As I get out the subway on the way to my hostel, as I head down the road to
grab some supplies and most definitely when I’m heading out for dinner in the
evening, I see groups of Chinese men huddled around, enthusiastically
commentating on what’s going on in the middle of the group.
In Beijing, the centre of attention is usually two elderly men playing a
board game with lines within two large square perimeters. The game pieces are
large and round, each punctuated with their own Chinese character.
The game is Xianqi, a game based on military strategy. Translated loosely it
means ‘Elephant game’ but it’s often known as Chinese Chess and the object of
the game is to capture your opponent's General/Marshall. Dividing the two
players is the river which is often marked with 楚河 (Chu River) and 漢界 (Han
border) referring to the Chu-Han War, an interregnum conflict between the Qin
and Han Dynasty.
For me this game represents so much. It seems to highlight a deep social link
where communities enjoy supporting and watching their friends battle
head-to-head with strategic moves. It represents a peoples who still hold onto
the physical rather than the digital. (For better and worse). Finally it
represents a deep link to China’s history (intellectual, militaristic and
social).
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