A studio photograph of diners playing a finger number guessing game

A studio photograph of diners playing a finger number guessing game

Notes

University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: Pe01-104. This is a static and posed/staged photograph taken in a photographer's studio. Finger guessing games such as Chai Mui (chai-mui), were fun and required skill. 'Fingers' was often played towards the end of a party meal or convivial gathering, especially a men-only meal, and involved drinking alcohol as a forfeit. A player in this photograph shows a 'four'. There is a good account of the fingers number guessing game in Eric Cumine's 'Hong Kong Ways and Byways'.

Caption on photograph

59

Estimated Date

1880-1915

Material

Paper

Media

Black and white photograph