user-1: Historically, what, if any, are the genders of the pieces and pawns?  Is the king male and the queen female, etc?   What about promoted pieces?

user3774: Depends on the language. E.g. Russian words for pawn and Rook are feminine. On the other hand, Russian words for (real life) infantry, cavalry, etc. are also feminine.

user14849: Think about this. When pawns reach the other side they become Queens. Are the females? Or was this the first look on transgender people? 

user2429: Chess originated in India and in the Indian armies of those times, it was common to have elephants, camels, horses and the like. Even now in rural India, the rook is the "elephant", the bishop is the "camel" and the knight is the "horse". The king is still the king, the queen is the "wazir" or vizier, and pawns are foot soldiers. In fact there was a recent Indian movie called Wazir, themed on chess and the Wazir was portrayed by a male character.  
Traditionally, the armies fought mostly with men, however, even Indian history has had female warrior queens (for example Rani of Jhansi). The Wazir, however, is not a queen, but a powerful minister in the kingdom, maybe even the king's prime minister or right-hand-man (person?). Traditionally, this would be a male. Similarly, the elephant riders, camel riders, horse riders and foot soldiers would traditionally be male with females being the exception to the norm. The king is obviously male.  

-1: <p>Historically, what, if any, are the genders of the pieces and pawns?  Is the king male and the queen female, etc?   What about promoted pieces?</p>
 3774: <p>Depends on the language. E.g. Russian words for pawn and Rook are feminine. On the other hand, Russian words for (real life) infantry, cavalry, etc. are also feminine.</p>
 14849: <p>Think about this. When pawns reach the other side they become Queens. Are the females? Or was this the first look on transgender people? </p>
 2429: <p>Chess originated in India and in the Indian armies of those times, it was common to have elephants, camels, horses and the like. Even now in rural India, the rook is the "elephant", the bishop is the "camel" and the knight is the "horse". The king is still the king, the queen is the "wazir" or vizier, and pawns are foot soldiers. In fact there was a recent Indian movie called <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0315642/" rel="noreferrer">Wazir</a>, themed on chess and the Wazir was portrayed by a male character.  </p>

<p>Traditionally, the armies fought mostly with men, however, even Indian history has had female warrior queens (for example Rani of Jhansi). The Wazir, however, is not a queen, but a powerful minister in the kingdom, maybe even the king's prime minister or right-hand-man (person?). Traditionally, this would be a male. Similarly, the elephant riders, camel riders, horse riders and foot soldiers would traditionally be male with females being the exception to the norm. The king is obviously male.  </p>
