- The game that is said to have started it all.  Chaturanga originated in India.  Developed in the Gupta Empire in the 6th century and soon spreading to Persia as Shatranj.  

- The exact rules are not known, particularly the Gaja movement with two possibilities.  However, it is generally agreed they are almost the same as Shatranj.

 

* I have a personal theory that the Gaja had regional variations, and the northern/western variation (two diagonal move) developed into Shatranj and later Xiangqi, while the southern/eastern variation (one diagonal or forward move) developed into Sittuyin, Makruk ~. 

 

The pieces: 

Raja: The king, moves like the king in pretty much any game in the family.

Mantri: The minister, or queen.  This piece moved one space diagonally in any direction.

Ratha: The chariot.  Just like a rook in chess.

Gaja: The elephant.  Jumps two spaces diagonally (the same as Sharanj, or similar to the two space move, not jump, in Xiangqi), or possibly like the silver general in Shogi; one space diagonally any direction or forward one space (this is the same in Sittuyin as well as Makruk/ Ouk Chatrang).

Ashva: The horse.  Moves just like the knight in chess.

Padati: The foot-soldier.  Moves and captures just like pawns in chess, but no two-space initial move. ​