“象戏”考

Textual Research on Xiang xi

史书记载,象戏为周武帝所创,并有《象经》记录其具体规则。但《象经》内容艰深,唐人已不能了其大意,象戏也因此未能流传。象戏为何物,今人已不能得知。有学者认为,象戏承弹棋类遗意而来。还有人以为象戏就是今象棋的前身,即古象棋。目前持这两种观点的学者不在少数,若对这两种观点进行辨误,能进一步加深对象戏的正确认识。

According to historical records, Xiang xi was newly established by the emperor of the Bei Zhou Dynasty （557 - 581）, There was a scripture called Xiang jing, whose content was about the rules and system of Xiang xi. It was so difficult to understand its general idea already. Some scholars think that it was the continuation of Tan qi, and some other scholars take Xiang xi as Chinese ancient chess. This thesis will provide a deeper view on Xiang xi.