Chinese Zodiac Symbols (also known as Hanging Memory, Flashback, Living Color, and My Poor Brain) is a recurring mental challenge in Survivor. The challenge debuted in Survivor: China and has since reappeared in Nicaragua, Redemption Island, Blood vs. Water, Cagayan, and San Juan del Sur.
Rules[]
Played in a series of rounds, the host will show the castaways a list of symbols or colors. When the host has finished, the castaways must show the same symbols/colors that were presented to them in the order that was previously shown. Showing the wrong symbol would result in the castaway being eliminated from the challenge. The last contestant remaining would win.
History[]
United States[]
In China, prior to the challenge, players that did not want to participate were able to partake in a feast of cheeseburgers, french fries, and drinks for as long as the challenge continued, or until the food runs out, whichever occurred sooner. Todd, Denise, Courtney, and James accepted the offer and sat out. At the challenge, Jeff called out to the castaways a series of Chinese zodiac animals. Then, the contestants must each stab the corresponding symbols with a knife on a solving board in the correct order. Get one symbol wrong and they're out. Last one remaining wins. Erik was first out, followed by Amanda. Frosti answered the final question incorrectly and Peih-Gee won immunity.
In Nicaragua, Jeff shown a series of symbols that the castaways should show back in order. Brenda was the last one left and won immunity.
In Redemption Island, the challenge was used right after Ralph Kiser was voted out at Tribal Council. Boston Rob beat Ashley Underwood and Steve Wright to win individual immunity.
It reappeared as the first individual Immunity Challenge in Survivor: Blood vs. Water right after the tribes merged into Kasama. Vytas Baskauskas outlasted his brother Aras to win immunity.
In Cagayan, the challenge was used for immunity. This time the castaways were shown a series of colored tiles, which they then had to repeat back to Jeff. It eventually came down to Tasha Fox, LJ McKanas, and Tony Vlachos. Tasha had the correct tile, giving her the win.
In San Juan del Sur, the challenge was used for immunity again. The contestants were shown a series of symbols and had to replicate the symbols using their individual answer cubes. Jeremy Collins outlasted everyone else to win immunity.
Australia[]
New Zealand[]
South Africa[]
In Malaysia, the challenge appeared as a Reward Challenge, where it was combined with an endurance element. The contestants hung on to a bar and, at the same time, memorized a string of numbers. They could keep studying the numbers for as long as they remained on the bar. Once everyone dropped off the bar, the tribe would start replicating their numbers. The host would then reveal the numbers one by one, with any castaways showing an incorrect match being eliminated from the challenge. In the end, Mandla Mbau beat Grant Clark for the family visit reward, and shared a KFC feast with his mother and sister.
In Santa Carolina, the challenge appeared as the first individual Immunity Challenge. The newly merged Kululama tribe had 15 seconds to memorize a series of 10 symbols before attempting to replicate them, with the highest-scorers advancing to the next round. The final round came down to former Chibudu Hanna Grobler facing off against former Timbila Kaseran Pillay. Hanna made one mistake in the final round, allowing Kaseran to win the challenge with a perfect score.
In Island of Secrets, the challenge was used as the fourth individual Immunity Challenge. The day before the challenge, Durão Mariano forfeited his vote on the Island of Secrets in exchange for a Challenge Advantage that allowed him to study the symbols while on the island. The challenge came down to Durão and Nicole Capper, with Durão's advantage paying off as he won his first individual Immunity Challenge.
The Survivor: Cagayan version of the challenge was used as the second individual Immunity Challenge of Immunity Island. Four castaways, Anesu Mbizvo, Anela Majozi, Kiran Naidoo, and Tyson Zulu, reached the third round. Ultimately, Kiran defeated Anesu to win his second consecutive Immunity Challenge.
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| China "Just Don't Eat the Apple" |
Individual Immunity |  Peih-Gee Law |
| Nicaragua "Running the Camp" |
Individual Immunity |  Brenda Lowe |
| Redemption Island "A Mystery Package" |
Individual Immunity |  Rob Mariano |
| Blood vs. Water "Skin of My Teeth" |
Individual Immunity |  Vytas Baskauskas |
| Cagayan "Bag of Tricks" |
Individual Immunity |  Tasha Fox |
| San Juan del Sur "Wrinkle in the Plan" |
Individual Immunity |  Jeremy Collins |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Celebrity Survivor Australia Episode 7 |
Individual Immunity |  David Oldfield |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Nicaragua Episode 9 |
Individual Reward |  Mike Sparrow |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia Episode 12 |
Individual Reward (Family Visit) |
 Mandla Mbau | |
| Santa Carolina Episode 7 |
Individual Immunity |  Kaseran Pillay | |
| Island of Secrets "One Trick Pony" |
Individual Immunity |  Durão Mariano | |
| Immunity Island "A Deal with the Devil" |
Individual Immunity |  Kiran Naidoo | |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This challenge has only appeared as an individual Immunity Challenge.
- In seasons featuring Redemption Island, this challenge was won by men. In seasons not featuring Redemption Island, this challenge was won by minorities.
- Boston Rob was the only contestant to win the challenge as a returning player, and the only contestant to win both this challenge and his season.
- Every contestant who won this challenge on their original season has returned for another season. Of the first-time contestants who won, Brenda was the only one who did not return in Cambodia.
- Every contestant voted off at the subsequent Tribal Council made it to the final round of this challenge.
References[]