Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-06-18
The Japanese Game Of Chess The Man
Z I.u.r..r ner IN which % is Played. -.f


The Japanese game is played by two per-
| sons, with forty pieces (twenty on either
| side,) upon chequered board Of eighty-one
| squares-nine upon each side. The board,
| as formerly with us, is of one uniform color.
but what will surprise American or European
chess-players the pieces are also Of one uni
form color; for after being captured, they are
used by the adversary like his own. The
men are of various sizes, are long and wedge
shaped, being, at the same time, sharpened
from side to side, in front and the name of
each piece is inscribed upon 1t, (both the
original and the one assumed upon its being
reversed, as will be shown.) Each player
distinguishes his men by always having the
pointed and thin end forward They are
laid fiat upon the board, front forward,) and
thus their names are plainly visible. They
capture, as we do, by occupying the places
of the captured pieces, and the game is won
when the adversarys king is cheokmated.
The following are the names Of the pieces,
and the manner in which they are placed
on the board, together with their movements:
L. Oho-shio, (KingA occupies the center
square of the first row, and moves exactly
like our King. '.....5..t ... a -
2. Kn,-s6i9, (Chief Councillor), one on
either side of the Oho-shio, They move like
the King excepting that they can not be
played diagonally backward. ,iE -.
These are the only pieces which are re-
versed, or acquire different powers. All the
other pieces may be reversed, Cat the option
of the playerl, when they move to and from
any square, in any Of the adversary's three
ent powers, as well as different names.
8. Gii-shio, tSub- Councillorl one on either
side Of R1s-shio. They move like the King,
excepting that they can not be played di-
rectly to either side, or directly backward
When they. are reversed they become Gin
narik-in possessing the powers (and these
only Of the Kis-skio.
side of Ginshio. They have the move Of our
Knight, but are strictly confined to two
squares forward and one laterally, and can in
| no case make more than four moves. When
reversed they become a Riema-ndri- kin, pos
| Rin-shio. 80. -. -.
5. Kioshia, fragrant Chariot), one upon
each corner square Of the first row. They
move like our Rook, but only .forpdrd. When
reversed they become q Kioshia-ndri-k Kin pos
sessing the powers land those only of the
| 8. Hishia, (FIying Chariot), occupies the
second square of the second row, right side
of the board, and is the most valuable piece,
having the powers Of our Rook, and when
reversed assumes the name Of Rioho, (the
Dragon,) and acquires, in addition to his
| lOInCT unONcS, hll JuOSc vi Iuc hluR.
I. Kakdko, HORNY occupies the second
square of the second row, left side of thI
board, and moves like our Bishop; having
like the former piece, when reversed, in ad-
dition to his former moves, all those of the
King. 1t is then named Rione, 1.-THE
Dragoness. ,..,...,....t ......
| 8. Ro-hei, (the soldieryl ON. the nine
squares Of the third row. They move and
capture one square forward, and when arriv-
ing upon either of the three first rows of the
adversary, they become Ho-narikin and ac-
quire all the powers Of the Knr-shio,
Any piece which has been captured may be
replaced upon the board, at the discretion oi
the player, as follows viz: When it is his
move, instead of moving one of his men, he
can replace any one of the captured pieces
upon any of the unoccupied squares, observ-
ing TO keep that side up to which it was en-
titled originally; but Il may be reversed Al
any moment thereafter; if TO or from any
square in the before mentioned three frs
rows Of the adversary; and observing further
that he can not replace Ho on any column
upon which there is already one of his own
Double PatpRs never occurring in their game
l have made myself somewhat familiar with
this rather intricate variation of this intricate
game, and have been promised an opportu.
nifty of breaking lance with one of those
Eastern warriors, Of which shall avail myself
either in Philadelphia or in your city.