Shogi Glossary
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There are eight kind of pieces in Shogi. Six of them can promote and change its move.


Following is a table of the pieces with their Japanese representations and English equivalents. The abbreviations are used for game notation and often to refer to the pieces in speech in Japanese.

Shogi Koma Ryoko

Closeup of shogi pieces. Top: +R, R, K (reigning), K (challenging), B, +B. Bottom: +L, L, +S, S, G, N, +N, p, +p.

English name Image Kanji Rōmaji Meaning Abbreviations
King
(reigning)
Reigning king 王将 ōshō king general K ō
King
(challenging)
Challenging king 玉将 gyokushō jeweled general K gyoku
Rook Rook 飛車 hisha flying chariot R hi
Promoted rook
("Dragon")
Promoted rook 龍王 ryūō dragon king +R 龍 or 竜* ryū
Bishop Bishop 角行 kakugyō angle mover B kaku
Promoted bishop
("Horse")
Promoted bishop 龍馬 ryūma or ryūme dragon horse +B uma
Gold general
("Gold")
Gold general 金将 kinshō gold general G kin
Silver general
("Silver")
Silver general 銀将 ginshō silver general S gin
Promoted silver Promoted silver 成銀 narigin promoted silver +S (全)
Knight Knight 桂馬 keima cassia horse N kei
Promoted knight Promoted knight 成桂 narikei promoted cassia +N (圭 or 今)
Lance Lance 香車 kyōsha incense chariot L kyō
Promoted lance Promoted lance 成香 narikyō promoted incense +L (杏 or 仝)
Pawn Pawn 歩兵 fuhyō foot soldier p fu
Promoted pawn
("tokin")
Promoted pawn と金 tokin reaches gold +p と (or 个) to

* The kanji 竜 is a simplified form of 龍.

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