Why was Chess Banned in China?

Why was chess banned in China?

Chess is a game of strategy and skill that has been played for centuries. But did you know that chess was once banned in China? Why did this happen, and when did it happen? In this blog post, we will explore the history and the reasons behind the chess ban in China.

The history

The history of chess in China dates back to the 7th century, when the game was introduced by the Indians and the Persians who traded with China. Chess became popular among the elites and the intellectuals, who saw it as a way of improving their mental abilities and their military skills. Chess also became a part of the cultural exchange, where it was influenced by and influenced other games, such as xiangqi (Chinese chess) and weiqi (go).

However, chess also faced some opposition and criticism from some political and ideological authorities, who saw it as a waste of time, a distraction from more important matters, or a symbol of foreign influence. Chess was periodically banned or restricted by emperors and leaders, who tried to enforce their political and social agendas on the population.

The most famous chess ban in China occurred in 1966, when chess was banned as part of the Cultural Revolution. The Cultural Revolution was a sociopolitical movement that lasted from 1966 to 1976, initiated by Mao Zedong, the leader of the Communist Party of China. The aim of the movement was to purge the country from all forms of capitalism, feudalism, and traditionalism, and to establish a pure socialist society based on Mao’s ideology. The movement involved mass mobilization, propaganda, censorship, violence, and persecution, resulting in millions of deaths and widespread chaos.

The Cultural Revolution targeted all aspects of culture and society that were considered bourgeois, reactionary, or counter-revolutionary. Chess was one of them. Chess was seen as a game that violated the socialist values and principles that Mao and his followers wanted to uphold and promote. Chess was also seen as a game that had negative effects on the society and the individuals who played it.

Some of the reasons why chess was banned in China were:

Chess was a waste of time: Chess was considered a useless and unproductive activity that took away time from more important matters, such as work, study, or service. Chess was also seen as a distraction from one’s political goals and obligations.
Chess was a source of gambling: Chess was often played for money or for stakes, which involved risk, greed, and corruption. Gambling was condemned by the party as a vice that offended the socialist morality and harmed the socialist economy.
Chess was a source of violence: Chess was sometimes played with passion and emotion, which could lead to anger, resentment, or hatred. Chess could also provoke disputes, arguments, or fights among the players or the spectators. Chess could also incite wars or conflicts, as some historical examples showed.
Chess was a source of foreign influence: Chess was a game that originated from outside China, especially from India and Persia. Chess could make the players adopt or admire foreign cultures or ideologies, instead of Chinese culture or socialism. Chess could also make the players forget or neglect their national identity or loyalty.

These reasons were based on the beliefs and values of Mao and his followers who banned chess in China. However, these reasons were not shared or accepted by everyone. Many people continued to play chess despite the ban, either secretly or openly. Many people also defended chess as a game that had positive effects, such as source of education, source of entertainment, source of friendship, source of wisdom, and source of patriotism.

The chess ban in China lasted for 10 years, until it was lifted in 1976, after Mao’s death and the end of the Cultural Revolution. However, chess remained unpopular and marginalized in China for a long time. Chess did not become widely accepted and appreciated in China until the 1980s, when it became associated with the reform and opening up policy.

Chess is now legal and popular in China, as well as in many other countries around the world. Chess is now seen as a game that enriches one’s mind and soul, as well as one’s culture and society.

The reasons

The reasons behind the chess ban in China were mainly political and ideological. Chess was seen as a game that violated the socialist values and principles that Mao Zedong and his followers wanted to uphold and promote. Chess was also seen as a game that had negative effects on the society and the individuals who played it.

Some of the reasons why chess was banned in China were:

Chess was a waste of time: Chess was considered a useless and unproductive activity that took away time from more important matters, such as work, study, or service. Chess was also seen as a distraction from one’s political goals and obligations.
Chess was a source of gambling: Chess was often played for money or for stakes, which involved risk, greed, and corruption. Gambling was condemned by the party as a vice that offended the socialist morality and harmed the socialist economy.
Chess was a source of violence: Chess was sometimes played with passion and emotion, which could lead to anger, resentment, or hatred. Chess could also provoke disputes, arguments, or fights among the players or the spectators. Chess could also incite wars or conflicts, as some historical examples showed.
Chess was a source of foreign influence: Chess was a game that originated from outside China, especially from India and Persia. Chess could make the players adopt or admire foreign cultures or ideologies, instead of Chinese culture or socialism. Chess could also make the players forget or neglect their national identity or loyalty.

Conclusion on Why was chess banned in China

Chess was banned in China in 1966 as part of the Cultural Revolution, a sociopolitical movement that lasted from 1966 to 1976, initiated by Mao Zedong, the leader of the Communist Party of China. The aim of the movement was to purge the country from all forms of capitalism, feudalism, and traditionalism, and to establish a pure socialist society based on Mao’s ideology. The movement involved mass mobilization, propaganda, censorship, violence, and persecution, resulting in millions of deaths and widespread chaos.

The chess ban in China was based on political and ideological reasons, such as waste of time, source of gambling, source of violence, and source of foreign influence. However, these reasons were not shared or accepted by everyone. Many people continued to play chess despite the ban, either secretly or openly. Many people also defended chess as a game that had positive effects, such as source of education, source of entertainment, source of friendship, source of wisdom, and source of patriotism.

Chess is now legal and popular in China, as well as in many other countries around the world. Chess is now seen as a game that enriches one’s mind and soul, as well as one’s culture and society.

References

ChessManiac (n.d.). Chess Condemned and Banned. Retrieved from https://www.chessmaniac.com/chess-condemned-and-banned/
El País (2023). Chess was once banned in China. Today, the country wants to win the World Chess Championship. Retrieved from https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-04-15/chess-was-once-banned-in-china-today-the-country-wants-to-win-the-world-chess-championship.html
Wikipedia (n.d.). Chess in China. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_in_China

Benjamin Miller

Benjamin Miller is the founder and editor of The Extra Game. He plays chess, scrabble and Monopoly at a masters level. He is a board game enthusiast, publisher, designer, and reviewer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He loves to share his passion, knowledge, and recommendations for board games with the world.