From Chaturanga to Checkmate: How India Gave Birth To Chess

Chess is one of the oldest and most popular games in the world. It is game of strategy and

skill that has been played by many people. But where did it come from? The story of chess is

said to have begun in India and travels across different cultures, evolving into a game we

know today.

The ancient game of Chatrunga (Image: Wikipedia Commons)

In early 6th Century CE, a game called “Chaturanga” (a Sanskrit word); which

translates to “four divisions (of the military)” was brought forward by the Gupta Dynasty. The earliest records suggest that the name “Chaturanga” came from a battle formation mentioned in the Indian epic Mahabharata. This included the infantry, cavalry, elephantry, and chariotry. These forms are represented by the pieces that would evolve into the modern pawn, knight, bishop, and rook. A common theory is that India’s development of the board, and chess, was likely due to India’s mathematical enlightenment involving the creation of the number zero.

Chaturanga was more than just a game. It was a way to practice and understand military

strategies. The game was played on an 8x8 board just like modern chess, and each piece

moved in a unique way, representing different parts of the army. In the end, the goal was to

protect your king while trying to defeat the opponent’s king.

The Vizier Buzurghmihr Showing the Game of Chess to King Khusraw Anushirwan. Image: Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Chess was then introduced to Persia from India and was known as ‘Chatrang’ which

was eventually named as ‘Shatranj’. It became a part of the Persian nobility and was seen as

a game of strategy and intelligence. The rules were developed further during this time.

Players started calling “Shāh!” (Persian for King) when attacking the opponent’s king, and “

Shāh Māt!”(Persian for “the king is helpless”- see checkmate) when the king was attacked and could not escape. These exclamations persisted in chess as it travelled to other lands.

After spreading through the Iran, Shatranj reached Europe. Chess became popular

among the European royalty. The pieces were modified to reflect the social hierarchy of the

time, with kings, queens, bishops, knights, and pawns representing different roles in the

medieval society. In the 15th century, significant changes were made, particularly in Spain

and Italy. The queen became the most powerful piece, reflecting the rising influence of

female rulers, and new rules like castling were introduced, making the game quicker and

more exciting.

Chess has a rich history that spans over a thousand years. It started as a game of military

strategy in ancient India and evolved into the complex game we know today. It has

continued to spread across the world, becoming a global phenomenon. By the 19th Century,

official chess tournaments were being held. Today, chess is played by millions of people

around the world, from casual players to professional grandmasters.