Ko shogi
2 players • Ogyū Sorai • 1700
- Designer
- Ogyū Sorai
- First published
- 1700
- Players
- 2 players
How it plays
Ko shogi plays 2 players.
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Where it came from
Ko shogi, or large-scale shogi, is a variant of the traditional Japanese board game that dates back to the Edo period. It was developed as a more complex expansion of standard shogi, featuring a significantly larger board and a vast array of unique pieces with distinct, often exotic, movement rules. This variant reflects the intellectual curiosity of the era, where scholars and game enthusiasts sought to deepen the strategic complexity of established pastimes by incorporating elements from other regional variants like xiangqi and ancient Chinese game theory.
The influential Confucian philosopher Ogyū Sorai is widely credited with the design of this specific iteration. Sorai sought to elevate the game into a rigorous mental discipline that mirrored the complexity of governance and military strategy. His design replaced the standard shogi set with over ninety pieces per side, featuring abstract or mythical nomenclature that added a layer of philosophical depth to the play. While it remained a niche pursuit for the intellectual elite rather than a mass-market success, it stands as a significant artifact of Edo-period scholarship and ludology.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real games collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Ko shogi
Ko shogi is a game in the Board Games catalog on collecto.rs. 2 players • Ogyū Sorai • 1700. Catalog data is sourced from Wikidata. No public games collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How do you play Ko shogi?
Ko shogi is a board game for 2 players. collecto.rs catalogues the game, not its rules — for the full rulebook, use the copy in the box or the publisher's own site.
How many players is Ko shogi for?
Ko shogi is built for 2 players. That count comes from this catalog entry alone — nothing from an expansion or a spin-off is folded into it.
Who designed Ko shogi?
Ko shogi was designed by Ogyū Sorai. The catalog gives its publication year as 1700.
How many collectors track Ko shogi on collecto.rs?
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Where does the Ko shogi catalog entry come from?
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