Pai Sho is a two-player strategy game that is quite popular throughout the World of Avatar, as many people from all four nations have been seen playing it. It still remains popular even after the Hundred Year War. Pai Sho is also used by the secretive Order of the White Lotus to identify its members.^[1]

Rules Edit

The large, circular board is split into twelve sections divided by an 18x18 grid of colored squares. Round tiles are used as pieces; each tile has a different image. Players receive a certain number of tiles which are placed and moved around the board.

White lotus tile Edit

The white lotus tile, like all Pai Sho tiles, is a round, black, circular piece about one-and-a-half inches in diameter. It is identified by the image of a large white flower that takes up most of the tile. According to Iroh, many underestimate its importance. Iroh once took time away from Zuko's search for the Avatar to pick up a new tile at the seedy merchants pier.^[2] A white lotus tile was also given to Sokka from Master Piandao after the former was successfully trained in swordplay.^[3]

Order of the White Lotus Edit

In a bar at the Misty Palms Oasis, Iroh played a game with another White Lotus member, Fung, as a way of identifying himself as part of the society. The key to recognition between members includes scripted dialogue revolving around the opening move of placing a certain tile, the white lotus, in the center of the board, followed by the rapid placement of pieces in an exact pattern that mirrors the central piece.^[1]

Notable players Edit

• Iroh^[4]
• Aang^[5]
• Gyatso^[5]
• Fung^[1]
• Suki^[6]
• Mai^[6]
• Jinora^[7]
• Ikki^[7]

Trivia Edit

• Pai Sho bears a resemblance to the board games Go, Chinese checkers, straight checkers, and Xiangqi.
• According to Zuko, Pai Sho can be used for gambling.^[1]
  • The name of the game mimics that of the Chinese tile game Pai gow, through which gambling can also be performed.
• A large Pai Sho table can be found at the Western Air Temple.^[8]
• The rock tile's symbol is the same as the Earth Kingdom's emblem.

References Edit

See also Edit

• Recreation in the World of Avatar