Hermann Hesse: "Di sana-sini dalam literatur kuno kita menemukan legen...

"Di sana-sini dalam literatur kuno kita menemukan legenda permainan bijak dan misterius yang disusun dan dimainkan oleh para cendekiawan, biksu, atau abdi dalem pangeran berbudaya. Ini mungkin berbentuk permainan catur di mana potongan-potongan dan kotak memiliki makna rahasia di samping fungsi mereka yang biasa."

--- Hermann Hesse

Versi Bahasa Inggris

Here and there in the ancient literature we encounter legends of wise and mysterious games that were conceived and played by scholars, monks, or the courtiers of cultured princes. These might take the form of chess games in which the pieces and squares had secret meanings in addition to their usual functions.