idk about ancient chaturanga but the one in variants is definitely more boring than standard chess
⚔️Chaturanga V/S Shatranj 🛡️ 📜 History V/S Modernity 🐘
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In modern times the origin of Modern Chess is still discussed, I think you have already heard about, or perhaps you have played it on more than one occasion, the famous historical game called Chaturanga or also known as Shatranj.
Chaturanga Moderno Tablero
We can also say that chess has its origin in India, more specifically in the Indus Valley, and dates back to the 6th century AD. Originally known as Chaturanga, or army game, it quickly spread along trade routes, reaching Persia, and from there to the Byzantine Empire, later spreading throughout Asia.
Here is the problem, what is the initial, real or main name of this game, we will talk about both stories, but don't worry I have summarized much of it, in really entertaining sections to read and learn.
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Chaturanga
(in Sanskrit, चतुरङ्ग; caturaṅga) is an ancient game originating in India. This thesis is sought to be backed up with one of the oldest references to the Chaturanga found in the Majábharata (epico-religious text from the 3rd century BC).
In ancient texts you can find a passage where the Chaturanga is named:
In the Jarsha-charita (written by Baná Bhatta around 640) there is another mention of the game, referring to the fact that in the time of King Jarsha Vardhana an unprecedented period of peace began, in which wars were only waged on an 8x8 board:
Fragment:
Only bees argued (while extracting nectar), feet were only cut in verses, and chaturanga was practiced on top of the ashtapada.
Baná Bhatta, Jarsha-charita5
Terminology: The term chaturanga was coined from chatur (meaning 'four' in Sanskrit) and anga (meaning 'members'), i.e. the four members that make up an army: infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots.
Many claim that Chaturanga is the direct ancestor of shatranj, which was how chess came to medieval Europe.
Expansion: The theory about the expansion of the Chaturanga explains that this game expanded on trips such as those made on the Silk Road; where silk, salt, and spices traversed from India to East and West; product that a Chaturanga board was always carried in the caravans; thus knowing this game in China, Iran, Arab countries, etc.
How many players were there?
There is a clear debate whether the chaturanga began with a scheme of two or four players per table.
Duncan Forbes, author of The history of chess expresses clearly that first a scheme of 4 contestants (chaturaji) was played to later evolve to two contestants.
This remains unknown, but if you analyze it for a moment and see the history of chaturaji, you will see that they are the same pieces; therefore, in a 1vs1 game, only the pieces had to be divided in equal quantities and the initial squares had to be completed prior to opening. In my first impression I can deduce that the chaturaji existed first and then the chaturanga since there is always talk of 4 kings (chatur (which means 'four' in Sanskrit).
Rules:
Here again today, we play with very different rules to the legendary rules, you can review them in the link, here more information: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaturanga
Chaturanga (ES)
(en sánscrito, चतुरङ्ग; caturaṅga) es un antiguo juego originario de India. Se busca respaldar esta tesis, con unas de las referencias más antigua al Chaturanga que se encuentra en el Majábharata (texto épicorreligioso del siglo III a. C.).
En textos antiguos se puede encontrar un pasaje en donde se nombra el Chaturanga:
En el Jarsha-charita (escrito por Baná Bhatta hacia el 640) se encuentra otra mención del juego, refiriéndose a que en la época del rey Jarsha Vardhana comenzó un inédito período de paz, en que las guerras solo se realizaban sobre un tablero de 8x8:
Fragmento:
Solo las abejas discutían (mientras extraían el néctar), los pies solo se cortaban en los versos, y el chaturanga se practicaba sobre el ashtapada.
Baná Bhatta, Jarsha-charita5
Terminología: El término chaturanga se acuñó de chatur (que significa ‘cuatro’ en sánscrito) y anga (que significa ‘miembros’), es decir los cuatro miembros que integran un ejército: infantería, caballería, elefantes y carruajes.
Muchos afirman que el Chaturanga es el antecesor directo del shatranj, que fue la forma en la que el ajedrez llegó a la Europa medieval.
Expansión: La teoría sobre la expansión del Chaturanga, explica que este juego se expandió en viajes tales como los realizados en la Ruta de la seda; en donde seda, sal, y especias atravesaban desde la India hacia el Oriente y el Occidente; producto que en las caravanas se llevaba siempre un tablero de Chaturanga; conociéndose así este juego en la China, Irán, los países árabes, etc.
Cuantos jugadores lo conformaban?
Existe un claro debate si el Chaturanga se inició por un esquema de dos o cuatro jugadores por tabla.
Duncan Forbes, autor de The history of chess expresa de manifiesto que primero se jugaba un esquema de 4 contendientes (Chaturaji) para después evolucionar a dos contendientes.
Esto sigue siendo una incógnita, pero si lo analizas un momento y ves la historia de Chaturaji, veras que son las mismas piezas; por ende en partida de 1vs1 solo debían dividirse las piezas en cantidades igual y completar las casillas iniciales previo a la apertura. En mi primera impresión puedo deducir que primero existió el Chaturaji y luego el Chaturanga ya que siempre se habla de 4 reyes ( chatur (que significa ‘cuatro’ en sánscrito).
Reglas:
Aquí nuevamente en la actualidad, jugamos con reglas muy distintas a las reglas legendarias, las puedes revisar en el link, aquí mas información: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaturanga
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Shatranj
Shatranj or shatranji is the name of an ancient form of chess. The game came to Persia from the Indian game of chaturanga around the 6th century DC. The Persian name for the game was Chatrang. The chatrang and the chaturanga are believed to have had the same or very similar rules. After the game spread throughout the Islamic world, its name was changed to Shatranj. The rules and the names of the pieces remained as they were in Persia.
- In the rules it is recognized that both kings had to be located in the same row.
- Next to the king was placed a piece called alferza (from the Persian farzin, vizier, counselor). It moved only one square and diagonally. It was a relatively weak piece. It was replaced by the Queen of modern chess. Even today, the word for Lady is Ферзь (ferz) in Russian and vezér in Hungarian. In the diagrams it is represented by the symbol of the Queen of modern chess.
- In addition to the horses there were two elephants or bishops (from the Persian fil, elephant). These bishops moved exactly two squares diagonally, jumping over the one between the origin and destination (compare with the movement of the Chinese elephant). Note that each of the bishops could only reach an eighth of the squares on the board, and since their circuits were disjoint they could never capture each other. This is the only piece that could have been moved differently in the chaturanga.
-The pawns in Shatranj moved like those in chess, but they did not have the option to move two squares on their first move. When they reached the eighth rank they could be promoted, but could only be exchanged for an alferza.
In summary, we can see that it is practically the same game or at least very similar to each other. The Arabs call it Shatranj and in India it is called Chaturanga. The initial arrangement of the pieces in shatranj was precisely the same as in modern chess.
Is it necessary to change the name?
We really think that it is not necessary to change the name, since it demarcates an evolutionary line, which although it is true, we must recognize that it is not 100% completely clear, but there are many clues that can help us interpret History. What seems most important to us is the present, since if we can improve and establish a definitive history.
Therefore in the evolutionary composition we can name it like this: Chaturaji, Chaturanga, Shatranj, Chess.
Historians indicate that Chaturaji is a predecessor of Chaturanga, and therefore the Ancestor of Modern Chess. Let's remember this phrase, which undoubtedly delivers greater truthfulness:
Victory = called Chaturaji, there is no check or checkmate.
Shatranj (ES)
Shatranj o shatranji es el nombre de una forma antigua del ajedrez. El juego llegó a Persia a partir del juego indio del chaturanga alrededor del siglo VI d. C. El nombre persa del juego era Chatrang. Se cree que el chatrang y el chaturanga tenían las mismas o muy similares reglas. Después de que el juego se extendiera a lo largo del mundo islámico, su nombre cambió por el de Shatranj. Las reglas y los nombres de las piezas se mantuvieron tales y como eran en Persia.
- En las reglas se reconoce que ambos reyes debían estar ubicados en la misma fila.
- Junto al rey se colocaba una pieza llamada alferza (del persa farzin, visir, consejero). Se movía una sola casilla y en diagonal. Era una pieza relativamente débil. Se sustituyó por la Dama del ajedrez moderno. Incluso en la actualidad, la palabra para la Dama es Ферзь (ferz) en ruso y vezér en húngaro. En los diagramas se representa con el símbolo de la Dama del ajedrez moderno.
- Además de los caballos había dos elefantes o alfiles (del persa fil, elefante). Estos alfiles movían exactamente dos casillas en diagonal, saltando sobre la que queda entre la de origen y la de destino (comparar con el movimiento del elefante chino). Hay que notar que cada uno de los alfiles podía alcanzar sólo una octava parte de las casillas del tablero, y como sus circuitos eran disjuntos nunca podían capturarse los unos a los otros. Ésta es la única pieza que podría haberse movido de modo diferente en el chaturanga.
-Los peones en Shatranj se movían como los del ajedrez, pero no tenían la opción de mover dos casillas en su primera jugada. Cuando alcanzaban la octava fila podían ser promovidos, pero solo podían cambiarse por un alferza.
En resumen, podemos ver que es prácticamente el mismo juego o por lo menos es muy similar el uno con el otro. Los árabes lo llaman Shatranj y en la India se llama Chaturanga. La disposición inicial de las piezas en el shatranj era esencialmente la misma que en el ajedrez moderno.
Es necesario cambiar el nombre?
La verdad pensamos que no es necesario cambiar el nombre, ya que demarca una linea evolutiva, que si bien es cierto, hay que reconocer que no es del todo clara al 100%, pero hay muchas pistas que nos pueden ayudar a interpretar la Historia. Lo que nos parece mas importante es la actualidad, ya que si podemos mejorar y establecer una historia definitiva.
Por lo tanto en la composición evolutiva la podemos nombrar asi: Chaturaji, Chaturanga, Shatranj, Ajedrez.
Los historiadores indican que Chaturaji es un predecesor de Chaturanga y, por lo tanto, el antepasado del ajedrez moderno. Recordemos esta frase, que sin duda entrega mayor veracidad:
Victoria = llamado Chaturaji, no hay jaque ni jaque mate.
Visitar este link: para mas información: https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/chaturaji-history-v-s-modernity-statistics-poll
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⚔️ ChatuRangers and friends🛡️
https://www.chess.com/club/chaturangers-and-friends
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Other related articles
This is an excellent article, which you can visit:
XiangQi (Chinese Chess)
XiangQi, the Elephant Chess, is a beautiful game, very different from the chess we know. Yet the kinship with Shatranj/Chaturanga is truly evident, but Chinese Chess is very tactical and dynamic, even more than standard Chess. The name and the movement of the pieces are more or less the same as in Shatranj, except for some restrictions: for example Horses and Elephants cannot jump, while the King and the 2 Farzins cannot leave the 'palace'. In addition there are 2 Cannons for each players, those having a particular movement, unique of XiangQi.
More information here:
https://www.chess.com/clubs/forum/view/xiangqi-chinese-chess
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This topic is still under construction and it is very likely that new snippets will continue to be added to the story.
⚔️Martinaxo