Dou Shou Qi, or Jungle Chess is (or just Jungle) is a children’s game created as a variant of Chinese Chess, about 100 or 150 years ago. The idea behind it was to simplify the movement, and the rules into something children could play with little practice.

Every animal in the game moved just 1 space orthogonally. Animals can only eat (or Capture) certain other animals, theoretically based upon reality. More of a child’s understanding of reality, but still the logic is there. And there are lakes, just for fun, I guess. All in all it is a fun little game.

Let’s look over the game together.

Board

The board is a 7×9 board. at each end of the board is a Den. (A4, and I4)

Your goal is not to capture a king or other animal. It is to capture the opponent’s Den.

Surrounding the Den are Pit Traps. (I don’t know why the animals have set up pit traps, but sure, why not)

If an animal is in the pit trap, they can be captured by anyone.

There are also 2 lakes in the middle of the board. Some animals can swim, some cannot. The larger cats (Lions, Tigers and Leopards) can leap over different amounts of water, if there is no animal on the opposite space of the lake.

Inside the lake, swimming animals can be captured by other swimming pieces.

The Pieces

Since all the animals move exactly the same, I will not be placing that on the descriptions here. They all move 1 space orthogonally. Up, Down, Left, or Right.

The Mouse: The meekest, and smallest of the animals. The mouse is cute and fuzzy and apparently lives in a Jungle.
Swimming: The mouse is able to move into the lakes and swim. As it enters or leaves the lake, it is unable to capture the same turn.
Capturing: Mice can only capture 2 animals, other mice, or the elephants. In Chess Wars, this extends to Soldiers and Generals.
Immunity: Mice cannot be captured by Elephants or Generals.

The Cat: This is hinted at being a house cat. But I feel it should more accurately be related to the smaller wildcats, because let’s be serious, when would a Housecat live in the Jungle?
Capturing: Cats can only capture other cats, and mice. In Chess Wars, this will extend to Corporals, and Soldiers
Immunity: Mice and Soldiers cannot capture a cat.

The Wolf: The wolf is a believable Jungle Animal.
Capturing: Wolves can only capture other wolves, cats, and mice. In Chess Wars, this translates to Sergeants, Corporals, and Soldiers
Immunity: The wolf cannot be captured by cats, mice, Corporals, and Soldiers.

The Dog: These are mentioned in the rule set I was given to be specifically hunting dogs. I find this as an adequate reason to find them in the jungle.
Swimming: Optionally, dogs may swim in the lakes. I feel this makes sense. But in the original rules, they did not. So you can decide.
Capturing: Dogs may capture dogs, wolves, cats and mice. In Chess Wars this would be Lieutenants, Sergeants, Corporals, and Soldiers.
Immunity: Dogs may not be captured by mice, cats, wolves, soldiers, corporals, or sergeants.

The Leopard: Leopards, big cats that love the jungle trees. These are wild animals that pose a big threat to many animals in the game.
Leap: Optionally, Leopards may leap horizontally over an area of water. They are limited to leaping over 2 spaces of water. They may only do this if the far side is empty. The original rules do not allow for this, but newer rules do, and it makes sense to me.
Capturing: Leopards may capture any piece EXCEPT the Tiger, Lion, or Elephant. All other animals are fair game, and probably tasty. In Chess War they can capture any piece except Majors, Chiefs, and Generals.
Immunity: Leopards can only be captured by Leopards, Tigers, Lions, Elephants Captains, Majors, Chiefs, and Generals.

The Tiger: Tigers, the lord of the Jungles, ruler of all they survey. Toughness incarnate.
Leap: Tigers may leap over the lakes. they may leap over a maximum of 3 water spaces if the far end is empty.
Capturing: Tigers may capture any piece EXCEPT the Lion, or Elephant. All other animals are fair game, and probably tasty. In Chess War they can capture any piece except Chiefs, and Generals.
Immunity: Tigers can only be captured by Tigers, Lions, Elephants, Majors, Chiefs, and Generals.

The Lion: King of the Jungle, but not the hardest to capture. Lions radiate royalty and authority.
Leap: Lions may leap over the lakes. they may leap over a maximum of 3 water spaces if the far end is empty.
Capturing: Lions may capture any piece EXCEPT the Elephant. All other animals are fair game, and probably tasty. In Chess War they can capture any piece except Generals.
Immunity: Lions can only be captured by Lions, Elephants, Chiefs, and Generals.

The Elephant: The largest, and toughest animal in a Jungle..
Capturing: Elephants may capture any piece EXCEPT the Mouse. All other animals are fair game, and probably tasty. In Chess War they can capture any piece except Soldier.
Immunity: Lions can only be captured by Elephants, Mice, Generals, and Soldiers.

Setup

In Jungle Chess the pieces begin on their side of the lakes. No piece begins in the den or the traps. but every piece is spaced almost checkers like through the board. Please review the picture below for starting positions on the regular board.

Chess Wars

For the sake of Chess Wars, we had to create 2 knew piece ranks. The Corporal and the Major.
The Corporal is a half step above a Soldier. Like an advanced Soldier, like a Super Pawn.
The Major is a half step down from a Chief. Like halfway between a Bishop and a Queen.

If you play Jungle Chess in Chess Wars, each team will have different objectives. For example, in Jungle vs FIDE Chess, the FIDE Chess would win if they manage to get any piece into the Jungle Den. and The Jungle would win if a Mouse or Elephant (only) managed to capture the King.

Home Made

But what if you don’t have the ability to buy Jungle, and you wish to play? What can you do?
Just like many of the games you could download and print the file above, or you could prepare a modified Chess Board.

You will need

• 2 different sets of Chess.
• magnet paper to extend and make Dens.
• Markers.