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Evidence for Mongolian Chess
1 pieces of evidence found.
Id DLP.Evidence.2079
Type Contemporary rule description
Location Mongolia
Date 1812-01-01 - 1859-12-31
Rules 8x8 board. Pagoda (x1): begins on the space to the right of center on the back row; Cannon (x1): begins to the left of center in the back row; Camel (x2): placed in the second row, one to the right and one to the left of the Pagoda and Cannon, moves sideways for nine spaces; Horse (x2): placed in the second row, one to the right and one to the left of the Pagoda and Cannon, moves six spaces orthogonally sideways; Chariot (x2): placed in the second row, one to the right and one to the left of the Pagoda and Cannon. Foot Soldier (x): moves forward orthogonally one space or diagonally forward one space to capture. When it reaches the final row, it is promoted to a Chariot. There is no river. When a player's piece moves to a space occupied by an opponent's piece, the opponent's piece is captured. When the Pagoda can be captured on the opponent's next turn, it is in check. The Pagoda cannot be in check at the end of the player's turn. If this is impossible, it is checkmate and the opponent wins.
Content Translation of Ye Mingfeng's work Qiaoxi Zaji: "The board is nine lines by nine, forming sixty-four squares. Each side has sixteen pieces, comprising eight footsoldiers, two chariots, two horses, two elephants, one cannon and one general. The two sides are distinguished by red and black. The general is to the right of center, and the cannon is to the left of center. One square above the general, the chariots, horses and elephants are placed to the left and right. the footsoldiers are placed in front. This is roughly similar to Chinese chess. The pieces are three-dimensional and have no characters on them. The general is carved like a pagoda as a sign of respect for Buddhism. The elephant is carved like a camel or bear, because in the meandering frontiers of the north, there are no elephants. There are many footsoldiers, because there is strength in numbers. There are no scholars, because they are not valued. The pieces are not placed on the lines but on the squares because this would be more secure. The horse always moves sideways for six squares, and the camel sideways for nine. This is because a camel is faster than a horse. Pieces can go all over the board, and there is no river boundary. This is to follow the water and grasses for pastures. The footsoldier moves on square forward each time to the last rank. It captures an enemy piece in front by moving diagonally. After it has gone...it...move backwards, and is promoted to chariot. This is to commend its merit. The pieces all aim to encircle and attack the pagoda, and only when the pagoda has no avenue of escape is there defeat." Lo 2007: 126.
Confidence 100
Ages Adult
Genders Male
Source Lo, A. 2007. An introduction to board games in Late Imperial China. In I. Finkel (ed), Ancient Board Games in Perspective. London: The British Museum Press. pp. 125–132.
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