Today you will learn about dominoes in ancient China. Dominoes are quite simple to describe. They are double-sided tiles with numbers represented by dots on each side. Although they appear deceptively simple, dominoes can form the basis for some incredibly complex games. It is difficult to establish the exact moment when dominoes were invented, but historical researchers agree that it was invented in China. Many believe they first arose in the early 1100s. Chinese workers arriving in the United States claimed that tiles were invented by Hung Ming, a romantic hero who invented tiles and games to entertain his soldiers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. Other Chinese leaders said to have invented dominoes include Keung T'ai Kung and Fan Lai. Some printed sources and historical documents, however, state that the tiles were invented by a statesman and presented in 1120 to Emperor Hwui Tsung, but were not widely used until several years later. Finally, in the early 18th century, tiles were introduced to European citizens. Dominoes originated from games played with two dice. The number of possible number combinations when rolling two dice is 21, so the traditional Chinese domino had at least 21 pieces. However, some tiles were sometimes duplicated, giving each set a varying number of tiles. Modern sets usually have 28 pieces, which include one tile with no points and six tiles that have zero points on one side only. Some sets are elaborately designed, with artistic reliefs and decorations. Today's dominoes are not those first used in China. According to the University of Waterloo, “Western dominoes” have only been around for 250 years. The dominoes used in China, however, don't look much different: They are also flat and two-sided. But the little indentations – called “pips” – are different colors on each side. The tiles are also smaller than Western sets. The first domino pieces were probably made of bone, but today they can be made of anything from bone and ivory to silver, plastic and even cardboard. Many are made of composite materials. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay It was the Venetians who first called the tiles "dominoes". The name comes from a type of mask, called "domini", that many people wore during the Venetian carnival. The masks were white with black dots and were named for their resemblance to the black and white hoods worn by the Dominus, or Dominican monks..