The name of Xiangqi originates from ancient Chinese historical stories and folklore, and "Xiang" is one of the important military branches in ancient Chinese warfare, just like the meaning of "Xiang" in Xiangqi, representing the meaning of change, planning, stability and so on. The name behind this chess can be traced back to the historical and cultural background of ancient China, where elephants played an important role in ancient warfare.
In ancient times, the "elephant" in chess did not refer to an animal elephant, but to symbolize war and military system. The development of Xiangqu is inextricably linked to Zhou Yi, and the "elephant" in Xiangqi not only symbolizes war, but also symbolizes hexagrams and signs. In particular, during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, the famous physicist Lu Huai used chess as a metaphor to clarify the commonalities between chess theory and Yi Li. When people play games and talk about chess, they are not only entertaining a game, but also feeling a philosophy, tasting a piece of history, and appreciating a culture.
Some people believe that it first appeared in the Warring States Period, while others believe that it was invented by Emperor Wu of Zhou. However, it has been difficult for the academic community to form a unified opinion, which also reflects the mystery and diversity of chess.