Containing the Essence of Islamic Mysticism: Notes on a Sufi Version of the Game “Snakes and Ladders” from Afghanistan
J. Frembgen
Journal of Sufi Studies May 20, 2024 DOI: 10.1163/22105956-12341341 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Key points | Argues that a rare Afghan Sufi Snakes and Ladders cloth board, inscribed with mystical terminology on 101 squares largely reflecting Ibn al-ʿArabī's philosophy, exemplifies Sufi material religion in folkish style, possibly dating from the mid-twentieth century or later, and appears to have been used by Shiʿite Sufis. |
Abstract
“Snakes and Ladders” is an ancient Indian board game played by the throw of dice or cowrie shells on a grid of labelled squares. It belongs to the category of “race games” and more specifically “promotion games” of moral instruction. The player gradually moves his piece upward from the lower section of vices and hellish states to the higher section of virtues and subtle spiritual states finally to reach the divine realm. Landing on snakes brings him down whereas by reaching ladders the ascent journey is accelerated. As a game of gnosis, Snakes and Ladders was played by Jainas, Hindus, Buddhists as well as Muslims. In Turkey, it is known as satranc-ı urefā and in the Arab world as shaṭranj al-ʿārifīn – “chess of the gnostics.” The present paper examines a rare Sufi version from Afghanistan embroidered on cloth also highlighting the imagery of its figural motifs. Building on preceding studies, it focuses on the mystical terminology inscribed onto 101 squares which largely reflects the philosophy of Ibn al-ʿArabī. The investigated cloth-board is an example of Sufi material religion in folkish style which might date from the mid-twentieth century or later and appears to have been used by Shiʿite Sufis.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy | 1993 | Edited collection of essays | |
| Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |