Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 20:17:50 +0000
From: Bruno Faidutti (faidutti@imaginet.fr)
Subject: Ludus latrunculorum in Japan
No doubt, there is a similarity between Hasami Shogi and Ludus latrunbculorum: the way you can capture pieces.But there are othet games, in Asia, Africa or even Europe (Tablut) in which the capture is made in this way.
However, there is no evidence that the game is identical with Ludus Latrunculorum. The only things we know for certain about Ludus latrunculorum is that the capture was made this way. But there is no historical record of the way pieces moved on the board, and there can even be discussion whether there was one or two kinds of pieces.
For more info, see my little book "Les echecs, de la legende à l'histoire" (Chess, from Legend to history), that will be published in France in a few weeks.