The Old Texts - Part 4

13^th, 14^th and 15^th centuries

German Arthurian romance by Wirnt von Gravenberg, inspired by French "Li bel inconnu" from Renaud de Beaujeu. It appeared between 1204 and 1209. In this text, Chess has been replaced by Courrier Chess which is the very first mention. This variant was played in Germany on a 12x8 chessboard with 48 pieces.

Liu Kezhuang (1187 - 1269) wrote this poem about 1210. "Xiangyi" should be read as Xiangqi. It describes every piece and the board as in modern Xiangqi.

This monk (dead in 1236) has composed several texts where he used Chess in allegory, for moralizing purposes. In one of them he wrote "This Queen moves in such a way that she checks the adversary in all directions". In another one: "Other queens move but one square, but this one moves so fast". The Queen will get her long range move more than 200 years later. Such an intuition is very intriguing.

Earliest Chess text from Iceland, part of the Heimskringla, it contains a Chess incident. It is a game between Danish-English king Knut with Jarl Ulf in 1027. Knut left a knight unattended and Ulf took it. Then Knut asked Ulf to give him it back, but Jarl refused. They quarrelled, and taken Ulf upset the board. That finished as expected with the death of Ulf, sadly murdered. Whether Knut could have played Chess or not is not a solved question yet. Anyway, this story is proven to be an adaptation of an older one where the game actually was the older Hnefatafl.

Ye Maoqing compiled this first manual of Xiangqi between 1173 and 1234, but this work is no longer extant.

Most probably of French origin because the Bishop is a stultus, a Fool, in this Flemish poem. It gives the rules and names of pieces.

Short poem found in several collections, dealing with the moves of the pieces.

Oldest known Chess "morality" written in Middle Age. Several manuscripts exist (the oldest is from 1st quarter of 14th century) whose authorship is attributed either to Pope Innocent III (1163-1216) or to "Johannes Gallensis", a Welsh Franciscan friar who lived and wrote in Oxford and Paris in the years 1260-80.

Abi Usaibi'a (1203-1270) composed a book on Arabic physicians where he cited the "fi'sh-shatranj al-'aliya" (book of higher chess) by as-Sarakhsi.

"The Book of moralities of men and duties of nobles or the Book of Chess" attributed to Jacobus de Cessolis, Lombard Dominican monk, elaborated between 1259 and 1273. Very often copied or printed, translated into 9 languages, so much that it almost rivaled the Bible itself in the end of the Middle Age. Every piece is identified with a trade what makes possible for the author to draw up an ideal presentation of the society. That explains its incredible success with princes and nobles of that times.

One of the earliest treatise with Chess problems. Written in England in Norman dialect of French.

Very short poem found in a manuscript from Reims (France), a volume from the Abbey of St Arnoul of Metz, dealing with the moves of the pieces.

This encyclopedia was writen in the late Southern Song (1127-1279). The Zhishun edition (1330-33) included 2 complete handicaped games as well as the earliest recorded endgame entitled er long chu hai shi (game of two dragons emerging from the sea).

These two books are supposed to have contained the rules of Sanguo Qi, the Three Kingdoms Game (3-Handed Xiangqi). They are lost. Zheng Jinde may have seen one of them when he invented his Sanyou Qi in 1697.

Fond of the Xiangqi, Wen Tianxiang (1236-83) compiled a manual including 40 games.

The "Libro del Acedrex" belongs to the codex intitled "Juegos diuersos de Acedrex, dados, y tablas con sus explicationes, ordenados por mandado del rey don Alfonso el sabio". Compiled by King Alfonso X El Sabio from Castilla (Spain), this codex was released in 1283 and consists of 98 leaves with wonderful illustrations. It gives details about Chess (with 103 problems) and other games as dice games, Tables, Merrels, Alquerque and Chess variants such as "El Grant Acedrex" on a chess-board of 12x12 squares and 48 pieces or the "Acedrex de los quatro tiempos" (Four Seasons Chess), a game four players very similar to the Indian 4-handed Chaturanga. The book also includes Escaques, an astronomical game.

Zhou Mi (1232-98) recorded 15 game players in attendance at court, 5 specialized in Weiqi and 10 in Xiangqi.

Very important Chess treatise including 194 problems, aiming at completing all known Chess science of the time. Several were of Muslim origin. The provenance is without any doubt from Lombardy. The anonymous author names himself as the bonus socius, hence the title of the work, meaning good companion, a title often given in universities circles. Murray thought that the author could be a Picard monk named Nicholas from St Nicholas (today in Belgium) who had travelled in Lombardy. It also included problems of other board games, Tables and Merels. The Bonus Socius had been very popular in France.

A poem of 10722 lines which was a free translation of the Solatium ludi scaccorum of Jacopo Dacciesole (Cessolis). The poem was probably completed between 1290 and 1300. It briefly alluded to the Courriers as an improvement of Chess.

Written by a Buddhist monk named Ryoki about 1300, it quickly evokes Sho Shogi (sho = small). Sho Shogi is the direct ancestor of Shogi. The text also mentions a Dai Shogi (dai = large) and few of its pieces. However, there is no indication of the board size and the total number of pieces, contrarily to what is affirmed here or there.

An other earlier treatise with Chess problems. Also written in England in Norman dialect of French.

The Venitian Marco Polo (1254-1324) spent the years 1275 to 1291 in China working for the Mongol Emperor, Qubilai Khan (reigning 1260-1294). In 1285, the Great Khan sent him to "Cyamba" which is Champa, a Kingdom located in South Vietnam today. His book, written with the help of Rusticello (an unfortunate Pisan who was imprisoned with him in Gena), says : "Il y a olifans assez en ce royaulme et si ont aussi lingaloes assez et si ont moult grant planté de grans bois et si ont fust noir que l'en appelle ybenus et dont l'en fait les eschiez noirs." (There are elephants in this realm and they also have a lot of aloe wood and they have black wood named ebony from which black chess are made). It is very likely that Marco Polo saw Cambodian Chess which are also engraved in several walls in Angkor, Cambodia dating from the same period.

Encyclopedia written by Ma Duanlin (1254-1322) which mentionned several works related to Xiangqi: 1) Xiangqi and Qishi by Yin Zhu (1001-1047), completely lost, 2) Qiguo xiangqi by Sima Wengong, 3) Guang xianxi tu (Enlarged xiangxi) by Zhao Buzhi, 4) Xiangqi shenji ji (collection of divine secrets of xiangqi) by Chengshan Ye Maoqing, also lost.

A long poem, later abbreviated by Mennel for his Schachzabel (1507). In this text, the author affirmed to have seen Courier Chess played in Konstanz (Constance) and he listed the pieces added to the standard set.

The monk Nianchang (1282-1342) wrote that Xiangqi was created by legendary Emperor Shennong (trad. reigned 2737-2697 BC) and that Catapults were added by Niu Sengru (779-847).
"In old times Shennong used the sun, the moon, the stars and the planets as symbols (xiang). Niu Sengru, Minister of State for the Tang Dynasty, replaced them by chariots, horses, scholars (shi), soldiers and catapults (pao) as ustensils in the game".

Persian encyclopedia from Mahmud al-Amuli (died 1352) containing three chapters on Chess. It described five historical chess variants: 1) Shatranj at-Tawila, oblong chess, played over a 4x16 chessboard and the regular set, 2) Shatranj al-Mudawara, circular chess, 3) an astronomical game as in Alfonso's, 4) Shatranj al-Husun, "Citadel" Chess, on a 10x10 chessboard with 4 citadels at the corners, and which employs two Dabbabas having exactly the movement of the future modern Bishop; 5) Shatranj al-Kabir, Great Chess later known as Timur Chess, on a 11x10 chessboard with 2 citadels, and which employs 28 pieces for each side.

This work from mid-14th century would mention Dai (Large) Shogi and Middle (or Intermediate) Shogi (Chu Shogi). Chu Shogi is still played nowadays. ("Shinsen" means new compilation or edition). According to the Japanese historian Kimura this text says: "Games of Dai Shogi and Chu Shogi, kemari, wind or string instrument, renku, classic poems, composition, etc. are subject to gambling for many people."

A manuscript based on al-'Adli and as-Suli legacy.

As-Safadi wrote about Shatranj. Among other things he reported that the calif al-Ma'mun (died 833) once said: "Strange that I who rule the world from the Indus in the East to Andalus in the West cannot manage 32 chessmen in a space of two cubits by two".

This manual was possibly compiled in the Zhizheng era (1341-68) but its authenticity remains to be confirmed.

Very important work known owing to Evrart de Conty, physician of Queen Jeanne of Navarre, often reproduced in manuscripts; either in a poem or a prose form. Possibly inspired by the "Roman de la Rose", this text describes as an allegory, a game between a young lady and her knight. Every piece has its own nick name. The game is a "short assize", i.e. it starts with a special arrangement where all Pawns are on the 3rd line, the Queen is on her 3rd line as well - sharing the case with a Pawn! - and with Rooks and Knights on an advanced position. This text allows to understand the notation principle used in Middle Age.

Earliest mention of chess (named catur) in Malay sources in a didactic work, composed in the 1370s. This text comes from some famous Sanskrit tales (Shukasaptati) composed on the 6th century AD, first translated in Persian around 1300, then in Malay in 1371 by Kadi Hassan, according to the tradition.

This work is dated from the Nanbokucho period (1336-1392), more precisely between 1356-1375 according to Masukawa. It evokes two shogis: "Shogi is the representation of a battle. The one which is not dense copy the alignement of 36 beasts. The one which is dense is in agreement with the 360 days of the lunar calendar." No shogi variant has exactly 360 pieces. The closest one is Tai Shogi with its 354 pieces. This text would constitute the earliest mention of this giant game.

Ibn Abi Hajala (1325-1375) wrote an important treatise about Shatranj, compiling as-Suli and al-Lajlaj. He died from the plague.

According to 'Arabshah (see below), 'Ala'adin Tabrizi, commonly called 'Ali ash-Shatranji (Ali the chessplayer) because he was a famous Chess (Shatranj) player at Timur's court, had composed a treatise on Chess. Murray inclined to think that a Persian manuscript, property of the Royal Asiatic Society, attributed to Hajji Khalifa in the 16th century, was in fact that treatise from ash-Shatranji.
A lengthy description and a diagram of Complete Chess (Timur's Chess) can be found in this manuscript.

Earliest available reference to Chaturanga in Kerala. Assigned to 13-14th centuries by literary historians. It is the story of an heroine, Nilakesi, who advenged the death of her brother at the hands of her husband by killing her own son. All piece are named : King (Mannava), Horse (Kutira), Elephant (Varana), Chariot (Ther), Footmen (Natakkum Chevakan) and Minister (Mantri).

Romance written by the chancellor of Amiens, popularly attributed to Ovid in the Middle Age. Described Tables, Chess, Merels and Rithmomachy. Condemned the use of dice and playing for stake.

A poem which deals with game in an obscure moralizing manner.

190 lines in relation with the Moralities.

Short poem found composed in England, dealing with the names and moves of the pieces, and other technical terms.

Important text for the knowledge of the medieval techniques. For instance, it is the earliest European text dealing with end-games. It attribute the invention of the game to Ulysses.

From the 2nd of the first month, 1424 of this diary, it is reported : "Played shogi with Sedate Motoyuki ... I received a Free King handicap". This can not be a reference to standard Shogi. It could be that Chu Shogi or Dai Shogi was meant.

Small text from Ming times, written by Cao Ziji (1378-1425) alluding to some rules of Xiangqi.

Includes a Morality developed from that of John of Waleys. Sometimes attributed to the Franciscan theologian Alexander of Hales (D. 1425), but the German compilation that exists contains a lot of later additions.

Another Morality writen by the Domenican monk Ingold from Surburg.

The diary of the father of the Emperor Gohanazono, Gosukoin, (the Kanmon Gyoko) has, in an entry for the 22nd of the eighth month 1435: "His Majesty the Emperor) played little shogi with the kanpaku (chief adviser to the Emperor). In all three games the kanpaku lost". Many diary references of the time seem to maintain the distinction between shogi, middle shogi and little shogi and indeed many of them imply that little shogi was generally regarded as merely a boys' game.

This lost work would date from 1443 but it has in fact been published in 1811 as Shogi rokushu no zushiki (Six Kinds of Shogi illustrated). The Shogi Shushu no Zu would be itself the document of an older work. It describes Dai Shogi (15x15, 130 pieces), Dai-Dai Shogi (17x17, 192 pieces), Maka-Dai-Dai Shogi (19x19, also 192 pieces) and Tai Shogi (25x25, 354 pieces). Notwithstanding its title (Six kinds of Shogi illustrated) it describes only four kinds of Shogi, knowledge of Chu (Middle) and Sho (Little) Shogi apparently being taken for granted. Nowadays, its authenticity do not seem doubtful.

He wrote that he played Chu Shogi one day of that year. There are other diaries with the same information such as Kanroji Chinagawa (d.1500), Sanjonishi Sanetaka (d.1537), Yamashina Tokitsugu (d.1579) who also enjoyed playing that game on many occasions (Masukawa 2004).

Ahmad ibn 'Arabshah (1392-1450) wrote a biography of the great conqueror Timur (1336-1405). He was the slave of this mighty ruler. He made several allusions to Chess among which:
"Timur was devoted to the game of chess because he whetted his intellect by it, but his mind was too exalted at the small chess, and therefore he only played at the great chess (ash-shatranj al-kabir), of which the board is 10 squares by 11, and there are 2 jamals, 2 zurafas, 2 tali'as, 2 dabbabas, a wazir, &. [...] The small chess is a mere nothing in comparison with the great chess".
This work,as well as al-Amuli's and ash-Shatranji (or Khalifa's), has been copied in several manuscripts. The diagrams they give differ from several details from one to another one, corrupted by copyist errors. Most of them indicate 28 pieces per side, some with 5 vacancies in the first line. However the copyists of 2 manuscripts filled those vacancies with 3 new pieces (2 Lions, 2 Bulls, 1 Sentinel) and added 3 more corresponding Pawns on the 4th line.

This is a Jaina version of tales of king Vikramaditya. There, the king proposes a choice of a game to a lady who decides for Buddhidyuta, the "intellectual game". This is Chess for 2 players without dice because it is there question of an adviser (mantri) among the pieces. In this text, the word "Chaturamga" (with a m) designates a race game with dice.

Second very important medieval Chess treatise including 288 problems, as well as problems of Tables and Merels, also written in Lombardy. Several were drawn from the Bonus Socius, its predecessor. Again, the title comes from the words used by the anonymous author to name himself: civis bononiae, citizen of Bologna. This work was very successful in Italy.

A prose treatise printed without indication of author in 1557, but also found in a manuscript in British Museum as by ibn Yahya. First reported by Hyde, it deals with the medieval moves.

A treatise with mediaeval Chess problems.

A treatise with mediaeval Chess problems from a doctor of the University of Paris.

A treatise with 41 mediaeval Chess problems. Written on a Latin treatise about Rithmomachy dated c.1470 by F.Madan, but this is from another hand. Belonged in 1529 to Roger Hartwell.

According to the regretted Dr Ricardo Calvo, the eldest game of modern chess (with powerful Queen and Bishop) appears in a Catalan manuscript with the title "Scachs d´amor". We can safely admit as birthplace of the new game a well-known literary circle in Valencia, Spain, around 1475, the "Scachs d'amor" manuscript being its first written expression.

This text from Ichijo Kanera (or Kaneyoshi), regent and prime minister, explicitly deals with Chu Shogi, naming the pieces but giving no details. (Fairbarn gives 1478 for this text). The Chu Shogi is played on 12x12 cases with 92 pieces.

This book written in Catalan by Francesch Vicent in 1495, disappeared unfortunately in the sacking of the monastery of Montserrat by Napoleon's soldiers in 1811. It is thought that it was the first printed book to adopt the new rules, known as "dama alla rabiosa" (mad Queen), where the Queen and the Bishop got their modern move and not the slow move of Shatranj.

First extant Chess treatise with the modern rules, written by the Spaniard Luis de Lucena. This work is closely connected with the previous other two. It was very probably printed in Salamanca by Hutz and Sanz in 1496 or 1497, as it was to be offered to Prince Don Juan, son of the Catholic Kings, Isabella and Ferdinand. And the prince suddenly died in 1497. Followers are the Göttingen Manuscript (written in Latin from an anonymous author coming from Southern France) and the "Jeu des eschés de la Dame, moralisé" (a French small work which explicitly evokes the "dame enragée"). According to Ricardo Calvo, those works are almost certainly due to Lucena.