Bor-Bor Zan

Bor Bor Zan is a clapping game akin to "Rock Paper Scissors" writ large. It is uncertain where it originated; officially it is a Chinese game that is still played by school children. There have been allegations, however, that it was made up by Chinese students in the United States to show how easily fooled American students are. Either way, it now has a small, but dedicated and nation-wide following in the US, with players from coast to coast.

Game Play

The game consists of clapping and making hand movements. Two claps (in some variants one clap, though this is more difficult) separate a hand movement, much like Rock Paper Scissors. Basic gestures are "power-ups", "attacks", and "defense". Power-ups, performed by putting the hands horizontally, palms together, get "energy" (these terms are rough translations). This energy is used to perform attacks, while defense moves are used to block these attacks. Different attacks are blocked by different hand gestures; an attack against the wrong defense will result in victory for the attacking player, as will an attack against someone "powering-up".