Chinese Chess

Synopsis

Chinese chess is a traditional Chinese intellectual competitive game with a history of over two thousand years. It was included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2008. The board consists of nine vertical and ten horizontal lines, with the "Chu River and Han Border" dividing the two sides. The seven types of pieces—general, advisor, elephant, chariot, horse, cannon, and soldier—each have their own roles. Chess games can be seen everywhere in streets and alleys, making it the most popular board game in China. Chinese chess embodies ancient Chinese military strategy and philosophical wisdom.

Overview

Chinese Chess (Xiangqi) is the most popular traditional intellectual competitive game in China and the most representative board game of the Chinese nation. The history of Xiangqi can be traced back over two thousand years. After a long period of development and evolution, it largely took on its modern form during the Southern Song Dynasty. In 2008, Xiangqi was included in China's National Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, becoming an important part of traditional Chinese culture.

The charm of Xiangqi lies in its condensation of ancient Chinese military thought onto a small square board. The "Chu River and Han Border" divides the board in half, symbolizing the conflict between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu during the Chu-Han Contention. The General commands from the palace, the Guards provide close protection, the Chariots and Horses maneuver freely, the Cannons attack by leaping over pieces, and the Soldiers advance bravely—each piece corresponds to different military units and functions in ancient armies. Playing Xiangqi is like commanding a war, requiring strategic planning, a balance of offense and defense, encompassing both grand strategic deployments and exquisitely clever tactical maneuvers.

Board and Pieces

The Xiangqi board is formed by the intersection of nine vertical lines and ten horizontal lines, creating 90 intersection points. There is a blank area in the middle of the board called the "Chu River and Han Border," symbolizing the historical story of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu using the Hong Canal as a boundary. The Generals can only move within the palace. The Guards can only move diagonally within the palace. The Elephants cannot cross the river and move in an "田" shape. The Chariots move in straight lines, the Horses move in an "日" shape, the Cannons capture by leaping over a single piece, and the Soldiers can only move forward, not backward—the movement rules for each piece correspond to different military functions.

Historical Origins

There are various theories about the origin of Xiangqi. Folklore attributes its invention to Han Xin—who supposedly created it to pass the time while under house arrest by Liu Bang. However, based on archaeological discoveries, the earliest chess-like games in China can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, "Xiangxi" appeared, a game played on a board. In the Northern Song Dynasty, Xiangqi was divided into "Da Xiangxi" (Big Xiangxi) and "Xiao Xiangxi" (Small Xiangxi). By the Southern Song Dynasty, Xiangqi had largely solidified into its modern form, with the number of pieces and movement rules being essentially the same as today.

Xiangqi entered a golden age of development during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Ming Dynasty saw the publication of numerous Xiangqi manuals, such as the "Juzhong Mi" and "Meihua Pu," which remain essential reading for learning Xiangqi to this day. The Qing Dynasty produced many famous players, and Xiangqi became widely popular among the common people. Chess stalls on street corners became one of the most common social scenes in Chinese society.

Xiangqi and Modern Times

Xiangqi is the most common cultural scene on Chinese streets and alleys. In almost any city in China, in parks, community squares, or by the roadside, one can see groups of people gathered around a chessboard, the players concentrating deeply and onlookers eagerly offering advice. This scene of street-side chess games is one of the most vibrant and everyday pictures of Chinese social life.

Xiangqi is also widely popular in many Asian countries and regions, including Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia. The World Xiangqi Federation is dedicated to promoting Xiangqi globally, allowing more people to understand and participate in this ancient intellectual sport.

Classic Manuals

References

1. China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network: https://www.ihchina.cn/project_details/13813/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/象棋/30665
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/象棋
4. Chinese Chess Association: https://baike.baidu.com/item/中国棋院