{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O59776"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O59776/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EE5504/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EE5504/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010EE5504","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH4413","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AV6699","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O59776/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O59776","accessionNumber":"CIRC.324-1972","objectType":"Game","titles":[{"title":"Gyanbazi","type":"popular title"}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"An early version of the familiar snakes- and- ladders board game, the quasi-religious game of gyan (jnana)- choupad or gyanbazi (game of knowledge) was popular with the Rajasthani courts in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, especially with the ladies.  Played universally in India, it is available in Hindu, Muslim and Jain versions.  As a pastime the game became popular among Jain nuns and was regarded as an edifying religious pursuit.  Subsequently it lost its seriousness and became a purely recreational activity.\r\nThe present pata is a fine example of a Jain version.  The checkered board, representing the progress of ones's life, is divided into eighty-four numbered squares, each with words pointing out the rules of conduct and the good and bad effects thereof.   The game is played by throwing dice.  The ladders denote good behaviour and virtues that elevate the player to a higher level.  The snakes denote downfall: the player descends to the tail after landing on the head.\r\nThe four-tiered pavilion at the top represents the heavens.  Its summit, occupied by a crescent shaped siddhasaila flanked by peacocks, is where the liberated beings live. A good Jain should strive hard to reach this goal by avoiding misconduct and attaining knowledge.  The pavilion is flanked by the sun god astride a seven-headed horse and the moon god riding an antelope.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Opaque watercolour on cloth","categories":[{"text":"Games","id":"THES48947"},{"text":"Jain","id":"THES49013"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2010EE5504","2006AH4413","2006AV6699"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CA001","id":"THES388348"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Textile","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Gujarat","id":"x29825"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"or southern Rajasthan"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 19th century or 20th century","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"2000-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"58.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"52.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Purchased by the Museum in London in 1972.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Game of Snakes and Ladders (Gyanbazi), opaque watercolour on cloth, late 19th century.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Pal, Pratapaditya Dr. (Ed.) <i>The Peaceful Liberators: Jain Art from India</i>, New York and London, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and V&A, 1995","id":"AUTH353257"},"details":"Andhare, Shridhar, pp.86-87 and 257","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Topsfield, A. 'The Indian Game of Snakes and Ladders'. Artibus Asiae 46, 3 (1985) : pp. 203-214, especially pp. 207-208, fig. 6."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Topsfield, A. 'Snakes and Ladders in India : Some further discoveries'. Artibus Asiae 66, 1 (2006), pp. 143-179, n. 28."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Balbir, N. [et al]. <u>Catalogue of the Jain manuscripts of the British Library : including the holdings of the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum</u>. London : British Library and The Institute of Jainology, 2006. 3 volumes, ISBN 0 7123 4711 9. Vol III, Cat. No. 1195, no. pp. 330-1."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"snakes","id":"x35616"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["CIRC.324-1972"],"accessionNumberNum":"324","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1972,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-07-08","recordCreationDate":"2001-06-14","availableToBook":false}}