AND PLAYING PIECES

This is a brand new Shogi (Japanese Chess) set with fine wooden table set with drawer. The table chessboard measures about 10.6" in length, 9.8" in width and 2" in height.

The elegant wooden chess board has a fine texture. The wooden chess board includes a hidden drawer that fits in perfectly with the artistic outline of the board. It is for the convenient storage of all playing pieces.

The pentangular playing pieces are made of fine carved wood. The King (“王將”), together with the Bishop (“角行”) and the Rook (“飛車”), are the largest in size. The Pawns (“步兵”) are the smallest, while other pieces are in between.

The name on each piece is made up of two Kanji (Chinese characters used in Japanese) characters and is written in brown color.

At any time you need a quick reference on the "Shogi Chess Rules", you are always welcome to ask me for a softcopy.

INTERESTING FACTS OF SHOGI

The roots of Shogi (Japanese Chess) dated back to more than 900 years ago in Japan. A seven-volume work written by Hujiwara Yukinari around AD 1027 described the calligraphy of the characters on Shogi pieces, and is considered to be the earliest documents of the game. Archaeological excavation in Nara Prefecture, Japan unearthed 16 shogi pieces in 5-sided shape, with documentary evidence showing the time of these pieces belonged to AD 1058.

Through the years that followed, the game evolved gradually into several variant forms, with different board sizes and different number of playing pieces. The more popular board sizes included 15 x 15 (named Dai Shogi, which means large Shogi), 9 x 9 (named Sho Shogi, which means little Shogi) and 12 x 12 (named Chu Shogi, which means middle Shogi). Finally, the 9 x 9 board size prevailed and developed into the Shogi of modern times.

An important "drop" rule was added into the game during the 16th century. This means the captured pieces will be "in hand" of the capturing player, who may then place them back onto the board as his / her own forces. This rule is an interesting one and is very distinctive with other chess forms in the West or even in the East. It also brings the literal meaning of "capture" into life.

The Shogi game was further developed in the 17th century, when Tokugawa Shogun passed a law to give titles and privileges to Shogi players. Since then, academies were established and more writings on the game rules were produced. As the game stabilized, the Shogi of the present day emerged.


References:
1. Wikipedia, Shogi, 2009-08-12, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki.Shogi
2. Wikipedia, History of Shogi, 2009-08-13, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_shogi
3. Jean-Louis Cazaux, Shogi, the Japanese Chess, 2009-08-13, http://history.chess.free.fr/shogi.htm

SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions of table chess board: 10.6" (L) x 9.8" (W) x 2" (H) (270mm x 250mm x 51mm)
Dimensions of playing pieces     : Range from 0.9" (L) x 0.94" (H) x 0.24" (D) for the King, to 0.71" (L) x 0.79" (H) x 0.16" (D) for the Pawn, [23mm x 24mm x 6mm (King) to 18mm x 20mm x 4mm (Pawn)]
Gross weight (with packing)       : approx. 1500g
Material of chessboard                : wooden
Material of playing pieces           : wooden
Number of playing pieces           : 42

Maintenance                               : protect from extreme temperatures and humidity
Cleaning                                     : wipe gently with a cloth
Packing                                       : original packing (All playing pieces and chess board to be packed in a hard cardboard box); to be delivered in a small carton

FREE SHIPPING!

You will enjoy FREE SHIPPING for this item. I will send this item at no cost to you by airmail, which normally takes about 20 days to reach you. However, please note that postal problems may happen occasionally. If the item is still outstanding by the end of the 4th week after payment, please contact me immediately. I will use the registered mail number to track the item, report to you on the status, and take actions to solve the problem.

Please note that the free shipping included in the price is by Hongkong Post small packet airmail. This is the lowest cost airmail service provided by Hongkong Post. Although the general service level of Hongkong Post is high, there are unsatisfactory records of delivery with this service to Italy and to South American countries of Brazil and Argentina. For buyers from Italy, Brazil and Argentina, Hongkong Post parcel airmail service shall be used. The additional cost is $18 USD. Please notice this special delivery arrangement if your delivery address is in Italy, Brazil and Argentina.