Games, sport and playEast Asia
Shagai
In its own language: шагай
Traditional ankle bone games and fortune-telling played across Central Asia.
Shagai are the cleaned ankle bones of sheep or goats used in games and divination. People throughout Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan toss these bones to play contests or read signs for the future.
When is Shagai marked?
Shagai is kept as part of Naadam, which runs from 11 to 13 July 2027.
These small animal bones serve as both toys and tools for reading fate. Communities in Central Asia have tossed them for centuries to settle disputes, pass time, and seek guidance from the spirits.
What they are
The pieces come from the ankle joints of sheep or goats. They are cleaned and sometimes painted bright colors. The name shagai refers to the bone itself, but also to the many games played with it. Other names include chükö in Kyrgyz and asyk in Kazakh. These bones are durable and easy to carry, making them perfect for nomadic life.
How games work
Players flick the bones along a wooden board or toss them into the air. One popular contest involves hitting a target piece over a distance of ten meters. Others involve catching multiple bones at once or collecting specific sides like horses or camels. Tournaments are held during Naadam, where skilled players compete for prizes.
Reading the future
Fortune tellers roll four bones to interpret signs. The convex sides show a horse or camel, which bring good luck. The concave sides show a sheep or goat, which bring bad luck. Rolling all four lucky sides at once is a rare and powerful omen. Some people also keep wolf heel bones for extra protection.
Keeping traditions alive
People still exchange these bones as gifts between friends. They often store them in small pouches for safekeeping. The practice remains strong in rural areas and among diaspora communities. Younger generations learn the rules through family play and local competitions.
How Shagai is kept
Participants gather on flat ground or use a wooden rail. They flick the bones with their fingers or toss them high into the air. Players collect points based on which side lands face up. Friends exchange polished bones as tokens of goodwill. Tournaments draw crowds during summer holidays.
When and where
Played year-round, but most visible during the Naadam festival in summer. Tournaments attract large audiences.
Strongest in Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. Played in villages, cities, and at nomadic gatherings.
What Shagai means
The bones connect players to their ancestors and the natural world. Horses and camels represent strength and prosperity. Sheep and goats warn of hardship. The act of tossing them is a way to ask the universe for direction.
Days Shagai is marked
Questions people ask about Shagai
When is Shagai marked?
Shagai is kept as part of Naadam, which runs from 11 to 13 July 2027.
Where is Shagai kept?
Shagai belongs to the traditions of Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan, and is tied most closely to Ulaanbaatar.
Who keeps Shagai?
As our sources describe it, Shagai is kept by Mongolians and Kyrgyz people. Many other communities and families now share it too.
See also
Mongolian wrestlingA traditional folk wrestling style of the Mongols, kept as a central part of Naadam festivals across Mongolia and neighb
Kyz kuuA horse racing game where a man chases a woman to win a kiss or faces her whip if he fails.
Hunting with eaglesThe Central Asian tradition of hunting foxes and hares from horseback with golden eagles.
KurashCentral Asian traditional upright folk wrestling using cloth belts or towelsGood reading and sources
- Shagai on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Shagai", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryParampara rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.
More from Mongolia
All the traditions of Mongolia
🇲🇳 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and 2 moreMongolian wrestlingBökh
A traditional folk wrestling style of the Mongols, kept as a central part of Naadam festivals across Mongolia and neighbGame
🇲🇳 Ölgii, Mongolia and 3 moreHunting with eagles
The Central Asian tradition of hunting foxes and hares from horseback with golden eagles.Game
🇬🇷 Greece and 5 moreKnucklebones
An ancient hand game of tossing, catching, and scooping small bones or stonesGame
🇲🇳 Ölgii, MongoliaGaridгарьд
A top wrestling title in Mongolia, named for Genghis Khan's eagle and the mythical bird Garuda.Game
The same idea elsewhere
All of this kind
🇺🇸 Fairbanks, United States and 2 moreWorld Eskimo-Indian Olympics
An annual Arctic gathering of traditional survival games, athletics, and cultural artsGame
🇲🇽 MexicoRarájipari
A traditional endurance running ball game of the Rarámuri people in northern MexicoGame
🇨🇭 Aproz, Switzerland and 2 moreCombat de Reines
An annual Swiss pushing contest where Hérens cows compete for herd dominanceGame
🇸🇪 Mora, SwedenVasaloppet
A 90 km cross-country ski race from Sälen to Mora, run every March since 1922Game