Dou Shou Qi
Officially Dou Shou Qi (斗兽棋, 'Jungle Chess' / 'Animal Chess')
CHINESE ABSTRACT STRATEGY BOARD GAME — ANIMAL CHESS with 8 animals of different power ranks (Rat, Cat, Dog, Wolf, Leopard, Tiger, Lion, Elephant). Played on 9×7 board with jungle, rivers, dens, and traps. Signature: RAT can beat ELEPHANT (only Rat can enter water). Goal: enter opponent's DEN or capture all opponent's pieces. Educational classic for Chinese children; widely played 20th century+. Deep tactical game despite simple appearance. Also called 'JUNGLE' in English commercial editions.
Quick facts
Category
Mind Sports
Type
Individual
Players
2–2
Duration
~30 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇨🇳 China
Estimated origin
Early 20th century commercial editions; folk origins earlier; standardized rules mid-20th c
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Enter opponent's DEN or capture ALL opponent's pieces.
Rules
Basic rules
8 animals per side, ranked 1-8 (Rat=1 weakest to Elephant=8 strongest)
Signature hierarchy.
Higher-rank animals can capture lower-rank ones (like most chess pieces)
Standard capture rule.
SIGNATURE EXCEPTION: Rat can capture Elephant (only)
Signature Rat-Elephant rule.
Only Rat can enter water (rivers block other animals)
Signature terrain rule.
Lion + Tiger can LEAP OVER rivers (but not if Rat is in water on their path)
Signature jumping rule.
Animal on TRAP (opponent's side) has power reduced to 0 — anything can capture it
Trap mechanic.
WIN: enter opponent's Den (goal square) or capture all their pieces
Multiple win conditions.
Scoring
Win by entering opponent's Den or capturing all opposing pieces.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Enter opponent's Den | WIN |
| Capture all opponent's pieces | WIN |
| Stalemate (30+ moves without capture) | DRAW |
Win condition · Enter Den or capture all opposing pieces.
Equipment
9×7 Jungle Chess board (with rivers, jungle, dens, traps marked)
Signature themed board
16 animal pieces (8 per side): Elephant, Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Wolf, Dog, Cat, Rat
Signature 8-tier hierarchy
Terminology
- Dou Shou Qi
- 'Fighting Beasts Chess' / 'Jungle Chess' — Chinese name.
- Den
- Goal square in each player's own back rank; entering opponent's = win.
- Trap
- Squares near your own Den that weaken opposing pieces standing on them.
- River
- Water zones in board middle; only Rat can enter.
- Leap
- Lion + Tiger can jump horizontally OR vertically across water (not diagonally, not if Rat blocks).
Where it is played
Frequently asked
Why can Rat beat Elephant?+
The theme is that a rat can crawl into an elephant's EAR + attack from within. This makes the tiny Rat piece uniquely valuable — the only piece that can defeat the strongest Elephant, but only 1v1 attack. This clever rule creates strategic depth: protecting your Rat + preventing your Elephant from being ambushed becomes crucial. It's one of the game's most iconic + beloved features.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Dou shou qi— Wikipedia