Mūssigi

Mūssigi ( "warrior nobility game"), known abroad as Yeongtan-sanggi (  "Basanreserian figure game"), is a two-player  and the most popular  in Basanreseri. It is derived from the Cheonjean 象棋 (c. 250 BCE), which in turn is related to an older game, 陸博  (c. 1500 BCE). It is thus also related to the modern Sinjuan variants of (Fusen) and  (Jeongmi).

The Basanreserian variant was plausibly invented in the early 14th century by Empress Ssinridibara, the founder of the Mitsimo dynasty. Two historical accounts of that era mystified the invention, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact inspiration. The legend goes that Empress Ssinridibara was an avid player of xiangqi, but would often either be disturbed amidst a match, or have to many errands to be able to concentrate on a later resumed match. Thus, she improved upon the xiangqi rules and pieces to make the game pace faster, while incidentally introducing the empress piece. It could however simply be a by-product of Basanreserian exceptionalism.

Since the early 19th century, mūssigi has been played professionally in tournaments, and players are rated under the official Mūssigi Association of Basanreseri ranking system, which acknowledges and certificates three professional titles: (from lesser to higher) 老將 ryachun, 健將 gyanchun, and 大健將 daigyanchun.

Pieces
Each player controls an army of sixteen (16) wedge-shaped pentagonal pieces (棋子 gitsa) with a pointed top facing forward, so that piece control and direction are clearly differentiated; the pieces do nonetheless bear black- (黑色 hugsseg) and orange-colored (橘色 gyudsseg) carvings of their names. Each player is assigned one of two sides: 國人 Serigо̄re and 駦族 , whose naming convention refers to the prehistoric ‘Idanman Clash. The sides were not traditionally associated with either color, but due to recent professionalism have come to correspond to black and orange respectively. Professional mūssigi also dictates that the Serigо̄re moves first, which again was not always customary in the past. (At informal games, the dilemma between the assignment of these sides is settled by having one of the players throw any one piece in the air; they then blow once on it from below as it drops back down, so that it is expelled to the air again. It is ultimately let to fall to the ground; the thrower picks the Serigо̄re side if the piece lands with its lettering exposed.) Mūssigi is characterized by the lack of a piece equivalent to the original catapult or cannon (炮 bwau and 砲 bwau).

Bureaucrat
Bureaucrats (labelled 監 gwam) replace the generals (將 chun) and marshalls (帥 swi). They start off as the weakest piece in the game; they may move and capture one field or. As the players progress to the endgame by exchanging pieces, bureaucrats gradually become stronger and more active. Any emerging threats ("checks") to a bureaucrat must be resolved immediately for a game to progress, and "checkmating" a bureaucrat (see: Checkmate) wins the game. Therefore, bureaucrats are simultaneously the most precious piece in-game. The absence of a palace area equivalent to however makes it so that they can move freely throughout the board. A mūssigi innovated rule is fortificating a bureaucrat (see: Fortification), which involves switching positions with a formerly idle cannon (see: Cannon).

Empress
Empresses (labelled 后 hū) replace the guards (士 sa and 仕 sa). They are located on each end of the fourth roads (see: Setup), thereby accompanying the bureaucrat. The combined strength of a xiangqi chariot and a "longer-reaching" elephant (see: Deputy) is vested in the empress; so long as her path is not obstructed by a piece of either player, she may move any number of fields  and  from her position. This renders her the most powerful piece in the game, with the blunder of an empress (see: Terminology) being oftentimes decisive for the outcome of the game.

Deputy
Deputies (labelled 丞 jing) replace the elephants or ministers (象 sang and 相 sang) and outpower them; they may move any number of squares  in mūssigi, instead of the maximum two fields in xiangqi. They are located on the outer flanks of the bureaucrat and empress, thus forming a distant pair. Paired deputies are traditionally preferred over paired horsemen (see: Horseman), since they are by nature locked onto different diagonals and may obstruct entire pathways in the endgame.

Horseman
Horsemen (labelled 騎 gyie) replace the horses (馬 ma and 傌 ma) and are located on the outer flanks of the deputies. They may move one field and thence one field  in respect to their original position, the latter field also accounting for a capture. They are the only piece that can leap over other pieces, even when the field ahead of them (first half of the move) is obstructed by another piece (in contrast to xiangqi).

Cannon
Cannons (labelled 砲 bwau), which are not to be confused with the homographs (砲 bwau and 炮 bwau), actually replace the xiangqi chariot (車 cha and 俥 gо̄); they may move  for any number of fields. They are located on each corner of the game board and are involved in a special move, namely fortification (see: Fortification).

Soldier
Soldiers (labelled 卒 tsud) replace the eponymous soldiers (卒 tsud and 兵 byang) and constitute the line ahead of the advanced pieces. When they are mobilized for the first time, they may move one or two fields ahead. After their first mobilization, they are restricted to moving only one field ahead. They capture by one field ahead of them and are thence transferred to the captured piece's location. Despite being the second weaker piece in the game, they benefit from two special moves: promotion in the arrival to the opponent's last line (see: Promotion), and incision as a sabotage of an opposing soldier's advance (see: Incision).