There are many theories about the origin of chess:
1. It originated from the Shennong family in the legendary era. Nian Chang, a monk from the Yuan Dynasty, said in "Buddha's Chronicles": "Shennong used the sun, moon and stars as images, and the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty used chariots, horses, soldiers, soldiers and cannons as machines." [3]
On-site explanation of the chess game
2. Originated from the Yellow Emperor in the legendary era. Huang Bu of the Northern Song Dynasty said in "Guangxiang Opera Ges·Preface": "The elephant plays the soldier's play. In the Yellow Emperor's battle, the fierce beasts are driven into the formation. The elephant is the hero of the beast. Therefore, the soldier's play is named after the elephant play." [3] < /p>
3. It originated when King Wu of Zhou conquered Zhou. "The Five Miscellaneous Groups" written by Zhaozhe and Zhejiang in the Ming Dynasty says: "Xiang Opera is said to have been created when Zhou Wu was conquering Zhou. Even if this is not the case, it is also attributed to the military strategists of the Warring States Period, who were responsible for heavy chariot warfare at that time." [3]
4. Originated from the Warring States Period. "Qianqueju Leishu" records: "The Yongmen Zhou Dynasty said to Lord Mengchang: 'If you move to Yanju, you will play chess, which is also a matter of the Warring States Period.' In addition to the use of troops in the Warring States Period, people at that time used war elephants as chess positions." [3 ]
5. It originated in the period of Yao. It is said that Yao’s half-brother was named Xiang. According to records, chess was already popular during the Warring States Period. In addition to the "Qian Queju Lei Shu" cited above, "Shuoyuan Shanshuo" written by Liu Xiang of the Han Dynasty also recorded the incident of Lord Mengchang playing chess during the Warring States Period: "When Yongmen Zhou transferred Lord Mengchang, he played chess under Yan Yan, which was also a battle. "The Warring States Period work "The Songs of Chu·Calling the Souls" also contains the sentence "The chessboard is covered with six pieces, which are thinner". All this shows that "chess" has become a regular activity during the Warring States Period.
So the time when chess was produced was before the Warring States Period. But when is "before"? Some people think that it can be pushed back to the Spring and Autumn Period, and that chess was produced by imitating the military system at that time. Their basis is that the "xiang" in chess means "symbol" and has nothing to do with the animal elephant. For example, if dancing is used to symbolize fighting, it is called "Xiang Wu", and if chess is used to symbolize fighting, it is called "Xiangqi". The names of the chess pieces also come from symbolizing different arms. This situation coincides with the military system of the Spring and Autumn Period, including generals, commanders, chariots, horses, soldiers, soldiers, pawns, etc. Therefore, the emergence of chess in the Spring and Autumn Period is in line with the historical situation at that time. Chess may also be named because the chess pieces are made of ivory.
In early chess, the chess system consisted of three instruments: chess, chopsticks, and game. Two parties play chess, each side has six pieces, namely: Xiao, Lu, Pheasant, Du, and Sai (two pieces). The chess pieces are carved from ivory. Chopsticks are equivalent to dice, and chopsticks must be thrown before playing chess. Game is a square chessboard. During the competition, "throw six chopsticks and play six chess pieces", compete with each other with skill and wit, attack and force each other, and kill the opponent. The military system during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period consisted of a team of five people, with one team leader and six soldiers. The football game used as a military training at that time also had six people per side. It can be seen that early [1] chess was a game that symbolized fighting at that time. On the basis of this chess system, a chess game called "Sai" appeared later, which only played chess without throwing chopsticks, getting rid of the element of luck in early chess.