'Three Kingdoms' xiangqi set

Xiangqi (Chinese chess) is normally played with disc-shaped pieces featuring Chinese characters indicating their identity. 

I do have a few exceptions to this in my collection of xiangqi sets, where the pieces are 3-dimensional figures rather than flat discs. First of all, there is my 'Terracotta Warriors' set, and also this figurine children's set.

Occasionally, I did come across another set with 3d pieces on the internet, but always with (to me) ridiculous prices. Until quite recently ... 

The pieces in this set come in a sturdy wooden box, which, when opened to reveal the pieces, also functions as the board.

The pieces are mostly in the form of traditional Chinese warriors, inspired by the Warring States and Three Kingdoms periods, with the exception of the cannons, chariots and horses, which, not surprisingly, resemble cannons, chariots and horses ... Note that the pawns are all a bit different from each other; nice touch!

To help knowing which 'human' figures are which piece, all pieces carry a small badge on their base with the relevant Chinese characters.

Nice colourful 3D set; worth waiting for the right opportunity! 

Bamboo xiangqi set

Some time ago, I got myself a nice bamboo xiangqi board, to serve as a playing surface for a number of xiangqi sets I had bought.

Keen to get a set of bamboo pieces, I kept my eye out in the usual places. As far as could tell, a bamboo set of xiangqi stones was not available in the UK, and the one or two from China were far too expensive for me. Until I saw a set on Amazon (US) for a very friendly price (even taking shipping into account; it escaped any import duties).

The set came with the customary faux leather board.

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And this is what the set looks like on its 'own' faux leather board:

But, as the whole point of getting a bamboo set is to pair it with my bamboo board, the next step is pretty obvious, right?

Bamboo pieces on a bamboo board; finally!

Synochess

In the vast majority of chess variants, the two (or more) sides have identical sets of pieces at the start. But not all of them do .... In real war, armies facing each other are not necessarily identical, and this has been reflected in some chess variants. One of these, Spartan chess, I already have in the collection.  

Another chess variant with unequal armies is Synochess. In this variant, one side, called the 'Kingdom', has a normal western set of pieces. The other side, the 'Dynasty', has a set of pieces coming from xiangqi and janggi (Chinese and Korean chess, respectively).

In the collection, I've got board and pieces to easily put together a Synochess set.

For the board, I picked my 'mahjong' board, as that one combines western and Chinese influences.

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As to the pieces, I decided to use my Bakelite St George set for the 'Kingdom', and my Acrylic xiangi set for the 'Dynasty'. This ensures both sets are disc-shaped and so don't look too different. 

A Synochess set with both western and Chinese traits!