The diagram shows all the usual xiangqi pieces, except generals are replaced by the kingdom names Wei (魏), Shu (蜀), and Wu (吳) representing the three rival emperors. The Green player has additionally its own distinctive symbols for its elephants (向 xiang ), cannons (礮 pao ), and soldiers (勇 yong ). The bannermen pieces (if used) start on the upper corner points of the players' 3×3 palaces.
Game of the Three Kingdoms (Chinese: 三國棋, Pinyin: Sān-guó-qí ; also called Sanguo Qi, Three Kingdoms Chess, or Three-Handed Xiangqi) is a three-player variant of the game xiangqi ("Chinese chess"). The game symbolizes the Three Kingdoms period war (221–264) between the rival states Wei, Shu, and Wu, each vying for control of China after the fall of the Han dynasty.
