Chinese chess game
( Xiangqi, Xiang Qi, Hsiang-Ch`i, Jeuhng Keih )
The Xiangqi or Chinese Chess game appeared in China about 3500 years
ago. The Chinese character "xiang" means elephant, from where the
name Elephant Chess. In order to explain this name, one of the well
known hypotheses recalls that the first emperor Huang Di used a herd
of elephants in its army. During the centuries many references to
the Xiangqi are registered in the Chinese literature starting
several centuries before Christ until our days. Although it finds
its origin many centuries ago, this traditional Chinese chess game
is now adapted to the new technologies and may be played its newest
version on desk top computer and pocket PC.
Xiangqi is palyed on a checkerboard of 90 squares (9 x 10) with 32
pieces (2 x 16), There is a rectangular space calls the river in the
middle of the board. These 32 pieces are arranged at the
intersections and not in the center of the squares. The pieces in
the shape of small discs are covered of a Chinese character that
indicates its value.
chess game; chess
Shogi or he "General Game" in Japan
The Shogi actual version of is played in Japan for more than 400
years. The symbol Shô means "general" and Gi means "board
game". So Shogi means the General Game. Shogi is played on a 9
x9 game board. But unlike the traditional chess games pieces are all
of the same color.
Changgi en Corée
Changgi (Janggi; Jangki,Tjyang
Keui) is the Korean chess game. It is paled on a 9 x 10 board like
the Xiang Qi. There is no river and the board shape is more
rectangular. The pieces are arranged at the intersections and not in
the center of the slots.