Traditional Western Chess

Because of its previous preeminence among intellectual pastimes favored by the upper classes, Chess is also called the Royal Game. It originated in India, or China, during or before the 6th century from ancient forms, derivations of which still persist in regional variants, such as Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Malay, Burmese and traditional western Chess. Sir William Jones, in his essay ‘On the Indian game of Chess’, maintained that Hindustan was the cradle of Chess, the game having been known since ancient times by the name of Chaturanga, that is, the four Chatur/Angas, or parts of an army, said to be elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers.