Liubo and Xiangqi (Chinese Chess, Xiang Qi, Xiangqi, Chinese-Chess, Chinesechess)

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Xiangqi Stories

Liubo and Xiangqi

Xiangqi was evolved from an ancient game called Liubo. Liubo was first mentioned in Sima Qiang's Shiji- Yan Bunji, which recorded Emperor Wu Yi as a cruel king. Wu Yi wanted to prove that his power surpassed that of divine by playing Liubo against god. He made a statue and named it god, then he asked his official to play on behalf of it. Not wanting to cross the king, the officials would naturally let Wu Yi win. Wu Yi thus proceeded to insult god.

By Zhou Dynasty, the game pieces of Liubo had assumed three names, Zhuo, Qi and Ju. Zhou's are made of bamboo, they are equivalent to the modern dice, and were used to determine the moves of Qi's. Qi's are made of ivory, (therefore they are also called Xiang Qi, with Xiang meaning elephant). Among the Qi pieces, there was one general and five pawns. Ju is a square game board. According to the rules, the name of the game (Liubo) was to capture the general; the side that kill the opponent's general wins. Like Liubo, the modern Xiangqi consists of one general and five pawns, and the game is decided by the capturing of the general. Unlike Liubo, the moves of the modern Xiangqi are not determined by the roll of dice. Xiangqi also contains more game pieces which were introduced later.

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