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Chu Shogi. Historic Japanese favorite, featuring a multi-capturing Lion. (12x12, Cells: 144) (Recognized!)[All Comments] [Add Comment or Rating]

📝H. G. Muller wrote on Sat, Apr 25, 2015 02:36 PM UTC:

The MSM doesn't mention they are compositions. Why would anyone compose complete games? And even if they were, because people in those days would have such a strange hobby, it doesn't seem to make it less significant they composed Chu rather than Sho games, instead of playing them.

The MSM further states: "By the time of the Northern and Southern Courts period in Japan (1336-1392), Middle Shogi, played on a
board with 12 squares each way and with 46 pieces on each side, had evolved. In subsequent years it
enjoyed considerable popularity and our first clear record of the game dates from 1350." 'Record' here must not mean 'recorded game', but just a reference specific enough to recognize it unambiguously as Chu rather than Sho or Dai Shogi.

First published description of moves and rules is claimed to be the book "Aro Kassen Monogatari", volume 4, by prime minister Ichijo Kanera, dated 1476.