Korean Traditional Game : Maltaginori

🍂 Korean Traditional Game Series 18

Maltaginori

(말타기놀이 · Korean Piggyback Game)

🕰️ 1. Introduction

Maltaginori (말타기놀이), literally meaning “riding like a horse,” is a traditional Korean outdoor game where children play by carrying each other on their backs.
It is a lively, physical game that requires teamwork, balance, and strength — and was especially popular among boys during breaks or festivals.

The name combines mal (horse) and tagi (riding), perfectly capturing the playful and energetic nature of the game.
The goal is simple: stay mounted without falling, while knocking down the opposing team’s “riders.”

🪄 2. How to Play

• Players form two teams of equal numbers.
• One player crouches down to form the “horse,” while another rides on their back as the “rider.”
• At a signal, the riders from both teams approach and attempt to unseat their opponents while maintaining their own balance.
• The team whose riders remain mounted the longest wins the round.
• In some variations, the game includes relay-style horse races or team battles, emphasizing coordination and endurance.

👀 3. Example from Life

On sunny afternoons, village fields and schoolyards would fill with laughter as children shouted and ran in pairs — one carrying, one riding.
Sometimes, older children competed in groups, linking arms to form longer “horses,” testing both teamwork and balance.

Maltaginori was more than a rough game — it taught cooperation, trust, and courage, all wrapped in joyful competition.

🌏 4. Similar Games Around the World

• Japan: Uma-nori (“horse riding”) schoolyard games with similar rules.
• Western countries: Piggyback races and chicken fights in swimming pools share the same playful spirit.
• Southeast Asia: Traditional team balance games emphasizing strength and coordination.

✨ Maltaginori celebrates the energy of youth and the spirit of camaraderie — showing that even in playful struggle, teamwork and laughter always triumph.

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💌 Closing Words

Maltaginori is more than just a childhood game of strength.
It embodies friendship, unity, and the joy of shared challenge — reminding us that the best victories are those achieved together.

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📌 Note
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