Israel Regardie - The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic.pdf

THE COMPLETE GOLDEN DAWN SYSTEM OF MAGIC
ages. Castling was unknown. Pawns moved one square forward only, but took
diagonally.
Dice were thrown to decide moves. Dice had four sides, marked on opposite sides
with 4 and 3, or 5 and 2, making in each case 7.
The Brahmins abolished the use of dice.
Chaturanga is referred to in Valurika ‘s Ramayana, Book 4, Chapter 51. It is also
mentioned in one of the Sanskrit Puranas, where it is said that it was invented in the second
age by the wife of Rawan, King of Lanka, that is Ceylon.
The Chaturanga Elephant has become our Castle,
The Chaturanga Ship has become our Bishop,
The Chaturanga Horse has become our Knight,
The Chaturanga King remains King.
But the second King has become our Queen. The Elephant and Ship, Castle and
Bishop have exchanged places.
Perhaps the Elephant became Castle from the Houdah on its back. The ship was also
formerly a chariot in some places.
In the oldest Chaturanga, Dice throwing:
If 2 were thrown, the player had to move the Ship.
If 3 were thrown, the player had to move the Horse.
If 4 were thrown, the player had to move the Elephant.
If 5 were thrown, the player had to move the King or Pawn.
Shatranji of Persia and Araby appears to have become well known in Persia about
1500 A.D. We then find that the game has become a contest between two players and 2 of the
4 Kings have become Ministers or Queens. The early title was Mantri or Farzin or Firz, hence
it is supposed comes Vierge for Queen. The Castle and Bishop changed places.
This game is described by the Persian poet Firdansi; a copy of his book extant is dated
1486.
The Persians introduced the change of rank in a Pawn by reaching its eighth square.
In the third or European epoch, the modern game of chess was developed. The players
being 2 only became quite defined.
It was laid down that the Queen should stand on her own colour, and that each player
should have a white square at his right hand. Castling has been introduced, and each Pawn
has been permitted to more either one or two squares at the first move.
The queening of a Pawn at the 8th square has been finally settled. The moves of the
Queen and Bishop were much altered. Formerly the Queen could only move diagonally on
her own colour, and the Bishop moving diagonally could only attack the next square but one.
The Castles or Rooks were definitely placed at the extreme right and left.
The present moves are:
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