Journal

The Kotoba Interactive journal.

Editorial features on the cultures, history and languages of Asia. Filter by culture, by topic, or search for what inspires you.

Discover

2 articles

China

Partie de xiangqi en plein air : deux joueurs penches sur un plateau pose sur une table de parc, les pieces rondes marquees de caracteres chinois disposees sur les intersections de part et d'autre du fleuve central, des spectateurs autour de la table

Society8 min

Xiangqi: Chinese chess, from the river to the scandal

Rules, pieces, origins and scandals of xiangqi, Chinese chess: the river across the board, the cannon that needs a screen, and the lifetime bans of 2024.

August 9, 2026Read

China

Goban (plateau de go/weiqi) avec pierres noires et blanches.

Arts6 min

Weiqi: the Chinese game of go, the art of encircling

History and principles of weiqi (the game of go): millennia-old Chinese origins, the rule of encirclement, the scholar's art, baduk, igo and the AlphaGo shock.

May 18, 2026Read