Gaming in China’s History

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This first post is a list of resources for those looking to build a WW2 period Chinese Army. I’ll be adding other posts covering resources for varying periods in Chinese history. Most of these are web sites, books and miniatures I’ve come across whilst trying to build my own armies for China. I’ll include links to any blog posts I’ve written as well. This thread will be regularly up-dated.

Miniatures
Warlord Games – Recently Warlord expanded Bolt Action into the Korean conflict, as part of this range they introduced communist Chinese. Fortunately most were stilled armed with WW2 period weapons and equipment, which means the infantry can be used as WW2 communist troops.

 

Copplestone Castings – These are from the Back of Beyond range, though this range is set during the Warlord period 1920-1930’s, they are suitable for Early WW2 armies. Especially Warlord and Nationalists. You could use the bandits as early Communists troops.

Pulp Figures – There several miniatures in this range which are suitable for early period Nationalists and Communist forces, but the sculpts are a bit cartoony. Though as of writing this post the figures were being re-sculpted.

Caesar Miniatures – These are in 1/72 or 20mm scale plastic figures. There are 40 to a box in a number of poses. I bought a box of these for my 20mm games, the sculpts are really good, posing is fine with a good variety. I highly recommend these for anyone thinking of building a Chinese army in 20mm. The only down side is they’re not hard plastic, so the weapons are a little bendy.

 

Websites
Wikipedia page –  This is a good place to start as it provides a comprehensive overview of China during WW2.

China’s war with Japan 1937-1945 – This article in Guardian is an excellent read and again provides an informative overview of the conflict.

China in World War 2 – This page has some very good links that will prove very useful for those researching the Chinese military during this period.

 

 

 

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Videos

China vs Japan in WW2 – Hilltop battle [Eng Sub] – this is a clip from a Chinese movie

Infantry weapons of World War II – The Republic of China

Chinese Troops Drive Japs from Changteh

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Other periods I’m going to be looking at are

Boxer Rebellion 1899-1901

Three Kingdoms Period: The Three Kingdoms from 220 to 280 AD was the tripartite division of China among the states of Wei, Shu, and Wu. The Three Kingdoms period started with the end of the Han dynasty and was followed by the Jin dynasty.

Warring States a period of warfare that culminated in the first unified China under the Qin dynasty (Terracotta Army).

This is a good place to start: https://www.ancient.eu/collection/57/warfare-in-ancient-china

I’m also going to look at the period between 1911-1937, which will cover the Warlord era and the start of Japanese invasion.

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Some videos looking at Ancient Chinese Warfare

[torros 23816xp 0]

I enjoyed the film 1911 with Jackie Chan

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That’s a good film…I liked the fact that Jackie Chan played a straight role for a change.

There’s some good action scenes in the film as well. Some good potential for gaming around the time period

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Its a while since I watched it but I remember the seige part being really good

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Great idea for a topic, regarding an area overlooked far too often (especially ancient Chinese wars).
I’m poking into ancients, looking into either cooking my own simple system for live stream games or using an existing system like MeG.  Ancient Chinese would be a great and refreshing take on this (because SO MANY people, myself included, want tio go straight to Roman legions).

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It’s an interesting area to game with plenty to choose from. A great book to get going research wise is Battles of Ancient China by Chris Peers and it’s published by Pen & Sword. 

On Netflix there are a few TV dramas set in Ancient China.

Qin Empire (Alliance)

Kings War

Marco Polo

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@warhammergrimace Have you come across Watchful Eye Studio at all?

https://www.watchfulistudio.com/

They specialise in Asian historical and fantasy ranges, and a range of ancient Chinese. I’ll admit that I know nothing of the period, so can’t comment on the accuracy of the dress, but they good to me.

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Yeah, I have some of the Terracotta range to paint up for games in the Warring States period. Just haven’t decided which state I’ll base my army on yet.

Caesar miniatures do several boxes in 1/72 scale for a number of historical periods, including Ming and Qing. So it be possible to fight the war between the two dynasties which saw the end of the Ming and the emergence of the final Chinese dynasty Qing.

[torros 23816xp 0]

Is the Caesar stuff still available as they tend to discontinue there ranges quite quickly. I did pick up some of the infantry and they are lovely sculpts

 

Prime has some great Chinese series on if

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As far as I’m aware you can still get the Ancient Chinese Army boxes from Ceasar Miniatures. I’ve been looking at the Ming and Qing armies.

Atlantic Wargames have Boxer Rebellion Chinese coming out soon.

Another miniature manufacturer worth looking at is Foundry as they produce Qing period Chinese, also British for the Opium Wars. The same Chinese will also work for Boxer Rebellion and the Taiping Rebellion.

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@torros Longest Day in Chang an is probably the best one on there.

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This is one conflict that could be gamed as it brings in Imperial Japan, the invasion of Taiwan in 1895.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_invasion_of_Taiwan_(1895)

A particular known folk legend and martial artist who fought in this war with the Black Flag army was Wong Fei-hung.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wong_Fei-hung

You could use Ospreys Fist Full of Kong Fu to play skirmish games

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