Bul (game)

Bul (also called Buul, Boolik or Puluc) is a running-fight board game originating in Mesoamerica, and is known particularly among several of the Maya peoples of Belize and the Guatemalan highlands.

It is uncertain whether this game dates back to the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, or whether it developed in the post-colonial era after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores.

Lieve Verbeeck, a linguist studying Mayan language, witnessed the modern version of the game being played by Mopan and Kekchi Maya in Belize:[3] But neither can I give you hard evidence that the corn game, as it is now still played by the Mopan and K'ekchi' Mayans, (who are neighbors), was known in ancient times.

There are many sites throughout the Maya area where archaeologists found patterns of patolli boards carved in floors or benches.

Of course, there are a few pictures displaying priests throwing corn or seeds for divination ... Culin's version of BUL is quite accurate.

It is not known exactly when the game was developed or what the original rules were as very few records survived the invasion by the conquistadors between the 15th and 17th centuries.

Stewart Culin organised the games in his anthology into those he thought had an influence from Europe in their creation.

Bul is not listed among these, and in his opinion the game must have developed before Europeans arrived in Central America.

The players take an even number of stones or figurines (or any suitable playing piece) and place them in their respective bases.

The number of marked faces showing determines how many spaces a stone can move:[3] Alternating turns, players roll the bul and move any of their stones the corresponding number of spaces toward the enemy base.