CHINESE JACKS

Intro: CHINESE JACKS

Just couldn't resist this walk down Memory Lane.

I was a child during the 1970's and Chinese Jacks were one of my favorite games to play.  Small plastic rings looped together to form a little cluster.  Chinese Jacks or Jax, were sold at every toy store, grocery store, and corner drug store across America.   Not so today.  

I did find a set on Amazon for $25.00.  That makes me chuckle, since I can remember them being sold for a dollar.   Never fear, here is an Instructable to give this simple, but addictive, game a come back.

STEP 1: WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

SUPPLIES:

Wire cutter
Needle-nose pliers
3 yards of 12 gauge jewelry wire  - One package was enough to make 5 Jacks with 14 Jump Rings each.
Pony beads
Sharpie marker

STEP 2: MAKING THE JACKS:

To play, you will need 5 Jacks.

I confess that I learned how to make a jump ring on Instructables =) 
I included pictures of me making them, but here is the link to the How to Make Jump Rings Instructable.

I made 14 jump rings for each Jack.  One is the center support and then 13 looped around the center.  Add colored Pony Beads to 7 Jump rings.

That's it.  Now you're ready to play.

STEP 3: HOW TO PLAY:

I certainly could spend the next hour typing the directions to this game and would probably only confuse you.  Luckily I can avoid that whole process with YouTube.

Here is a great video showing how to play and how to keep score.  I didn't make this video, but the person who did explained the rules perfectly.  It is very clear and easy to understand.


Happy playing =)

Comments

[Simran Sharma]

Nice

[Dawn Chang]

但是，我好像从来没有在中国见过类似物品

trans:but,I've never seen anything like it in China.

[cdawisconsin]

How interesting. I thought the game originated in China??

[kimberleigh.young]

in the 80s we used these plastic "jax" for our hop scotch place keeper. We would constantly be wheeling and dealing with friends to trade blue for a green etc etc. This picture brings back so many happy memories in Bonita California! I am going to bring them back to live next week during our girl scout meeting!!

[cdawisconsin]

How fun!!! Thank you for your comment =)

[Treasure Tabby]

Interesting. But this is the first time I have heard of these and I was born in the early 70's too. All we had were the traditional jacks and rubber ball.
I don't know maybe they never had these in Canada or something?
Oh well.
But thanks for sharing these.

Ha I sound like I'm in a school yard. ;)

[jillq]

Could you post the "rules" of the Chinese Jacks game? I'd love to make these with my 1st graders. Thanks!

[cdawisconsin]

Hello. The rules are on the last page of the Instructable. Just click on the video. Have fun playing =)

[sunshiine]

What a clever idea! I always enjoyed playing with jacks as a kid. I even bought a set a couple of years ago that were at a junk store. Thanks for sharing.
Sunshiine

[susanrm]

This is awesome!

Oh man. It reminds me of Hamesh Avanim (five stones), an Israeli game, but that is much harder. It's played with five hard metal cubes about 1.5 cm on each side. When you throw the stones up, you have to pick up one or more stones AND catch the one you threw in the air. The other rules look very similar, with variations including catching them on the back of your hand. It was a tough, bruising game, and it was great to play it on the asphalt playground because even though you scraped your hand, eventually the sides of your stones would soften. Your hands also toughened up a lot! Here is a video demo of it.

By the way, I learned how to play in England! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBbBubMHalM

[mikeasaurus]

Great, I totally remember this and also wonder why I've not thought about it until now!

[cdawisconsin]

Thanks. I haven't thought about it either for many years =) But, as they say, it's all coming back to me now. I have a ruthless, take not prisoners approach.

[mikeasaurus]

when playing competitive games, ruthless is the only way to be! :)

[Penolopy Bulnick]

These look so fun and colorful! I'm going to have to learn how to play :)

[cdawisconsin]

Thanks. It is a lot of fun. And a blast teaching my three girls how to play last night.