Board Games: Chinese Chess and Go

A variety of chess games have come down from generation to generation since ancient times, the most popular being weiqi (also known as “go” internationally) and xiangqi (or Chinese-style chess). Characterized by keen competition among the contestants like all sports and games, they help the players improving their intelligence.

Six-piece Chess board in the Warring States Period (475-221B.C.), made of slabs carved in a motif of waves and animals. Unearthed in 1976 in Pingshan County, Hebei Province.

A painting on silk in the Tang Dynasty showing a woman at a weiqi game, excavated in 1972 in Turpan, Xinjiang.

Temple mural of Chess games

A painting of chess game by Wenju Zhou

Painting of a woman watching at the chess table, Qing Dynasty

Portions of this article were adapted from research materials originally published on China Sports Museum.