game Player, Han dynasty, 1st century BC–AD 1st century. One of four figures; earthenware with pigment, 33.02 × 22.54 × 18.42 cm. Gift of Senator Hugh Scott, by exchange, and Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund, 99.39.4. © Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Liubo is a military battle game whose rules are long lost. It first appeared in China around the 17th century BC and became extremely popular in the Han dynasty. As exhibited here, the game was played by two people sitting on the floor. They used dice, game pieces, counter sticks, and a marked board. Here the facial features and hand gestures of the players depict a dramatic moment of the game.