Gungi

Gungi
Kanji	軍(グン)儀(ギ)()()()()()()()()
Rōmaji	Gungi
Item Statistics
Classification	Strategy Board Game
Located in	Republic of East Gorteau (Origin)
Owned by	Known players: Komugi (Former) Meruem (Former)
Debut
Manga Debut	Chapter 244
Anime Debut	Episode 102 (2011) (Mentioned; Visualization) Episode 103 (2011) (Board and pieces)

Gungi (軍(グン)儀(ギ)()()()()()()()(), Gungi—lit. "Ceremony"* or "Military Ceremony"*) is a two-player strategy board game that originated in the Republic of East Gorteau.

History

Gungi was invented in the Republic of East Gorteau, where almost every citizen knows how to play it. There have been world championships for the past 15 years, and East Gorteau has won every single year. Komugi is the third champion to represent the country, reigning for five consecutive years.

Gameplay

Gungi is played on a non-checkered game board with 81 squares arranged in a 9×9 grid. At the beginning of the game, players can choose how their pieces will be arranged on their side of the board. Additionally, pieces can be stacked on top of each other, adding a third dimension to the game. Up to two additional pieces can be stacked on top of a piece, for up to three pieces in a single column. There are 25 pieces for each player, one side black and one white. As with similar games, the objective is to checkmate the opponent's "King" ().

Pieces

There are 13 different types of pieces and several stacked constructs:

Piece/Symbol	Name	Height/Stack	Ref.
	King/Marshal (帥(スイ), Sui—lit. "Commander/Governor")	1 high
	Cavalry/Knight (騎(キ)馬(バ)()()()()()()()(), Kiba—lit. "Riding a horse/A person on horseback")	1 high
	Shinobi/Spy (忍(シノビ), Shinobi)	2 high
	New Shinobi/New Spy (忍(シノビ)新(アラタ)()()()()()()()(), Shinobi Arata)	1 high
	Bow/Archer (弓(ユミ), Yumi)	3 high
	New Bow/New Archer (弓(ユミ)新(アラタ)()()()()()()()(), Yumi Arata)	3 high
	Soldier/Pawn (兵(ヒョウ), Hyō—lit./possible to read as "Leopard")	1 high
	Cannon (砲(オオヅツ), Oodzutsu—lit. read as "Large-cylinder")	1 high
	Cannon/Musketeer (筒(ツツ), Tsutsu—lit. "Cylinder")	1 high
	Mortar/Musketeer (筒(ツツ), Tsutsu—lit. "Cylinder")	2 high
	Fort/Fortress (砦(トリデ), Toride)	2 high
	Prince/General (大(タイ)将(ショウ)()()()()()()()(), Taishō—lit. "Admiral/General")	2 high
	Captain (少(ショウ)将(ショウ)()()()()()()()(), Shōshō—lit. "Major General")	1 high
	Captain/Major General (小(ショウ)将(ショウ)()()()()()()()(), Shōshō—lit. read as "Major General")	2 high
	Duke/Lieutenant General (中(チュウ)将(ジョウ)()()()()()()()(), Chūjō—lit. "Lieutenant General")	1 and 2 high
	New Duke/New Lieutenant General (中(チュウ)将(ジョウ)新(アラタ)()()()()()()(), Chūjō Arata—lit. "New Lieutenant General")	1 high
	Counsel (謀, Hakarigoto)*
	Samurai (侍, Samurai)*

Plot

Chimera Ant arc

Meruem playing against Komugi for the first time

After Meruem defeats the East Gorteau Go Champion inside the royal palace, Shaiapouf introduces him to the last professional board game in the Republic of East Gorteau: Gungi. Pouf says that it originated in the country and nearly every citizen knows how to play, explaining the rules and detailing the country's dominance in the game. Meruem realizes that if he beats the reigning champion, it will make him the best in the world, and he calls them forth. After Komugi enters and Meruem finishes looking through the rulebook, the two eventually begin their first match. Komugi wins easily, and Meruem quickly analyzes her strategy, realizing that he's not good enough to compete as he asks for another game. The two continue playing into the night, and although Komugi boasts that she can play for three days in a row, Meruem insists that they take a break since he needs to compete against someone else. Once Komugi leaves, Meruem is confident that it will only take him four or five more games to make her start playing for real, allowing him to identify and disrupt her rhythm as he did with the others.

As Meruem and Komugi continue to play, Neferpitou asks Pouf how the game is going, and he replies that Meruem is continuing to struggle no matter how many games they play. Meruem analyzes Komugi's sequences as the two exchange moves, and he realizes that a piece that had been pointless since the beginning of the game has suddenly taken control of the board. He resigns and wonders to himself if she was calculating and predicting all of his moves from the start, saying that it has to be impossible. He announces another match, and Komugi happily obliges. The two exchange several moves, and Komugi sees that Meruem's king is isolated. Meruem says that he calls it "detached castling", trying his best to predict what moves Komugi will make so that he can set his trap. He is confident that he will finally disrupt her rhythm, and Komugi plays the very move he predicted she would make next.

Meruem forced to resign against Komugi once again

Meruem analyzes the game in his head and confidently plays a move that he thinks will catch her off guard. Komugi pauses before playing her next move, and Pouf notes that it's the first time she has broken her tempo. Meruem remains confident, but when Komugi calmly plays one move, various board positions flash through his head, leaving him stunned as he immediately resigns. He confronts her about knowing that his "detached castling" strategy was one that wouldn't work after being analyzed (a so-called refuted variation). After Komugi confirms it, Meruem asks her why she paused if she knew, angrily saying that she should have made her next move with no hesitation.

Pouf recognizes that Meruem has moved the situation off the board and that if Komugi answers incorrectly, it may be her last move. She reveals that she actually came up with the move around ten years ago, calling it "Kokoriko." However, when an opponent of hers used the move against her in a tournament, she came up with a countermove that ultimately killed her creation. She tells Meruem how honored she is that he came up with the same strategy as she did, describing it as seeing her dead baby coming back to life and admitting that she hesitated because she wasn't sure at first if she could take its life again. Meruem seems upset and says that he has lost interest, telling Komugi to take a break since the next time they start, there won't be any more. She acknowledges his order and bows as he leaves.

Meruem threatening Komugi's life

Sitting on his throne, Meruem thinks about his recent Gungi matches against Komugi. He then makes his way back and finds her asleep and drooling in front of the board, wondering how such beautiful moves can come from someone like her. After waking her up and making the first move, he asks if they should make a bet on the game. Meruem explains that he will give her anything she wants if she wins, warning that he will take her left arm if she loses. Komugi calmly replies that she would prefer to offer her life instead, explaining that because the world of Gungi is so ruthless, only world champions receive any sort of substantial payment. She adds that since she is the main source of income for her family of 12, if she loses even one time, she would become a burden for them since she can't do anything well except Gungi. She reiterates this point by saying that a Gungi champion becomes a mortal once he loses, explaining that she would be worthless if she lost.

Komugi adds that on the day she became a professional player, she decided that she would give up her life if she ever lost a match. Meruem calls off the bet and apologizes for his imprudence by ripping off his own left arm. Pouf tries to tend to the wound, but Meruem firmly says that he will keep playing, telling a confused Komugi that it's her turn and reminding Pouf that he said there wouldn't be any more breaks. Pouf begs Meruem to let him summon Pitou, saying that he could still play while they perform the operation. Komugi refuses to play until Meruem's arm is fixed, remaining resolute even after he brings his tail up to her throat. She tells him to kill her in Gungi, and Meruem realizes that he has been beaten, angrily ordering Pouf to summon Pitou.

Doctor Blythe healing Meruem's arm while he continues to play

Having manifested Doctor Blythe, Pitou operates on Meruem's left arm while he continues his Gungi match with Komugi. Komugi continues to win against Meruem, but Pouf notices that she has become fatigued, confident that Meruem can win in the next couple of games. However, Meruem tells her that they will start again in 12 hours. She begins to protest, but he calmly says that he wouldn't enjoy a victory over her when she's weak, telling her to rest up. Pouf is stunned that Meruem went back on his word of not taking any more breaks, realizing that Komugi is a bigger liability than he thought. Pouf then stops himself from harming Komugi, remembering that Meruem wants to defeat the Gungi champion at her peak and that killing her now would result in Meruem only knowing defeat in the game.

Meruem and Komugi resume playing and discuss various strategies, with Komugi telling him that he can't always play aggressively. After Pouf is ordered out of the room, Youpi assures him that things will go back to normal once Meruem wins, asking if it should still only be a couple more games. However, Pouf reveals that while Meruem is improving with every game, Komugi is doing so as well. He says that he can no longer predict the outcome, but Youpi stays confident that it's only a matter of time.

Komugi awakening to Nen

Meruem notes Komugi's offensive strategy and thinks that her perception is increasing. However, he says that he's actually enjoying things and that her control of the board is proof that she is still much more skilled, wondering how much stronger she can become. Komugi suddenly says that she feels weird, with small bubbles coming from her hand as she places a Gungi piece. Meruem realizes that it's Nen, and as aura surrounds her body, Komugi says that incredible moves keep flowing into her mind, confident that she can play even better. Meruem realizes this and resigns soon afterwards.

Komugi asks if she can take a short break, and Meruem asks her if anything is wrong, noting that it's the first time she's asked for one. Komugi that she would just like to record all the moves that are coming to her, and Meruem wonders how she will be able to with her blindness. She tells him that she just has to lay out the pieces and then she never forgets a sequence once she has physically moved them. Meruem wonders if that's the case for all the moves she has ever played, but realizes that it's a stupid question, allowing her to take a break. Later on, during a discussion with his Royal Guards, Meruem reveals that Komugi awakened to Nen and that she will improve dramatically in Gungi.

Komugi longing to play against Meruem again

Walking alone through the palace, Meruem revels in his extraordinary power and says that others' strengths mean nothing to him, thinking of Komugi and emphasizing that her only strength is in the simple game of Gungi. He also reminds himself that he was only using the game to spend time until the sorting. Later, Komugi is seen sitting alone in front of a Gungi board and arranges pieces on both sides, saddened that the King wouldn't give her his name and longing to play him again. As the three Royal Guards discuss the situation with Meruem, Youpi recognizes that his losses to Komugi must be causing him frustration. During the palace invasion, Meruem and Komugi's Gungi boards are broken in half by Zeno's Dragon Dive.

During his fight against Netero, Meruem tells himself that he only needs to identify every possible move and envisions himself playing a Gungi match. He adds that he will deduce an attack angle that cannot be parried with a move that he has already seen, which will force Netero to reveal a new move. Later, after Meruem severs Netero's right leg, it's stated that his Gungi matches against Komugi had given him almost supernatural foresight.

Meruem remembering Gungi

When Pouf tells Meruem that they may find clues inside the palace to help with his memory, he suddenly remembers the broken Gungi board and scattered pieces, realizing that they could trigger Meruem's memory. He then uses his clones to find and hide them all. As Meruem continues to feel that something is missing, he lifts up a piece of rubble with his tail and finds a chipped Gungi piece, suddenly remembering that he was playing with someone and hasn't been able to beat them even once. When Pouf urgently tells him that Youpi has been killed, Meruem reveals the recreation of a Gungi board and pieces he marked on the ground.

As soon as Welfin utters Komugi's name, Meruem immediately remembers playing Gungi with her. When Meruem finds Komugi saying Gungi moves aloud in her sleep, he chuckles and tells her to wake up since it's time for them to play. Arranging her pieces, Komugi tells Meruem that playing in one's dreams isn't the same as in real life. After Komugi learns his name and addresses him using an honorific, Meruem tells her that if he wins the match, she must address him without it. Komugi agrees and asks if he can wait and let her die after that. Meruem tells her that he won't kill her since he isn't the same as he was before, playfully adding that she should prepare for many losses. He then asks her what she wants if she wins, and she happily says another game, with Meruem realizing that it was a foolish question.

Komugi countering Meruem and agreeing to stay with him

During the course of the game, Meruem notices that Komugi is using "Kokoriko" and asks her if she's mocking him. She quickly says no and assures him that she never messes around with Gungi. He crushes a piece in front of her and changes his mind, saying that she may die after she loses. He thinks that he can easily counter her move, but Komugi's response leaves him impressed. She begins to explain that she came up with the move during that night, but Meruem quickly silences her so that he can think. He carefully considers his next move and plays something to counter her new tactic, causing Komugi to sob with happiness. Meruem then reveals that he doesn't have long to live and wants to spend his remaining time playing with her, and even though he mentions that the poison is contagious, Komugi ignores this and continues playing, using another new move to counter the one that he had used to counter her own. With Meruem left stunned, she expresses how happy she is and gladly asks to join him. Meruem realizes that he was born to be there on that day, for that moment.

Shrouded in darkness, Meruem and Komugi continue playing as he asks her if she's still there. She assures him that she is and then declares checkmate. He asks her again, and she reassures him, telling him that they need to start another game and that the loser goes first. Meruem says that he was never able to beat her even once, but she consoles him by saying that they still have many matches to play. As the two keep exchanging moves, Meruem continues to make sure that Komugi is still present, eventually telling her that he feels a little tired.

13^th Hunter Chairman Election arc

Meruem and Komugi together even in death

Underneath the palace, Meruem and Komugi are shown with their hands still together, with the King and Shinobi pieces beside them.

Trivia

• "Gungi" is written as "軍儀", while "ant" as "蟻". The difference between the second kanji of "gungi" (儀) and that for "ant" (蟻) is the radical: in the first case it is "亻", meaning "human", while in the latter it is "虫", meaning "insect". Since the game and, consequently, its name were created by the author, it is possible that this is not a coincidence, but a subtle representation of how Meruem grew progressively closer to humans through his games with Komugi.
• When the Soldier piece (; that is literally read as ヒョウ, hyō, which can commonly mean "leopard") was first used, Cheetu, a Chimera Ant cheetah (a feline similar to a leopard), was starting to fight Morel. A little later, soon after the New Bow piece () was introduced, Cheetu conjured a crossbow—an improvised Nen ability.

Intertextuality and References

• Gungi was likely modeled after the Korean board game Janggi.

Translations around the World

Language		Name
Arabic		الغونغي (Alghunghiu)
Chinese		军仪/軍儀* (Jūn yí)
French		Gun-gi
Russian		Гун-ги (Gun-gi)