Chinese Board Games

Some oldest board and card games in China are still famous. Some of the games connect to ancient Eastern philosophies; they have beautiful rules and complex strategies. Many board games of China have gained international recognition. International games are also popular in different generations across China. Here is the list of traditional Chinese board games that are still famous and played in China and the rest of the world.

Chinese Checkers

Chinese checkers are not made in China. In Germany, they were made in 1892; its original name is Stern Halma and was developed by modifying an American game, “Halma”, which was created in 1883 or 1884. The Chinese checker is a hexagram-shaped board, which six players can play. Chinese checkers primary goal is to move all marble from the end point to the opposite point of the star. Players move their marble by hopping on the single adjacent marble of an opponent's, or someone's own and can hop as long as there is no adjacent marble.

With various numbers of players, Chinese checkers can be played, and it affects its rules.

Two players rule: one player moves all his marbles on the board to another player’s starting point. To prolong the game, it is common for each player to control multiple sets of 2 or 3 different colored marbles.

Three players rule: For each player, it can be played with one or two marbles. If a set is used, players need to move their marble to the opposite empty star point. If each uses two sets, players must place their marbles in opposite directions and move their colors to replace each other.

Four players rule: Two sides are left open, and it is the most common Chinese checker.

Six players rule: Each player has a different marble color, and they have to move in the opposite direction which a player holds.

Chinese Chess

Xiangqi is a famous type of chess not only in China but all over Asia. There are many similarities between classical western chess and Xiangqi, and according to experts, both are based on the original Indian Chess, Chaturanga.

Xiangqi was first mentioned in the historical text Shou Yuan of the first century BC, and it was mentioned that Xiangqi dates back to the time of the Warring States. Xiangqi can be translated as an elephant or figure game because Xiang can mean both elephant and figure.

Chinese chess xiangqi is similar to classic western chess, played on a rectangular nine × ten board. Players start with one king / general, two bishops/elephants, two guards/advisers, two chariots, two knights/horses, two cannons, and five pawns. Unlike western chess, pieces are placed not on squares but intersections.

Chinese Board Game Go

Go game, also known as i-go, Chinese weiqi, Korean baduk, is also called a board game for two players. It is closely identified and famous in China, especially Japan and Korea. Go is the oldest play board game globally; about 4,000 years ago, it is thought to have originated in China.

Traditionally, go is played on a square wooden board with 19 horizontal and 19 vertical lines to make 361 intersections. Nowadays, it has been played as a computer game. Go requires great skill and strategy; it has infinite capabilities, the rules and pieces are still simple enough for children to play with. Special handicap helps the players to play together with unequal skills.