Millennium Game-Bronze Chess in Northern Song Dynasty

There are two theories about the origin of China chess. One was introduced by Fuxi and innate gossip, and the other was introduced by Han Xin. In any case, China's chess thought originated from the Book of Changes, which is closely related to the Taiji Eight Diagrams. It can be said that China's chess is Tai Chi Eight Diagrams.

Let's use Taiji Bagua to analyze China chess. The essence of Taiji Eight Diagrams: A concept (constantly changing internally) eventually splits into two opposing sides in a certain direction, which is manifested in three forms (opposing sides plus their unity), and then it is continuously subdivided and endless. There are two pairs of cubes on the chessboard, and there is a river boundary on both sides.

Modern chess style was not formed until the Song Dynasty. Cheng Hao, a Neo-Confucianist in the Song Dynasty, wrote a poem about chess: "Most chess is a play, like turning over a play to learn how to fight. There are also Zhou's famous works in chariots and horses, all of which have official Chinese names. The Han army is heavy on all sides, but it is light outside the river, but it laughs at itself with its wrinkles, like Liu Xiang. " There was no mention of guns in his poems, and he was the last one to join. Of course, it was only after China invented gunpowder and firearms that it was reflected in chess. The Song Dynasty was an era when chess was widely popular, and its form also changed greatly. During the Northern Song Dynasty, Sima Guang's Elephant Drama in Seven Countries, His Elephant Drama Style and Chess, Chao's Elephant Drama Map and other works came out one after another, and Elephant Drama was also deeply loved by the people.

At that time, there were elephant play and elephant play in chess in the Northern Song Dynasty, both of which had cannon pieces. As big as playing modern chess, there are 32 pieces, and the size of the disk is set to vertical 10 and horizontal 9. The general lives in the Nine Palaces, and there is no scholar, so he is given two pieces. After that, chess became more popular, and many literati loved it, and chess players became a profession.

It was not until the Southern Song Dynasty that the word chess began to refer to China chess. By the Southern Song Dynasty, Xiangxi had become a form of chess. The generals stayed at the bottom of Jiugong, and there were already scholars. Chen's Shi Lin Guang Ji records the earliest two complete sets of chess and the oldest arrangement and combination "Two Dragons Going to Sea".

After nearly a hundred years of practice, chess became a modern pattern at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty: 32 pieces, 1 general in black and 65,438 generals in red, 2 chariots, horses, cannons, elephants and scholars, and 5 soldiers. During the Southern Song Dynasty, chess became a household name and a very popular chess activity. Writers such as Li Qingzhao and Liu Kezhuang, politicians such as Hong Zun and Wen Tianxiang all like playing chess. In the "chess to be called" formulated by the court, players account for more than half. There are professionals called "chess players" and craftsmen who play autocratic chess and chessboards. In the Southern Song Dynasty, Hong Mai's Chess Classic, Chen's Chess Manual and Chen's Guang Ji also appeared.

Judging from the chess collection market, chess in Song Dynasty has a long history and limited existence. This set of chess materials is thick, the patina is warm and moist, the front is engraved with regular script, the font is correct and the brushwork is vigorous. There are 32 chess pieces, and the outer edge is engraved with * * * patterns. On the front, the characters "General, Warrior, Elephant, Horse, Gun, Soldier" are engraved in regular script, and on the back, there are patterns corresponding to these characters ... Some experts speculate that at that time, bronze chess may be distinguished by the characters and patterns on both sides. This pair is similar to 1983 "Song Dynasty Kiln Collection" unearthed in Zhangming Town, Jiangyou. There were two pairs of bronze chess in Song Huizong period, which were almost the same in shape. After thousands of years of wind and rain, it is extremely rare and its archaeological value is immeasurable, so it is very popular among collectors.

This set of bronze chess in the Northern Song Dynasty is now entrusted to Lai Bao International Art Auction Co., Ltd. You are welcome to come to our company to enjoy and know the details and matters. Welcome to our company to discuss business!