Chinese Chess
(Xiang Qi)
Xiang Qi or Chinese Chess is the most popular board game in the world. Played by millions of Chinese people every day, it is a traditional chess variant whose origins like the whole Chess family are lost in the mists of time.
Click on the picture to enlarge.
Chinese Chess is an interesting game to learn and has a couple of twists that may come as a pleasant surprise to those familiar with modern European Chess. For instance, the General and his guards are not allowed outside the 'palace', the elephant may not cross the 'river' that separates the 2 halves of the board and the 'Cannon' can capture the enemy from any distance but only by jumping over an intervening piece...
Our board is a stylish article that comes in two sizes.
The dark-wood box houses moulded trays for display or storage. The pieces
are metal in detailed 3D shapes of the figures they represent - horses,
chariots etc. One side is coloured to antique copper and the other to
a pewter appearance.
Click on the picture to enlarge.
Dimensions are 25.5 x 22.5 x 1.8 cm (king 3.4 cm) or 35.5 x 30.5 x 2 cm (King 4.2 cm). Even if you aren't too interested in the intricacies of the game, it makes a fascinating and elegant gift...
Change to $  Change to  |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xiang Qi set (3.4cm King) |
£41.65 | £47.90 | 1 + transit time | ||
Xiang Qi set (4.2cm King) |
£65.13 | £74.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
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History of Xiang Qi
Chinese Chess or Shiang-Chi or Siang K'i or Xiang Qi is a considerably modified form of Shatranj, the first reference of which has been found in a book called 'The Book of Marvels' by Nui Seng-ju who died in 847 AD. The pieces are simple disks with Chinese characters on them to differentiate and are played on the points of the board rather than within the squares. The un-chequered board consists of 10 x 9 points with two notable distinguishing features. Firstly, dividing the players in the middle is the 'River', an open area. Also, each player has an area of 9 points in the middle at the nearest edge called the 'Fortress'.
There is no promotion In Xiang Qi, the concept of Stalemate does not exist. If a player cannot move, that player has lost which serves to remove one of the more tedious aspects found in the European game. It is often quoted that Xiang Qi is the most popular game in the world which is true but this is, of course, largely due to China's great population.
You can learn more about the history of Chinese Chess from The Online Guide to Traditional Games.