The Rules for Korean Chess
\n by Roleigh Martin
\n Copyright 1995
\n All Rights Reserved
\n 2-16-95<\/p>\n
INTRO: TO THE READER<\/p>\n
My wife is Chinese and after playing Chinese Chess and falling in
\nlove with the game, I learned about Korean Chess which is
\nvirtually identical in board and piece lay-out but different in
\nmove-rules. There is very little English literature on Korean
\nChess–I’ve found 2 chapters in English on the game. If anyone
\nreading this can verify–or correct me if not–if I have the
\ncomplete rules to Korean Chess. Please reply if I have made any
\nmistakes or if you know that my rules are correct and complete. <\/p>\n
I also wish to find out if there is any other software: public
\ndomain, freeware, shareware, or commercial ware on Korean Chess
\nfor MS-DOS computers. I know about JANGKI.ZIP. Can you please
\ninform me of any such software and how I may obtain it (BBS phone
\nnumbers, FTP site names\/directory\/filename, or ordering address)?
\nThanks! <\/p>\n
Last, is there any internet mailing list groups on Korean Chess?
\nIs there any English language books or magazines on Korean Chess?
\nThanks again! <\/p>\n
DISTRIBUTION POLICY<\/p>\n
This document is copyrighted. It can be distributed
\nelectronically for non-commercial use as long as nothing is
\naltered in this document. I am working on a book on Chinese and
\nKorean Chess and intend to build upon this document for the
\nchapter on Korean Chess. <\/p>\n
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS<\/p>\n
Thanks to Young Won, Compuserve ID 75541,2100 for his FLEFO forum
\nmessage who confirmed this document with his message “It has been
\n10 years since I have played my last Korean Chess game. I
\nbriefly read the rules you posted (not line-by-line, though), and
\nthey seem to be in line with what I remember.” In addition, he
\nprovided the Korean names and meanings of each piece which I’ve
\nincorporated in this updated version of this document.<\/p>\n
Thanks to J. Kim of HANAnet Operating Center (KTRC) (Internet
\naddress: jskim1@soback.hana.nm.kr) who pointed me to a public
\ndomain Korean Chess game, JANGKI.ZIP (Jang-gi V1.0, 1991.1.26) by
\nHak Jong Lee of Daejon, Korea, from kids.kotel.co.kr. There is a
\ntiny README file but no copyright or distribution restrictions
\ndocumented with the ZIP file–hence by inference it is in the
\npublic domain. (My FTP program could not access this using this
\nhostname, but J. Kim informed me correctly of it’s IP address:
\n128.134.2.51.) This file is in the directory, \/pub\/games. I got
\nthis feedback via the USENET group, soc.culture.korean. <\/p>\n
JANGKI is a great DOS-based Korean Chess game. It supports CGA
\nthrough VGA and works on a HP100\/200 palmtop (but not under HP’s
\nSystem Manager; one must terminate that program and at the DOS
\nlevel, play the game). To run the program, at the DOS prompt,
\nmove to the directory where you have installed these files and
\ntype: JT and press ENTER.<\/p>\n
This program (JT.EXE) is quite nice as it allows human to play
\nhuman or against the computer. <\/p>\n
BACKGROUND COMMENTARY & RESOURCE<\/p>\n
Korean Chess can be played with a Chinese Chess Set — same
\npieces and board — but different rules. Actually quite fun!
\nVery few Chinese people know this game — if you find yourself
\nloosing to Chinese friends in Chinese Chess, play them a game of
\nKorean Chess — you might win! <\/p>\n
The below resource is still in print and has an entire chapter on
\nKorean Chess — with rules, commentary and a sample game, on
\nKorean Chess. <\/p>\n
The shipping and handling fee is $3.00. Send check for $12.95
\n(if you live in the USA) and order to Mail Order Department,
\nDover Publications, 180 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014. <\/p>\n
TITLE: Korean Games: With Notes on the Corresponding
\n Games of China & Japan
\n AUTHOR: Culin, Stewart
\n SERIES: Puzzles Ser.
\n PUBLISHER: Dover PUBLICATION DATE: 02\/1991 (910201)
\n EDITION: Repr. of 1895 ed. NO. OF PAGES: 256p.
\n LCCN: N\/A
\n BINDING: pap. – $9.95
\n ISBN: 0-486-26593-5
\n VOLUME(S): N\/A
\n ORDER NO.: N\/A
\n IMPRINT: N\/A
\n STATUS IN FILE: New (91-04)
\n NOTE(S): Illustrated
\n SUBFILE: PB (Paperbound Books in Print)<\/p>\n
The below resource is out of print and also has an entire chapter
\non Korean Chess — with rules, commentary and a sample game, on
\nKorean Chess. <\/p>\n
TITLE: Chess Variations: Ancient, Regional & Modern
\n AUTHOR: Gollon, John E.
\n PUBLISHER: C E Tuttle PUBLICATION DATE: 1973 (730101)
\n BINDING: pap. – $6.25
\n ISBN: 0-8048-1122-9
\n STATUS: Out of print (11-90)<\/p>\n
Your library should be able to get the above through interlibrary
\nloan. Also, I have been suggested to try (but did not, as the
\nlibrary succeeded): Howard Frisch, New and Antiguarian Books, Box
\n128, Village Station, New York City, NY 10014. The library
\nactually got me the hard cover book, which was published in 1968.
\nInstead of an ISBN number, it had only a Library of Congress
\nCatalog Card Number, No. 68-11975.<\/p>\n
NAMING CONVENTION<\/p>\n
Korean Chess derives, historically, from Chinese Chess. Since
\nthe pieces in Chinese Chess have been given official English
\nnames by the international Chinese Chess Association, I will use
\nthe same English names for the Korean Chess pieces. <\/p>\n
BOARD LAYOUT<\/p>\n
The pieces are placed on the board gridlines not inside the
\nsquares as in Western Chess. The board has 9 columns (also
\ncalled files or aisles) and 10 rows. The 9 columns are labeled
\nA-I. The 10 rows are labeled 0-9. <\/p>\n
Left to right on the rear row, the pieces are called: <\/p>\n
Rook, Knight, Bishop, Guard, [empty], Guard, Bishop, Knight, Rook
\n (r) (n) (b) (g) (g) (b) (n) (r)<\/p>\n
Note: the Knight and Bishop can, as a setup option (not a move),
\nbe transposed on either or both sides or neither side. (The game
\nJANGKI calls this a Pozin change and the default setup shown is
\nto have the bottom side’s righthand Bishop and Knight transposed
\nand the top side’s lefthand Bishop and Knight transposed.) <\/p>\n
The second row only initially holds the king, abbreviated as (k),
\nin the center of the row. <\/p>\n
The third row only initially holds the two cannons, abbreviated
\nas (c), each cannon being in the 2nd column from the edge. <\/p>\n
The fourth row only initially holds the five pawns, abbreviated
\nas (p), starting with a pawn on each edge column and then every
\nOTHER column. <\/p>\n
The initial board looks like the below (remember the knight and
\nbishop can be transposed as a setup option). If you transpose
\nthe knight and bishop to just one side of the lineup, then the
\nfour pieces (your 2 knights and 2 bishops) can theoretically hit
\nevery spot on the board (not each piece but together the 4 pieces
\ncan “hit” every spot on the board granted enough moves are made).
\nThis setup transposition option doesn’t count as a move. <\/p>\n
In real life, the colors of the two pieces are either Black and
\nRed, Green and Red, or Blue and Red. <\/p>\n
(FIG 1: Knight and Bishop are not transposed.)<\/p>\n
9 [r][n][b][g]-+-[g][b][n][r]
\n . | | | | |\/ | | | |
\n 8 +–+–+–+-[k]-+–+–+–+ Note: the pieces are put
\n . | | | | \/| | | | | down on the gridpoints of
\n 7 +-[c]-+–+–+–+–+-[c]-+ board — not inside the
\n . | | | | | | | | | squares as in Western Chess.
\n 6 [p]-+-[p]-+-[p]-+-[p]-+-[p]
\n . | | | | | | | | |
\n 5 +–+–+–+–+–+–+–+–+
\n . | | | | | | | | |
\n 4 +–+–+–+–+–+–+–+–+
\n . | | | | | | | | |
\n 3 (P)-+-(P)-+-(P)-+-(P)-+-(P)
\n . | | | | | | | | |
\n 2 +-(C)-+–+–+–+–+-(C)-+
\n . | | | | |\/ | | | |
\n 1 +–+–+–+-[K]-+–+–+–+
\n . | | | | \/| | | | |
\n 0 (R)(N)(B)(G)-+-(G)(B)(N)(R)
\n . A B C D E F G H I<\/p>\n
(FIG 2: One Knight and Bishop are transposed — this is the
\ndefault setup shown in the JANGKI software version of Korean
\nChess; one is allowed to change this setup, but this is the
\ndefault setup.) <\/p>\n
9 [r][n][b][g]-+-[g][n][b][r]
\n . | | | | |\/ | | | |
\n 8 +–+–+–+-[k]-+–+–+–+
\n . | | | | \/| | | | |
\n 7 +-[c]-+–+–+–+–+-[c]-+
\n . | | | | | | | | |
\n 6 [p]-+-[p]-+-[p]-+-[p]-+-[p]
\n . | | | | | | | | |
\n 5 +–+–+–+–+–+–+–+–+ Note:
\n . | | | | | | | | | <-This row is the "river"
\n 4 +–+–+–+–+–+–+–+–+ in Chinese Chess and on
\n . | | | | | | | | | a Chinese Chess board,
\n 3 (P)-+-(P)-+-(P)-+-(P)-+-(P) the middle 7 vertical
\n . | | | | | | | | | lines of this single row
\n 2 +-(C)-+–+–+–+–+-(C)-+ are not painted on a
\n . | | | | |\/ | | | | Chinese Chess board.
\n 1 +–+–+–+-[K]-+–+–+–+
\n . | | | | \/| | | | |
\n 0 (R)(N)(B)(G)-+-(G)(N)(B)(R)
\n . A B C D E F G H I<\/p>\n
I do not know the answer to the inevitable question: "If your
\nopponent transposes the knight and bishop on his left side, do
\nyou normally transpose your bishop and knight on your right side
\nor left side? (I know it is legal to do either, neither or both;
\nbut I am asking this from a sound strategy basis.)" I assume one
\nwould transpose on the same aisle as the opponent, as that is how
\nthe software program, JANGKI defaults to doing–even though the
\nuser has the choice to do otherwise. <\/p>\n
On the board are two fortresses (also called castles) which is a
\n3×3 grid in the center of the 1st 3 rows of both sides, in which
\nthe king and his two guards must remain–they can not leave the
\nfortress–however, as will be explained below, the king can
\nperform a check against the other king from within the fortress.
\nInside the fortress, there are diagonal lines that form a big "X"
\ninside the fortress. <\/p>\n
On a Chinese Chess Board, there is a river that "exists" in the
\nmiddle row of the board; it does not exist in Korean Chess. If
\none plays Korean Chess with a Chinese Chess board, one ignores
\nthe "river" of the Chinese Chess board. In both Korean and
\nChinese Chess, one has to move a full step to move across the
\ncenter row, regardless of whether it's called a "river" or not
\n(as in Korean Chess). Bottom line: in Korean Chess and Chinese
\nChess, there are 10 rows. In Chinese Chess, moving from the 5th
\nto the 6th row is "moving across the river" where the pawns gain
\nthe power to move one step sideways–and where the Bishops can
\nnot move across. In Korean Chess, the pawns can move sideways
\none step immediately and the Bishops can move anywhere on the
\nboard that is legal for a given move. <\/p>\n
Actually, the real Korean Chess set uses 8-sided pieces not round
\npieces as in Chinese Chess. Also not all the pieces are the same
\ndiameter as they are in Chinese Chess. The red pieces are 100%
\nidentical but the blue have four pieces that use brush\/script
\nstyle Chinese calligraphy and the pieces are difficult to
\ntranslate — I had to ask a Korean shopper in the Korean Grocery
\nstore that I found the set at to identify the blue pieces. (My
\nChinese Chess friends recognize these four different charactered
\nBlue pieces.) The board doesn't have a blank (no vertical lines)
\nriver across the middle of the board as in Chinese Chess —
\nthat's because there is no promotion or barrier concept in Korean
\nChess as there is in Chinese Chess. Again, you can play Korean
\nand\/or Chinese Chess with either country's pieces\/board. One
\nthing nice, the Korean Grocery store had the pieces for only $4
\nand a nice wooden board for only $10. <\/p>\n
Each piece is inscribed with a corresponding Chinese character.
\nHowever, on the King pieces, "Han" is inscribed on the red team,
\nand "Cho" is described on the blue (or green) team. Han and Cho
\nare names of two dynasties (or kingdoms) that were at war with
\neach other. (Note: "Han" and "Cho" is not what you call the
\nindividual King pieces — these names refer to the "team names"
\n–the actual King piece names are shown below.)<\/p>\n
I do not know the OFFICIAL conventional English spellings of the
\nKorean names for these pieces. Below I redescribe these pieces
\nper their Chinese names as well as the Korean spellings I've been
\ngiven by one Korean Chess player who has not played in 10 years
\n(see Acknowledgement section above).<\/p>\n
QUESTION TO ANY EXPERIENCED KOREAN CHESS PLAYER:
\nCan anyone in this group provide me with confirmation or
\ncorrection of the below Korean names as they are spelled out in
\nEnglish? Thanks! In particular, are the Korean names for the
\nRed and Blue King correct or should they be transposed (if so,
\nthe Korean Jang would be very close to the Pinyin Jiang). <\/p>\n
CANTO-
\nCOORDINATES COLOR ENGLISH PINYIN NESE KOREAN
\nA0,I0,A9,I9 both Rook Ju Kui Cha or Tcha
\nB0,H0,B9,H9 both Knight Ma Ma Ma
\nC0,G0 Red Bishop Xiang Sheung Sang or Syang
\nC9,G9 Blue Bishop Xiang Cheung Sang or Syang
\nD0,F0,D9,F9 both Guard Shi See Sa
\nE1 Red King Shuai Sui Jang*
\nE8 Blue King Jiang Cheung Wang*
\nB2,H2,B7,H7 both Cannon Pao Pow Po or Hpo
\nA3,C3,E3,G3,I3 Red Pawn Bing Ping Byung or Pyeng**
\nA6,C6,E6,G6,I6 Blue Pawn Zu Tsut Jol or Tjol**<\/p>\n
Note: the Korean names first spelled out are those obtained from
\nKorean Chess player whom I've corresponded with on Compuserve,
\nYoung Won. The two chapters on Korean Chess, cited above,
\nprovide the "or…" variation. For the King (*), they provide
\ntwo alternate names, neither depicting color specific names.
\nKoung or Tyang is what John Gollon provides; Tjyang or Koung is
\nwhat Stewart Culin provides. The Koung, Culin, explains is the
\ngeneric term for both–as it is similarly pronounced in Chinese
\nChess by the Cantonese–meaning "general." For the Pawn (**),
\nCulin provides the Pyeng to be the Red, and Tjol to be the Blue.
\nGollon provides the same two spellings but does not tie them to a
\ncolor.<\/p>\n
Sometimes you'll hear Chinese Chess players translate the chess
\npieces to different English names — the ones above are the
\n"official" English names — the ones below are others you might
\nhear and they are presented here for you to maintain
\nunderstanding in real life play: <\/p>\n
OFFICIAL
\n ENGLISH ALTERNATE ENGLISH NAMES GIVEN THESE PIECES
\n Rook Car Chariot Tank
\n Knight Horse
\n Bishop Prime Minister Elephant Minister
\n Guard Counsellor Advisor
\n King General Emperor
\n Cannon Catapult
\n Pawn Soldier Foot Soldier<\/p>\n
TRANSLATION TIDBITS<\/p>\n
The Arabic name for "Chariot" is pronounced "Rook." The Chinese
\nsymbol for Chariot is now used for the symbol for a car. <\/p>\n
In the traditional Chinese Character for the Knight, the "Ma" —
\nwhich means "horse, you'll note the four depicted legs in the red
\ncharacter (the pieces in real life are like Checkers but with the
\nChinese character written on top of the piece) — these are the
\nhorse's legs. <\/p>\n
The historical reason the pieces are depicted differently for
\nboth sides (although modern sets use the same depiction for the
\nRook, Knight and sometimes the Cannon), is that players could
\ntell whose piece was whose even if the colors wore out. For
\ninstance, Red has as it's bishop the Chinese Character for Prime
\nMinister, while Blue (or Green or Black) has as it's bishop the
\nChinese Character for Elephant. They both have identical powers
\nhowever. <\/p>\n
THE OBJECT OF THE GAME<\/p>\n
The object of the game is identical to Western and Chinese Chess:
\nto checkmate the enemy king–that is, to place the enemy king in
\na position of entrapment from which it can not save itself. A
\nstalemate is possible where neither side recognizes that neither
\nside can win by checkmate. <\/p>\n
THE PIECE MOVEMENT RULES<\/p>\n
1. The rook moves identical to the Western Chess and Chinese
\n Chess rook, with one exception: <\/p>\n
a. for movement, it can move as far horizontally or
\n vertically as it has clear passage to move. The movement
\n for one move must be that of one single straight line. <\/p>\n
b. in addition, for movement, the rook can move as far down
\n a fortress single diagonal line as long as there is clear
\n passage and the movement remains that of a single
\n straight line (this means the starting position has to be
\n in one of the corners or the center of the fortress). <\/p>\n
c. for capture, the rook during it's normal movement, can
\n take any enemy piece that it first bumps into (there must
\n not be any intervening same-side piece). <\/p>\n
2. The knight ends up moving identically to the western knight,
\n and it moves identical to the Chinese Chess knight. The
\n knight however must make its move by first moving one step
\n vertically or horizontally and then one outward diagonal step
\n and in this movement, there must be clear passage. Thus, the
\n initial two places that the knight at B0 can move to are A2
\n or C2. It can not initially move to D1 because the Bishop at
\n C0 is in the way. <\/p>\n
3. The bishop, unlike its Chinese Chess "cousin", is like a
\n giant knight. It moves 3 positions away from itself: first
\n by going one step horizontally or vertically and then TWO
\n outward diagonal steps and there must be clear passage. Thus
\n in Figure 2 above, the Bishop at C0 can not move as it is
\n blocked, but it does protect the center Pawn. The Bishop at
\n H0 can move to F3. <\/p>\n
As mentioned above, unlike Chinese Chess, the Bishop is not
\n only a defensive piece, it can move onto the enemy's side of
\n the board and be an offensive piece (as is true for both
\n Chinese and Korean Chess for all other pieces but the King
\n and Guards). <\/p>\n
(For the curious, the Chinese Chess Bishop is a defensive
\n piece, and can only move two diagonal places at a time (not
\n any more nor less; and the passage must be clear) and the
\n Chinese Chess Bishop can not cross the "river"–it must stay
\n within the 1st 4 rows of it's home side.) <\/p>\n
4. The Guard and King move identical to each other. They are
\n both limited to the center 3×3 fortress that resides in the
\n 1st 3 rows of one's home side. Each piece can only move 1
\n step down any painted straight line whether or not the line
\n is a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line. This is
\n different than Chinese Chess wherein the Guard can only move
\n diagonally and the King can only move horizontally or
\n vertically. <\/p>\n
5. The cannon, with several restrictions named below, moves and
\n captures by making one jump during a single straight line
\n move. The straight line move can be down a single vertical
\n line, a single horizontal line, or a single diagonal line in
\n either fortress (provided the cannon's starting position is
\n on a fortress border gridpoint). <\/p>\n
Note: a fortress canon diagonal move can't start from the
\n dead center of the fortress but a canon can land in the
\n fortress dead center from a normal vertical or horizontal
\n move or jump. But once inside the center of the fortress, the
\n canon can make a move or jump away by going horizontally or
\n vertically. <\/p>\n
The canon, when it moves, has to jump over a single non-canon
\n piece, regardless whether the jumped-over piece belongs to
\n his side or the enemy side. When making a move (not a
\n capture), the canon can land on any empty gridpoint that
\n exists on the other side of the jumped-over piece. That
\n landed-onto (previously) empty gridpoint can be immediately
\n on the other side of the jumped-over piece or several
\n gridpoints beyond that jumped-over piece. <\/p>\n
The canon, when it captures, has to jump as in a normal move,
\n but instead of landing onto an empty gridpoint, it has to
\n land onto an enemy piece that it encounters in, what would
\n otherwise be a normal jump-type-move. The jumped-over piece
\n is not captured–it is that second piece encountered in the
\n jump that is captured. Remember, the 1st piece can be of
\n either color; the 2nd piece–that is jumped-onto (not over)
\n has to be that of the enemy. <\/p>\n
The cannon can't jump over a cannon (either color).<\/p>\n
The cannon can't capture a cannon.<\/p>\n
The cannon can not make the first move in a game (unlike
\n Chinese Chess). <\/p>\n
Note: the Korean canon is very different than the Chinese
\n Chess canon wherein the Chinese Chess canon moves like a rook
\n but jumps like a Korean Chess canon (but unlike the Korean
\n canon, the Chinese Chess canon can jump over or jump onto
\n another canon). <\/p>\n
6. The pawn moves the same way it captures: it can move either
\n one step forward or one step sideways. It can never move
\n backward. It can move forward down a diagonal line in the
\n enemy's fortress. If during that one step move, it moves onto
\n an enemy's occupied, position, it is a capture of that enemy
\n piece. <\/p>\n
If the pawn makes it to the last row, it can only move
\n sideways then. <\/p>\n
For the curious, the Chinese Chess pawn is different; it
\n can't move sideways until after getting to it's 6th row
\n (called after crossing the river) and it can't move down the
\n diagonal line in the enemy's fortress. <\/p>\n
7. Special end game notes: <\/p>\n
a. Neither side ordinarily want to allow the two kings to
\n face each other naked (in Chinese Chess but not Korean
\n Chess, the side that causes this to happens loses the
\n game). Facing each other "naked," means that there are
\n no intervening chess pieces. <\/p>\n
If you cause this to happen in Korean Chess, you are
\n placing the other King in check in a desparate last-
\n chance move on your part for you irreversably foresake
\n the right to checkmate the other side–you are hoping for
\n a stalemate, which would be the case if the other side
\n can not get out of that desparate check. <\/p>\n
This is the case even if the game continues for many
\n moves and even if otherwise the game could have gone into
\n a good checkmate, the side that initially caused the two
\n kings to be naked can at best only obtain a stalemate. <\/p>\n
I call this (I do not claim originality though) the
\n "Kings Naked Rule." <\/p>\n
b. Gollon adds the rule (page 159, hardbound edition) that
\n "If in mating, the mating piece is defended by only the
\n allied 'king'–i.e., if the piece is on an open file
\n occupied by its 'king' and therefore cannot be captured
\n by the checked king because of the above rules, the game
\n is only drawn." <\/p>\n
This is the different in Chinese Chess; for there one
\n frequently will use one's King to protect a piece who is
\n making check and who otherwise would be captured by the
\n King being checked–in Chinese Chess, that is considered
\n successful checkmate–it is a win, not a draw. <\/p>\n
c. Unlike Chinese Chess, if you have no other move to make,
\n except to put your King in check or checkmate, you can
\n "pass." In other words, your King can stand still, if it
\n stays in safety and there are no other pieces it can move
\n at all (regardless if those other pieces would be
\n captured or not) and if it would otherwise (if a move had
\n to be made) cause the king to move into check or
\n checkmate. Gollon states that one declares his pass by
\n turning his King over, upside down, on the same spot.<\/p>\n
8. As a reminder, the pawn, cannon, and rook get to treat the
\n diagonal lines in either fortress (except the pawn can only
\n get to the enemy fortress) as ordinary straight lines that
\n they can move on — except the pawn can only move to the side
\n or forward — but the pawn can move forward to the rear line
\n down the diagonal. <\/p>\n
9. Unlike Chinese Chess, the double cannon lineup against a king
\n poses no immediate threat — the rear cannon can't jump over
\n the front cannon, remember. (In Chinese Chess, if the
\n farthest away canon from the enemy king is safe and if no
\n opponent's piece can intervene between the two canons, the
\n game is over if the King is unable to move sideways, which
\n can often be the case.) <\/p>\n
[End of Document]<\/p>\n
