The Chinese have played wei-ch'i, or go, since ancient times and it is first mentioned in the Confucian classics of the fifth century B.C. Both men and women of the educated class played wei-ch'i and to the literati, it became a symbol of the intellect. This huang-hua-li board is framed in ji-chi-mu hardwood and inlaid with silver. One side is a board for wei-ch'i, while the reverse is a board for chess, or hsiang-ch'i or elephant chess. The fluted bowls, used to hold the stone wei-ch'i markers are also made of huang-hua-li wood. They are fashioned in the shape of a melon and the round lids are carved with an eight-pointed star pattern. These containers are generally made in a size that can be easily held in the palm of the hand. Wei-ch'i markers during Ch'ing were generally made from stone or glass.