Changgi
Janggi: A Popular Strategy Board Game
Janggi, also known as Korean chess, is a popular strategy board game native to the Korean Peninsula. It was derived from Xiangqi (Chinese chess) and shares similarities with it, including the 9×10 gameboard and some starting positions of the pieces. However, there are differences between the two games, such as the absence of the xiangqi “river” dividing the board horizontally in the middle and the presence of jumping cannons and long-range elephants in Janggi.
History of Janggi
The history of Janggi can be traced back to the Chinese game Xiangqi, which has been around for about 2,000 years. Xiangqi came to Korea around 400 years ago and evolved into Janggi after some changes. The first mentions of Janggi in Korean literature were made by an author named Chang Yu (1587-1638), and the rules set then have remained largely unchanged. The game was introduced to Western civilization in 1895 by Stewart Culin’s book, Korean Games.
Gameplay Mechanics and Rules
Janggi is played on a 9×10 board with pieces placed on intersections rather than squares. The game is sometimes fast-paced due to the jumping cannons and long-range elephants, but professional games can last over 150 moves, making them slower than Western chess. The game is popular in Korea and has been played in international tournaments since 2009.Some key components and rules of Janggi include:
– Board: The board is composed of 9 vertical files and 10 horizontal rows with the pieces being played on the intersections.
– Setup: The starting positions of the pieces are arranged as shown in the provided diagram.
– Gameplay: Players can choose the starting positions of the horses and elephants, and the game is played on the intersections rather than squares.
– Objective: The goal is to capture the opponent’s general, similar to international chess.
Resources for Learning Janggi
To learn more about Janggi and its history, you can refer to various resources, such as the Janggi manual, the Korea Janggi Federation, and the Korea Janggi Association. You can also find online platforms like Ludii Portal and Yellow Mountain Imports to play Janggi and learn more about the game.
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