Chinese Xiangqi： The Quiet War on the Small Chess-board
中国象棋：方寸之间金戈铁马
In the battlefield shrouded by heavy smoke, generals and marshals maneuver to defeat their enemies and soldiers and officers, in the beats of war drums, ride their horses and fight to the end.擂鼓声起、烟风大作、将帅运筹帷幄决胜千里，兵士跃马扬鞭贴身肉搏。
Such a war scenario can happen not only in an ancient battlefield but also on the small board of Chinese Xiangqi(Chinese chess).这样的场面可以发生在金戈铁马的古代战场，但也可能发生在方寸之间的中国象棋棋局上。
Chinese xiangqi is a strategy board game for two players.中国象棋是一种二人对抗的棋类游戏。
Xiangqi has a very long history in China.历史悠久
With its easy accessibility and entertainment function, xiangqi has been popular in China since the ancient era.由于用具简单，趣味性强。自古以来都是一种极为流行的棋艺活动。
The term “Xiangqi” first appeared in materials from the Warring States period.象棋的说法最早见于战国文献。
The word Xiang means symbol.So, Xiangqi symbolizes battles in the field.“象“是”象征“之意。表明象棋”象征“沙场上的战斗。
Xiangqi was formerly known as Liubuqi, since each side had six pieces, which was in line with the military system of the Spring and Autumn Period.最早的象棋被称为六博棋，双方各只有六枚棋子。这与春秋时期的兵制相同。
That is why some people believe Xiangqi first appeared during the Spring and Autumn Period.Dividing the two opposing sides is the River.Generally know as Chuhe Hanjie(the river of the Chu and the boundary of Han), the River is a reflection of the history of Chu-Han Rivalry, which is another evidence for the military origin of Xiangqi.故有人认为象棋起源于春秋时期，横亘棋盘中间边界被称为楚河汉界。这是受到“楚汉争霸划鸿沟为界“的历史影响，同样也印证了象棋起源的军事背景。
In ancient China, engaging in the war was an art.Face-to-face combat can arouse the emotions of people.In China, however, competitions among generals for strategic advantages attract more attention.战争在古代中国被视为一门艺术。赤膊上阵的厮杀固然让人热血沸腾。但战场之外将帅之间的智力比拼却更加被推崇。
Xiangqi is a game that showcase such competitions.Playing Xiangqi is like engaging in a war.Each player has 16 pieces, which fall in seven roles including General, Chariot, Horse, and Cannon, etc.Each side has a full battle array, facing off along the river.Different roles have different movement rules.Here are some samples: General and Guard only move within the headquarters, Soldiers cannot move backward, and Cannon can only attack by jumping over a single piece.象棋游戏就是这种思想的一种体现。象棋对弈犹如两军对阵，双方各执16子，分为将（帅）、车、马、炮等7个兵种。组成完成的军阵 隔“楚河汉界“排布。每种棋子都有不同的属性，如将（帅）和士只能在大本营活动，卒子只能前进不能后退，马走两个方格的对角，而炮则必须隔着一枚棋子才能进攻另一枚棋子。
Players can improve their strategic maneuvering ability by appropriately utilizing various types of pieces, Good players can invent enormous amounts of tactics.对不同兵种各自属性的合理利用会变幻出无数的战术可以锻炼棋手的战争策略。
Different arrangements of pieces can create a military storm anywhere on the chessboard.Players must have a strategic view of the overall situation to win the game.而不同的棋子配合可以在棋盘上的任何一个位置掀起波澜，这又要求棋手能够有通盘考虑的全局性战略眼光。
The game ends when one player captures the other’s general, which is in line with one Chinese military strategy, namely, capturing the general to subdue your enemy.象棋获胜的唯一标准是杀死对方的主将（帅），这体现了中国人“擒贼先擒王“的战争观念。
In other words, the side that captures the general of the opponent generally wins the war, that captures the general of the opponent generally wins the war, regardless of relative military strength.Such cases are not exceptions in history.即无论双方实力对比如何，率先擒杀对方主将往往都会获得战争的胜利。这种案例在历史上屡见不鲜。
Warriors dream of laying down their lives on the battlefield one day, but Chinese gentries preferred to wage wars on the chessboard.如果说血染疆场、马革裹尸是武将的浪漫。那么在象棋棋盘上的厮杀就是文人的雅趣。
In ancient China, playing Xiangqi was a necessity for the gentries to bolster their inner well-being.Xiangqi was so popular in China that it left its imprints in the Chinese culture.在古代中国象棋被列为士大夫们的修身艺术。它的流行也在中国的文化之中留下了深刻的烙印。
Chines Xiangqi is outstanding for the cultural and scientific features on the one hand and its artistic and tournament functions on the other.It can increase the intelligence, improve the dialectic thinking, reinforce a mindset of perseverance, and bolster the inner wellbeing of players.中国象棋集文化、科学、艺术、竞技于一身。不但可以开发智力、锻炼辩证分析能力，还可以培养顽强的意志、修身养性。
As a cultural quintessence of the Chinese nation, Xiangqi has been very popular among the Chinese people for the thousands of years.千百年来长盛不衰，深受广大群众的喜爱是中华民族的文化瑰宝。
