Chess-playing is a frequently seen motif in Chinese art. It is typically composed of two weiqi (Chinese chess) players seated opposite each other under a pine tree; often with a third person watching. An early example of this scene on porcelain is a blue-and-white jar of the Chenghua Period (1465-1487), in the collection of the National Museum of China, Beijing
Weiqi playing is favoured by literati, and considered one of the four basic intellectual abilities. The other three being playing qin, calligraphy and painting. Therefore, on artwork, this scene symbolizes the strategic thinking of the ruling class.
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