Chaturanga

Chaturanga is an ancient strategy board game from the Indian subcontinent, widely regarded as the precursor to modern chess. The name, from Sanskrit, is typically translated as “four divisions,” referring to the four main kinds of military units represented by the pieces: infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots. The game was commonly played on an 8x8 board, though regional variants occasionally used different boards.

The exact origins of chaturanga are uncertain, but it is generally dated to the early centuries CE, with references appearing in Indian literature by around the 6th century. From India, the game spread west to Persia, where it evolved into shatranj, and then into the Islamic world and Europe. Over time, the rules and piece movements were refined and standardized differently in various regions, leading to the distinct forms that culminated in modern chess.

A typical set of chaturanga pieces included a king, a counsellor or vizier, a chariot (rook), a horse (knight), an elephant (which would later evolve into the bishop), and a line of pawns. The chariot, horse, elephant, and counsellor had movements that resembled, though did not exactly match, their later chess counterparts. Pawns advanced forward and captured diagonally. The game’s objective was to threaten and capture the opponent’s king (checkmate). Some later variants and evolutions reduced or reshaped the power of certain pieces, contributing to the emergence of the modern queen and bishop.

Chaturanga’s legacy is substantial: it informed the development of shatranj and, through subsequent cultural exchanges, ultimately led to the contemporary game of chess played worldwide today.