{"id":1231,"date":"2025-03-15T02:28:49","date_gmt":"2025-03-15T02:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiquerugstudio.com\/blog\/?p=1231"},"modified":"2025-03-15T02:28:52","modified_gmt":"2025-03-15T02:28:52","slug":"game-boards-on-chinese-rugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiquerugstudio.com\/blog\/2025\/03\/15\/game-boards-on-chinese-rugs\/","title":{"rendered":"Game Boards on Chinese\u00a0Rugs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the world of Chinese rugs we find a subgrouping in which seemingly inanimate objects are pictorially portrayed in a couple of ways. Wether these objects float around the field, or are visually arranged as a still life, it is clear that their continued usage over time pegs them as not inanimate, but rather objects of historical or cultural importance. These objects tell a story about history and tradition, and are symbols of cultural pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In this post we will look specifically at game boards, in particular the game of Go (Weiqi) \u2013 an abstract strategy board game in which the aim is to surround more territory than your opponent. The game was invented in China more than 2,500 years ago and is believed to be the oldest board game continuously played through present day. If that\u2019s not something to be proud of, I don\u2019t know what is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe standard Go board has a 19\u00d719 grid of lines, containing 361 points. Beginners often play on smaller 9\u00d79 and 13\u00d713 boards, and archaeological evidence shows that the game was played in earlier centuries on a board with a 17\u00d717 grid.\u201d – wikipedia<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, the game of Fangqi is played traditionally in Northern China as a training tool for Weiqi. Board sizes for this game vary by region \u2013 with NingXia employing a 7\u00d78 grid, and Xinjiang utilizing a 7\u00d77 grid for example. The rules may also vary depending on the size of the board, but the basics remain constant throughout place and time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I suppose the real question is, can the grid size of the boards displayed be used as a point of reference to aid in the proper categorization of a carpets\u2019 origin? After copious amounts of hours counting grid squares of board games on rugs, I have determined that the answer is generally no. The size of the grid seems to align more with the overall size of the carpet rather than its place of origin, and a 6\u00d76 grid seems to be the most standard configuration in the woven representation of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n