The markings on the board have the following significance:

The blank strip dividing the two sides is the river. This is important for two pieces: the elephant, which can advance only as far as the near bank, and the soldier, which achieves greater power of movement (promotion) as soon as it reaches the far bank. The river is usually decorated with a calligraphic inscription such as "River Boundary," or sometimes a more elaborate motto.

The nine points marked by an X on each side constitute the castle or palace. The general and his two mandarins cannot leave this area.

The small markings on the third and fourth ranks on each side are simply an aid to the initial placement of the soldiers and the cannons. All other pieces are placed on the first rank.

The Pieces

The pieces are small discs of wood, plastic, or some other material. Pieces are identified by Chinese ideograms in the team colors, typically black and red. There is also some variation in the form of the characters, especially in older sets.