The Old Texts - Part 2

9^th and 10^th centuries

Poem written by Bo Juyi (or Bai Juyi, 772-846), friend of Niu Sengru, mentioning Xiangqi and other games. It explicitly names Soldiers and Chariots.

The "Book of marvels" or "Tales of the obscure and peculiar" was written by the Chinese Niu Sengru (779 - 847), minister of state between 805-808 under the Tang dynasty. The work is a collection of supernatural fables and it constitutes the first undeniable reference for Xiangqi. A story tells the history of Censhun which dreamed of a battle about to come: "the celestial horse springs aslant over three the commanders go sideaways and attack on all four sides, the chariots go straight forwards and never backwards, the six men in armour go in file but not backwards[...] on both sides stuff was unpacked, stones and arrows flew across...". In addition, in other places, the text mentions a King.
His dream makes Censhun able to defeat the enemy on the following day. When his relatives notice that he has changed they entice him to tell what has happened. They dig up the floor of the room he was sleeping in and find a set-up Xiangqi board in an old grave. The battle is supposed to have occurred in 762, first year of the "Baoying" era (this play is often indicated under the name of Baoying Xiangqi).
The movements of the pieces are roughly described. The Charriot is very limited and is not without recalling the Lance from Japanese Shogi (some see a filiation there). The count of 6 Soldiers is doubtful as the text could be interpreted "the men armed with six weapons" as well. In any case, their move is not clear because the text further states that "the soldiers rushed East, West, North and South". At least, it is understood that there would be 4 types of parts (General-jiang, Heavenly Horse-tianma, Covered Wagon-ju, Soldier-jia) but it may be that Minister/Elephant (xiang) was forgotten or omitted by the copier who would have believed in an erroneous repetition of the Xiang ideogram. Crossbows (nu) and Catapults (pao) are perhaps implied as well. Furthermore, it seems that the pieces are made of gold and could be three dimensional figurines. One could draw many lessons, nevertheless the greatest prudence is advised as this source is unique and rather obscure.

Yahya ibn Yahya (died 848) was a Spanish pupil of Malik ibn Anas (died 795) one of the great schools founder. He forbade Shatranj which he considered far worse than Nard because it exercised a greater fascination over its players.

Several treaties about Shatranj were composed at Abbasid caliphs court in Baghdad. The Kitab ash-shatranj (the Book of Chess) from al-'Adli (800-870, probably born in the Byzantine Empire) was composed before 850 and is only known by posterior manuscripts. It tells how Chess was transmitted to Persians by the Indians. It also describes the game practiced in India where the Charriots (Rooks) were placed in c1 and f1 and where the corners of the chessboard were occupied by Elephants which jumped to the 2nd squares horizontally or vertically.

One of the rare Indian references of before the year 1000. Written by Ratnakara, a Kashmiri poet, circa 850. In this text, the four branches of the army are identified along with the Ashtapada: the Chariots (ratha), the Cavalry (ashwa), the Elephants (dvipa) and the Infantrymen (pati). The word Chaturanga is not used, however there is little doubt that Chess is meant.

ar-Razi was another Chess master, the grand rival and successor of al-'Adli. They played together before the Caliph Mutawakkil (847-862) and ar-Razi won. ar-Razi was probably Persian and died before 900. His book contained Shatranj problems and end-games but very few has survived through posterior manuscripts.

Historian, died in 907, who reported legends about Shatranj invention.

As-Sarakhsi (died 899) was a physician. He fell into disfavor by revealing a secret of the calif al-Mu'tadid and was executed. Nothing is left from his book. Some believe that it could be the same person as al-'Adli but Murray did not think so.

Another text written in Sanskrit by Rudrata, also a Kashmiri poet, around 825-850 and which comprises verses based on series of syllables in relation to the famous puzzles where the Horse (turaga) must cross all the chessboard (caturangapitha) without never passing twice by the same square. The courses of the Chariot (ratha) and the Elephant (gaja) are also given. The Elephant movement is difficult to interpret, it could be that given by al-Beruni in 1030.

This story from the historian at-Tabari (838-923) is about an incident in 802 between Nicephorus, Emperor of Byzantium and the famous Caliph Harun ar-Rashid (786-809). The first provoked the second by sending him a letter saying that his mother, Irene, considered him with the rank of a Rook whereas she considered herself as Pawn, but that he now thinks that it should have been the opposite. Ulcerated, ar-Rashid decided to march against Heracleia.

As-Suli (c.880-946) was reputed the best player of his time. He was from Turkish origin and started to become famous under caliph al-Muktafi (902-908). Great master and historian, he wrote two books upon Shatranj, with problems (mansubat) and opening (ta'biyat). Those works are known through posterior manuscripts (from 12nd-13th centuries and later).

From the historian al-Mas'udi (dead in 956). This text connects the arrival of Chess in Persia under Khosraw I Anushirwan reign with the arrival of the collection of Indian fables called Kalilah wa Dimnah. Talking about India, al-Masudi wrote:"by far the most frequent use ivory is for manufacture of men for Chess and Nard". Nard was the predecessor of Backgammon. Also, al-Masudi described five variants: Oblong Chess (al-mustatila), Decimal Chess (at-tamma, complete Chess), Circular Chess (ar-rumiya, Byzantine Chess), Astronomical Chess (al-falakiya, Celestial Chess) and Limb Chess (al-jawarhiya, played over a 7x8 board with 6 pieces (tongue/eye/ear/hand/foot/heart) for each sides, rules are lost).

In this book compiled in 918-967, there is a passage about Shatranj connected with the poet al-Ahwas (died in 728) when he was returning from banishment into Mecca in 719.

Pupil of as-Suli, al-Lajlaj (died circa 970) has also been considered as the best players, especially among Persians, Turks and Moghol Indians. Some even thought that he has invented Chess. He wrote a book about problems (mansubat), also known from posterior manuscripts.

This is the commentary of Pingala's Chandahsutra by Halayudha, made at the end of the 10th century in Kashmir, with a short mention to Chaturanga. "draw a table of 64 squares as in the game of Chaturanga".

This text completed in 982 attributes the invention of Xiangqi to Emperor Wudi (561 - 578). This is again the story of Emperor Wudi who would have invented Chinese Chess.

A bibliographical work which devoted a section to the authors of Shatranj books and thus introducing al-'Adli, ar-Razi, as-Suli, al-Lajlaj and al-Aliqlidisi to posterity. The last author would have compiled a collection of Shatranj problems, but it has been probably lost as nothing else is known.

This long poem (98 verses) is the first European text about Chess. It lies in a manuscript in a monastery in Einsiedeln, Switzerland. The Chess board is already described having 2 colors to make the moves easier to follow. Also, it is the first appearance of a Queen (Regina) instead of a Vizier. Chess could have come into the Alps from contacts between Otto III (983-1002) and Italy.

One of the few Indian reference before 1000 where it is said that in Chaturanga one does not have a King without an Advisor.