Apparently, Chinese Checkers isn't Chinese at all. In the 1880s, Americans and British came up with something much like it on a square board, called Halma. Then the Germans came up with the star-shaped board in 1892 and called it, Stern-Halma (Star-Halma). In 1928, it was brought to the US under the name "Hop Ching Checkers", to sound more exotic. They soon came up with "Chinese Checkers" after that.
It's kinda sad, in a way, because I remember taking a little pride in the fact that I was playing "our" checkers. Little did I know that the name actually stems from racism! :P
Similarly, Chinese water torture isn't Chinese at all, either. It was invented by an Italian in the 16th Century. Houdini had an unrelated trick called the Chinese Water Torture Cell, in which he was suspended upside down in a tank of water, and someone probably mixed the two to come up with the name.
I think I should legally change my name to "Hop Ching Lu".
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In other, vaguely related news, CHESS BOXING! It's real! Here's an article. Here's an article with more pictures.
And here's a video highlight reel of an actual Chess Boxing match!
They play chess for 4 minutes, then box for 2 minutes, then a minute of rest and back to chess. 6 rounds of chess, 5 rounds of boxing, 12 minutes on each chess clock. Oh, the nuttiness. You've really gotta check out the video.
Comments (6)
I can see how if someone called out to you, "Hey, Hop Ching" on the street, that would be racist, but how is the name "Hop Ching Checkers" racist? I don't see it.
Posted by echan | November 29, 2005
Posted on November 29, 2005
Oh, it's just the use of "Chinese" to indicate anything exotic and different. It's the reason why calling Asians "Orientals" is politically incorrect in the US.
Posted by ToastyKen | November 29, 2005
Posted on November 29, 2005
Yeah, but this was in 1928. I don't think that Germans were quite accepted back then. This is just 10 years after WWI, so strong connotations of Krauts and the Kaiser still abounded.
Posted by echan | November 29, 2005
Posted on November 29, 2005
So you're saying this is not racist because they're just using racism against Chinese only because they're REALLY being racist against Germans? :)
Posted by ToastyKen | November 29, 2005
Posted on November 29, 2005
"It's not racism if I like your race!"--Jerry Seinfeld. :-D
Posted by SSR | November 30, 2005
Posted on November 30, 2005
They weren't racist against the Germans, they were nationalist.
Posted by echan | November 30, 2005
Posted on November 30, 2005