Not So Pearly Shells from the Ocean (Sungka)

Sunka or Sungka (Filipino Shell Game)

Sunka is one of my favorite games to play. Cowrie shells (sigay) are used to play this two-person game. Some might see this as similar to Mancala game, but I've never played it. Sadly, I don't have the small shells so I've used this carved wooden game board as hanging decoration. I've asked relatives and friends who have gone back to the Philippines to bring me some, but they always forget. Well, at least the wooden barrel figurines always make it.

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UPDATE: My blog has been receiving a lot of hits on "sunka game" searches so I thought I'd help out with this:

SUNKA SHELL INFO & other Filipino Games (see #12)
by Artemio C. Barbosa
(http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about_cultarts/articles.php?artcl_Id=10)

12. Sunka or chongca, sungca, sunkaan, sunca, tsunka (board game) - This is another set of game widely distributed in the country and the rest of Southeast Asia. This game is played both outdoors and indoors and is played by both children and adults. This is played by two players with a wooden pea-pod shaped board with seven small holes in rows on each side, and a big hole on each end filled with an equal number of 'sigays' (small shells). Each player takes turns picking up from any hole on his/her side, putting one 'sigays' in the small/big hole to his/her left, then picks up all the 'sigays' from the last hole that the last sigay is put and places them in the big hole to his/her left. This is repeated until one person no longer has any 'sigays' to play with and is declared the loser. The person with the most number of sigays is declared the winner.


Sungka or Chunca Instructions

Sungka Game from WikiManQala

Buy Sungka Board & Shells Here

Count and Capture Boards



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Not So Pearly Shells from the Ocean (Sungka)