The common theory states that chess originated from Chaturanga, mimicking a very similar war-game invented in North India around 600 A.D. The origins of chess continue to spark lengthy records of debates and findings about where, when and who invented this board game. Chess was taken to China by Buddhists over the mountains – over the Indus River or through the Khyber Pass, a key juncture point of caravan routes. The Chinese developed their own game of chess in 800 A.D.

Known today as xiang qi, Chinese Chess has also other variations such as wei qi, a similar concept with simplified rules. Each chess piece comes with its own rules of movement, requiring players to pit against each other in intellect, skill, strategy and mind agility.