You've helped them one at a time. The real understanding is how the ideas CONNECT — teach that next.
Marshal Shuai (the General — the piece the whole game protects, confined to the palace) ×Advisor Shi (the advisor — a palace-bound diagonal guard who never leaves the General)
Why does Advisor Shi stay locked in the palace on tiny diagonal steps instead of roaming the board?
Marshal Shuai then says: “I'll march my Advisor across the river to attack — guards should press forward.” — is that right?
The link: the Advisor is the General's shadow — its whole role is the piece it guards.
The guard never leaves the one it guards.
Soldier Jin (the soldier — forward-advancing infantry) ×River Chu (the central river — the boundary that transforms soldiers who cross it)
A soldier can only push forward — until it crosses the river. What does River Chu change about Jin?
Soldier Jin then says: “My soldier reached the far side, but it still can only shuffle straight forward.” — is that right?
The link: the river is a threshold — cross it and the soldier grows new powers.
Cross the river, gain a new step.
Capstone — read one Xiangqi position together
Three pieces and rules, one position. Bring in the cast member for each.
The piece confined to the palace that the whole game defends. Who?
Who do you bring in?
A soldier crosses the central boundary and gains sideways movement. Who?
Who do you bring in?
The rule forbidding the two Generals from facing each other down an open file. Who?
Who do you bring in?
The synthesis: protect the General, promote your soldiers across the river, and mind the invisible line between the kings — the shape of a Xiangqi game.
