Description
Chinese Chess sets are not just for people who know how to play the game, or would like to learn. This is a request by a collector who would like a well made solid set to display. It’s both functional & exquisite as home decor.
Here’s a YouTube video if you’d like to learn!
Play with a computer (super addictive and it’s free so you can hone your skills)
https://play.xiangqi.com/computer
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– Available options:
1. A8 Brown Medium – 32 x 32cm, square Brown board. 3cm diameter, 0.9cm thick Brown chess pieces with White & Green wordings. – $30
2. A8 Jade Green Medium – 32 x 32cm, square Brown board, 3cm diameter, 0.9cm thick Jade Green chess pieces with White & Red wordings. – $30
3. A702 Large – 33 x 33cm square Brown board, 3.3cm diameter, 0.9cm thick Brown chess pieces with White & Green wordings. – $32
4. A802 XLarge – 37 x 37cm square Brown board, 4cm diameter, 1cm thick Brown chess pieces with White & Green wordings. – $33
5. A9 XLarge – 45 x 38cm Light Green board, 3.8cm diameter, White & Light Brown chess pieces with Black & Red wordings. – $36
* Shipping is a little more as the Chess set is very heavy at 1.3kg. After all the protective bubblewrap and Indestructo box it will be around 1.5kg. Please note that overseas shipping is not charged by me, but by the post office, and is not something which I can control.
As a crystallization of wisdom, the chess culture is a legacy of traditional Chinese arts, and has contained many rich values and profound cultural significance throughout the ages. Together with playing musical instruments, reading, and painting, playing chess was considered as one of the essential qualities for ancient Chinese literati.
Among the wealth of different kinds of chesses, many were invented in China like Chinese chess(Xiangqi), and go (Weiqi). Some people even argue that international chess itself also originated from China.
With a long history, Chinese chess experienced seven stages of development: burgeoning, growing, contending, upsurge, declining, prospering, and steady periods.
There are many stories about the origin of Chinese chess. Some believe that it was invented by Shennongshi, a legendary god of farming; others insist that the game emanated from the Warring States Period(475-221BC); while yet some think that the game was first formed in the Northern Zhou Dynasty(557-581). However, the most widespread story about the origin of Chinese chess goes that Emperor Shun invented the game to educate his younger brother Xiang, hence the name of Xiangqi.
As a traditional form of art, the game of go also boasts a number of legends about its origin. One of the best known is that when Emperor Yao married Fuyi Shi and had a son named Zhu, Yao became very disheartened when the son did not behave well. So Yao made the game of go to cultivate him morally and intellectually. Meanwhile, some believe a political strategist in the Warring States Period (475-221BC) created it.
Nevertheless, despite the legends, the fact is that the primitive form of the game of go appeared in the primitive society, and the game was a collective, rather than an individual, creation from ancient China.
The game of go is usually closely associated with military affairs because both attach great importance on strategies and moving forces. Chinese chess also has this characteristic.
While a lot of people believe that international chess was invented in India, some still hold the idea that the game was a creation of ancient Chinese. However, there is no substantial difference between international chess and Chinese chess. Influenced by different histories and geographies, the two games have varied ways in moving the chess pieces, representing different cultural backgrounds and characteristics.
Today, people all across China love various chesses, which are a prevailing form of entertainment. The games are highly competitive and require much brain activity, which could be good therapy for the intellectually retarded people. However, playing chess is more than only a sport in China; it is also a kind of widespread art form.
How to Play Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋
Xiangqi is a two-player board game from the same family of games as Chanturanga, Western Chess, Shogi, and Jogi. Xiangqi is known in the west as Chinese Chess and is one of the most widely played board games in the world.
Equipment
The board is composed of 9 vertical lines (files) and 10 horizontal lines (ranks) with the pieces being played on the intersections. On each side of the board against the back edge is a palace, which is 3 by 3 lines (9 positions) with four diagonal lines that extend outward from the center forming an “X” shape. Dividing the two opposing sides of the board is a river, located between the fifth and sixth ranks. The river is often marked with the Chinese characters, 楚河 “Chǔ Hé” meaning “Chu River”, and 漢界 (汉界 in simplified Chinese), “Hàn Jiè”, meaning “Han border”, a reference to the Chu-Han War. Some boards have the starting points of soldiers marked with small crosses.
Pieces
The playing pieces are indicated by Chinese characters. The same ranking pieces sometimes have different characters for each side and sometimes are written in either traditional or Chinese characters. The pieces are identified below by English name, Chinese pronunciation, traditional Chinese character, simplified Chinese character if it is different, and then the character variation.
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Piece – General “Shuài” 帥/帅 and “Jiàng” 將/将
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Generals may move one point either vertically or horizontally, but not diagonally and is confined to the nine points within his palace.
General “Shuài” 帥/帅 and “Jiàng” 將/将
Generals may move one point either vertically or horizontally, but not diagonally and is confined to the nine points within his palace. A general may not also move into a file, which is occupied by the enemy general, unless there is at least one piece positioned between the generals in the file.
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Piece – Guard / Advisor “Shì” 仕 and “Shì” 士
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Guard moves one point diagonally and is confined to the palace.
Guard / Advisor “Shì” 仕 and “Shì” 士
These are the king’s counselors and guard the king within the palace. The guard moves one point diagonally and is confined to the palace.
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Piece – Elephant “Xiàng” 相 and “Xiàng” 象
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Elephants move exactly two points in any diagonal direction.
Elephant “Xiàng” 相 and “Xiàng” 象
The elephants move exactly two points in any diagonal direction and may not jump over intervening pieces or cross the river.
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Piece – Horse “Mà” 傌/马 and “Mǎ” 馬/马
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Horse moves one point horizontally or vertically, and then one point diagonally.
Horse “Mà” 傌/马 and “Mǎ” 馬/马
The horse moves one point horizontally or vertically, and then one point diagonally. It cannot move in a direction where there is a piece blocking it along the path of movement.
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Piece – Chariot “Jū” 俥/车 and “Jū” 車/车
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Chariot moves as many points as it wishes horizontally or vertically.
Chariot “Jū” 俥/车 and “Jū” 車/车
Chariots move similarly to the rooks in international chess. The chariot moves as many points as it wishes horizontally or vertically. It cannot jump over pieces in its path.
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Piece – Cannons “Pào” 炮 and “Pào” 砲
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Cannons move as many points as it wishes horizontally or vertically. To capture, a cannon must jump over exactly one piece, friend or foe, along its line of movement.
Cannons “Pào” 炮 and “Pào” 砲
Cannons move exactly like the chariot. To capture, however, a cannon must jump over exactly one piece, friend or foe, along its line of movement.
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Piece – Soldier “Bīng” 兵 and “Zú” 卒
Xiangqi / Chinese Chess / 象棋 Soldiers move and capture by advancing one point forward. Once a pawn has crossed the river it may also move and capture one point horizontally.
Soldier “Bīng” 兵 and “Zú” 卒
Soldiers move and capture by advancing one point forward. Once a pawn has crossed the river it may also move and capture one point horizontally. A pawn may never move backward, thus retreating.
Gameplay
Each side alternates, moving one piece in each turn. Pieces capture by using their normal moves and landing on a point occupied by an enemy piece. Generally, red makes the first move but two players can agree to play otherwise.
Victory is achieved when one player puts the other’s general in checkmate. Checkmate is when the other player’s general is left with no option but to be captured in the next move. When the player’s general is in danger of being captured on the next move, that general is in check, “Jiāng” 將/将，and the player threatening capture announces it.
If a player forces the other player to repeat a move by repeating his move a second time, he must break the cycle with a different move on his next turn.
If a player checks the other player three times in a row in a way that repeats their positions, the checked player must forfeit.
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