Xiangqi is a strategy board game that originated in China. It is also known as Chinese chess.
Xiangqi has a long history, with origins dating back to the Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD).
The game was originally called 'xiu00e0ngyu00ec' which means 'elephant chess'.
Over time, the game evolved and the name was changed to 'xiu00e0ngqu00ed', which means 'elephant game' or 'image game'.
Xiangqi was traditionally played by both commoners and nobility, and it remains a popular pastime in China and among Chinese diaspora worldwide.
Shogi is a Japanese strategy board game that is similar to Xiangqi. It is played on a 9x9 board with slightly different rules.
Chess is a strategy board game that originated in India and is played on an 8x8 board. It has a different set of pieces and rules compared to Xiangqi.
Go is a strategy board game that originated in China and is played on a 19x19 board. It has a very different gameplay style and rules compared to Xiangqi.
A board with 10 horizontal rows and 9 vertical columns, with intersecting lines dividing the board into 90 squares.
Pieces are made up of 2 armies (red and black) with each army having 16 pieces exactly. The pieces have different symbols (e.g. chariots, elephants, horses) and move according to specific rules.
The objective of Xiangqi is to checkmate the opponent's general or 'king' piece, which is located in the central area of the board.
The elephant moves by jumping exactly two squares diagonally, and cannot jump over other pieces.
There are several differences between the two games, including the board size (Xiangqi has a 10x9 board while chess has an 8x8 board), the movement of certain pieces (e.g. knights in chess can jump over other pieces, while horses in Xiangqi cannot), and the objective (in Xiangqi, the objective is to checkmate the opponent's king, while in chess it is to capture the king).
Like any strategy game, Xiangqi has a learning curve. However, many players find it easier to learn than other strategy games like chess, as the pieces and movement rules are simpler and more intuitive.
Yes, there are many online platforms and apps where you can play Xiangqi against other players around the world. Some popular options include Xiangqi Master, Xiangqi.com, and China Qiyuan Xiangqi.