Tai shogi (泰将棋 tai shōgi or 無上泰将棋 mujō tai shōgi "grand chess", renamed from 無上大将棋 mujō dai shōgi "supreme chess" to avoid confusion with 大将棋 dai shōgi) is a large board variant of shogi (Japanese chess). The game dates to the 15th century and is based on earlier large-board shogi games. Before the discovery of taikyoku shogi in 1997, tai shogi was believed to be the largest playable chess variant, if not board game, ever. One game may be played over several long sessions and require each player to make over a thousand moves. It was never a popular game; indeed, a single production of six game sets in the early 17th century was a notable event.

Tai shogi set display in at the Tendō shogi museum (天童市将棋資料館) showing the initial setup
Close-up of the initial setup


Like other large-board variants, but unlike standard shogi, the game is played without drops, and uses a promotion-by-capture rule.

Because of the terse and often incomplete wording of the historical sources for the large shogi variants, except for chu shogi and to a lesser extent dai shogi (which were at some points of time the most prestigious forms of shogi being played), the historical rules of tai shogi are not clear. Different sources often differ significantly in the moves attributed to the pieces, and the degree of contradiction (summarised below with the listing of most known alternative moves) is such that it is likely impossible to reconstruct the "true historical rules" with any degree of certainty, if there ever was such a thing. It is not clear if the game was ever played much historically, as the few sets that were made seem to have been intended only for display.

Rules of the game

Tai shogi is essentially a merger of two other large-board shogi variants: dai dai shogi and maka dai dai shogi. Almost all the pieces of those two smaller games are included, and where the same pieces are found, they move the same way. Additionally, many of the tai shogi pieces not from those two games already appear in the even more popular chu shogi. Only nine extra pieces are added that do not appear in any smaller games – the peacock, soldier, vermillion sparrow, turtle-snake, side dragon, golden deer, silver hare, fierce eagle, and ram's-head soldier. (Indeed, two of the Edo-era sources generally do not describe a piece for tai shogi if it exists in a smaller variant.)

The promotion rule is contested. Dai dai shogi and maka dai dai shogi have very different promotion rules. The promotion rules given on the Japanese Wikipedia are similar to those of maka dai dai shogi: almost all pieces promote, but most to the lowly gold general, even if they are much more powerful; and many weak pieces turn into "free" versions of themselves (in which stepping moves are replaced by unlimited ranging moves in the same directions). However, the promotion rules given in English-language sources are similar to those of dai dai shogi: most pieces do not promote. Both agree that promotion is compulsory upon capture if the piece can promote.

In maka dai dai shogi with its demotions, The Chess Variant Pages suggest that promotion is only compulsory when capturing a promoted piece, which seems more reasonable because otherwise the most powerful pieces would quickly disappear. However, in tai shogi non-promoting copies of those powerful pieces can be obtained by promoting some weak pieces.

The difference is unusual: in all smaller variants, Japanese Wikipedia agrees with the English-language sources on promotions, even though it does not always agree on the moves. There are additionally some confusions in the Japanese Wikipedia promotions: for example, the fragrant elephant is said to exist in tai shogi, but without a piece promoting into it. Because of this, the promotions from the English-language sources have been followed throughout this article, with alternatives given in the footnotes. That is, most pieces do not promote, and promotion (if possible) is compulsory on capture.

Objective

The objective of the game is to capture the opponent's emperor and prince (or princes). When the last of these is captured, the game ends. There are no rules for check or checkmate; however, in practice a player resigns when checkmated.

Game equipment

Two players, Black and White (or 先手 sente and 後手 gote), play on a board ruled into a grid of 25 ranks (rows) and 25 files (columns), for a total of 625 squares. The squares are undifferentiated by marking or color.

Each player has a set of 177 wedge-shaped pieces of 93 types. In all, the players must remember 100 moves for these pieces. The pieces are of slightly different sizes. From largest to smallest (or roughly most to least powerful) they are:

  • 1 Emperor
  • 1 Prince
  • 1 Hook mover
  • 2 Long-nosed goblins
  • 1 Capricorn
  • 2 Peacocks
  • 2 Soaring eagles
  • 2 Horned falcons
  • 2 Queens
  • 1 Rushing bird
  • 2 Free demons
  • 2 Free dream-eaters
  • 2 Water buffalos
  • 2 Flying oxen
  • 2 Soldiers
  • 2 Dragon kings
  • 2 Dragon horses
  • 1 Lion
  • 2 Racing chariots
  • 2 Rooks
  • 2 Bishops
  • 2 White horses
  • 2 Whales
  • 2 Standard bearers
  • 1 Vermillion sparrow
  • 1 Turtle-snake
  • 1 Blue dragon
  • 1 White tiger
  • 1 Right chariot
  • 1 Left chariot
  • 2 Side dragons
  • 2 Doves
  • 1 She-devil
  • 1 Golden bird
  • 1 Great dragon
  • 2 White elephants
  • 1 Lion dog
  • 1 Wrestler
  • 1 Guardian of the Gods
  • 1 Buddhist devil
  • 2 Golden deer
  • 2 Silver hares
  • 2 Fierce eagles
  • 1 Old kite
  • 2 Violent oxen
  • 2 Flying dragons
  • 2 Old rats
  • 2 Enchanted badgers
  • 2 Flying horses
  • 2 Prancing stags
  • 2 Violent bears
  • 2 Side movers
  • 2 Vertical movers
  • 2 Reverse chariots
  • 1 Phoenix
  • 1 Kirin
  • 2 Poison snakes
  • 1 Northern barbarian
  • 1 Southern barbarian
  • 1 Eastern barbarian
  • 1 Western barbarian
  • 2 Blind bears
  • 1 Drunken elephant
  • 1 Neighbor king
  • 2 Blind tigers
  • 2 Blind monkeys
  • 2 Ferocious leopards
  • 2 Reclining dragons
  • 2 Chinese cocks
  • 2 Old monkeys
  • 2 Evil Wolves
  • 2 Angry boars
  • 2 Cat swords
  • 2 Coiled serpents
  • 1 Deva
  • 1 Dark spirit
  • 1 Right general
  • 1 Left general
  • 2 Gold generals
  • 2 Silver generals
  • 2 Copper generals
  • 2 Tile generals
  • 2 Iron generals
  • 2 Wood generals
  • 2 Stone generals
  • 2 Earth generals
  • 2 Go betweens
  • 2 Knights
  • 2 Howling dogs
  • 2 Donkeys
  • 2 Ram's-head soldiers
  • 2 Lances
  • 25 Pawns

Several of the English names were chosen to correspond to rough equivalents in Western chess, rather than as translations of the Japanese names. (Sometimes the queen is called the "free king", a direct translation of its Japanese name. The kirin's name is sometimes anglicised as kylin.)

Each piece has its name in the form of two kanji written on its face. On the reverse side of some pieces are one or two other characters, often in a different color (commonly red instead of black); this reverse side is turned up to indicate that the piece has been promoted during play. The pieces of the two sides do not differ in color, but instead each piece is shaped like a wedge, and faces forward, toward the opposing side. This shows who controls the piece during play.

Table of pieces

Listed here are the pieces of the game and, if they promote, which pieces they promote to.

Piece (*promoted piece only) Kanji Rōmaji Promotes to
Emperor(自在)天王(jizai) tennō—
Prince太子taishi—[1]
Hook mover鉤行kōgyōGold general
Long-nosed goblin天狗tengu—[2]
Capricorn*摩𩹄(羯)makatsuGold general
Peacock孔雀kujaku—[2]
Soaring eagle飛鷲hijū—[2]
Horned falcon角鷹kakuō—[2]
Queen奔王honnō—
Rushing bird[3]行鳥gyōchōFree demon[4]
Free demon (oni)奔鬼honki—[2]
Free dream-eater (baku)奔獏honbaku—[2]
Water buffalo水牛suigyūFree dream-eater
Flying ox飛牛higyū—[2]
Soldier兵士heishi—[2]
Dragon king龍王ryūō—
Dragon horse龍馬ryūme—
Lion獅子shishiFurious fiend
*Furious fiend奮迅funjin—
Racing chariot走車sōsha—[2]
Rook飛車hishaGold general
Bishop角行kakugyōGold general
White horse白駒hokku—[2]
Whale鯨鯢keigei—[2]
Standard bearer前旗zenki—[2]
Vermillion sparrow朱雀suzaku—[2]
Turtle-snake玄武genbu—[2]
Blue dragon青龍seiryū—[2]
White tiger白虎byakko—[2]
Right chariot右車usha—[2]
Left chariot左車sasha—[2]
Side dragon横龍ōryūGold general
Dove鳩槃kyūhan—[2]
She-devil夜叉yashaGold general
Golden bird金翅kinshi—[2]
Great dragon大龍dairyū—[2]
White elephant白象hakuzō—[2]
Lion dog狛犬komainuGreat elephant[5]
*Great elephant大象taizō—
Wrestler力士rikishiGold general
Guardian of the Gods金剛kongōGold general
Buddhist devil羅刹rasetsuGold general
Golden deer金鹿konroku—[2]
Silver hare[6]銀兎ginto—[2]
Fierce eagle猛鷲mōjū—[2]
Old kite古鵄kotetsuLong-nosed goblin
Violent ox猛牛mōgyū—[2]
Flying dragon飛龍hiryūGold general[7]
Old rat老鼠rōsoWizard stork[8]
*Wizard stork*仙鶴senkaku—
Enchanted badger変狸henriDove
Flying horse馬麟barinQueen
Prancing stag踊鹿yōrokuSquare mover
*Square mover方行hōgyō—
Violent bear猛熊mōyū—[2]
Side mover横行ōgyōGold general
Vertical mover竪行shugyōGold general
Reverse chariot反車hensha—[2]
Phoenix鳳凰hōōGolden bird
Kirin麒麟kirinGreat dragon
Poisonous snake毒蛇dokujaHook mover[2]
Northern barbarian北狄hokutekiFragrant elephant[9]
*Fragrant elephant香象kōzō—
Southern barbarian南蛮nanbanWhite elephant[9]
Eastern barbarian東夷tōiLion
Western barbarian西戎seijūLion dog
Blind bear盲熊mōyū—[10]
Drunken elephant醉象suizōPrince
Neighboring king近王kinnōStandard bearer
Blind tiger盲虎mōko—[11]
Blind monkey盲猿mōenMountain witch[8]
*Mountain witch山母sambo—
Ferocious leopard猛豹mōhyō—[11]
Reclining dragon臥龍garyū—[11]
Chinese cock淮鶏waikeiWizard stork
Old monkey古猿koen—[8]
Evil wolf悪狼akurō—[11]
Angry boar嗔猪shincho—[11]
Cat sword猫刄myōjin—[11]
Coiled serpent蟠蛇banja—[11]
Deva提婆daibaTeaching king
*Teaching king教王kyōō—
Dark spirit無明mumyōBuddhist spirit
*Buddhist spirit法性hōsei—
Right general右将ushō—[2]
Left general左将sashō—[2]
Gold general金将kinshō—[11]
Silver general銀将ginshō—[11]
Copper general銅将dōshō—[11]
Tile general瓦将gashō—[11]
Iron general鉄将tesshō—[11]
Wood general木将mokushō—[2]
Stone general石将sekishō—[11]
Earth general土将doshō—[11]
Go-between仲人chūnin—[11]
Knight桂馬keimaGold general
Howling dog*𠵇(口奇)犬kiken—[2]
Donkey驢馬robaGold general
Ram's-head soldier羊兵yōhei—[2]
Lance香車kyōsha—[2]
Pawn歩兵fuhyō—[2]
* The first kanji in 'howling' dog, 𠵇, is not supported by many fonts, and so is created here with the help of an ad hoc superscript 口 . Likewise, the second character in 'Capricorn' should be composed of 魚+曷 (𩹄), and the second character in 'wizard stork' should be 而 atop 鷦 ().

Setup

Below is a diagram showing the setup of one player's pieces. The way one player sees their own pieces is the same way the opposing player will see their pieces.

Board layout
                               
        GB           GB         
PPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPP
HDFHENDOFOSMVMVB SBPRABEWLDEWABPRSBVB VMSMFODOENFHHD
LCBDWOEASGTIC ORCORDCADEHMRDCOORC ITSGEAWOVSRC
SOWBFLWSEBCCHFOM OKPCGDKRLNPHGOPCRBOM HFCCSUNBFLWBSO
SCWHRSVOCSBBSVGL BMBTBUWRNKGGSDBTBMGL SVBBCSVORSWHSC
RVSISENPSFTBFE WEFRSLGCPRGSFRWEFE BFTPSNSESIRV
LTSWFDLODRDH DKQGDVEDSGQDKDH RDLOFDWWTL
Legend
AB - Angry BoarB - BishopBB - Blind Bear BD - Blue Dragon
BU - Buddhist DevilBM - Blind Monkey BT - Blind TigerC - Copp. General
CA - CapricornCC - Chinese CockCO - Coiled Serpent CP - Prince
CS - Cat SwordD - DoveDE - Drunken Elephant DH - Dragon Horse
DK - Dragon KingDO - DonkeyDS - Dark Spirit DV - Deva
E - EmperorEA - Earth GeneralEB - Eastern Barbarian EN - Enchanted Badger
EW - Evil WolfFD - Flying Dragon FE - Fierce EagleFH - Flying Horse
FL - Fer. LeopardFO - Flying Ox FR - Free DemonFT - Free Dream-Eater
G - Gold GeneralGB - Go Between GD - Great DragonGG - Guardian of the Gods
GL - Golden Deer GO - Golden BirdHD - Howling DogHF - Horned Falcon
HM - Hook Mover I - Iron GeneralKR - KirinL - Lance
LC - Left ChariotLD - Lion Dog LG - Left GeneralLN - Lion
LO - Long-nosed GoblinN - Knight NB - Northern BarbarianNK - Neighbor King
OK - Old KiteOM - Old Monkey OR - Old RatP - Pawn
PC - PeacockPH - Phoenix PR - Prancing StagPS - Poison Snake
Q - QueenR - RookRB - Rushing Bird RC - Right Chariot
RD - Reclining DragonRG - Right General RS - Ram's-head SoldierRV - Reverse Chariot
S - Silver GeneralSB - Standard Bearer SC - Racing ChariotSD - She-devil
SE - Soaring EagleSG - Stone General SI - Side DragonSM - Side Mover
SO - SoldierSU - Southern Barbarian SV - Silver HareT - Tile General
TS - Turtle-snakeVB - Violent Bear VM - Vert. MoverVO - Violent Ox
VS - Vermillion SparrowW - Whale WB - Water BuffaloWE - White Elephant
WH - White HorseWO - Wood General WR - WrestlerWS - Western Barbarian
WT - White Tiger    

The queen could also be abbreviated FK (for free king) and the kirin as Ky (for kylin).

Game play

The players alternate making a move, with Black moving first. (The traditional terms 'black' and 'white' are used to differentiate the sides during discussion of the game, but are no longer literally descriptive.) A move consists of moving a single piece on the board and potentially promoting that piece or displacing (capturing) an opposing piece. Each of these options is detailed below.

Movement and capture

An opposing piece is captured by displacement: That is, if a piece moves to a square occupied by an opposing piece, the opposing piece is displaced and removed from the board. A piece cannot move to a square occupied by a friendly piece (meaning another piece controlled by the moving player).

Each piece on the game moves in a characteristic pattern. Pieces move either orthogonally (that is, forward, backward, left, or right, in the direction of one of the arms of a plus sign, +), or diagonally (in the direction of one of the arms of a multiplication sign, ×). The emperor, lion, and knight are exceptions at the beginning of the game, in that they do not move, or are not required to move, in a straight line. (The Buddhist spirit and furious fiend are similar, but they only appear as pieces promote.)

If a piece that cannot retreat or move aside advances across the board until it can no longer move, it must remain there until captured. This applies to the pawn, lance, ram's-head soldier, stone general, wood general, and iron general upon reaching the farthest rank, and to the knight upon reaching either of the two farthest ranks.

Many pieces are capable of several kinds of movement, with the type of movement most often depending on the direction in which they move. The movement categories are:

Step movers

Some pieces move only one square at a time. (If a friendly piece occupies an adjacent square, the moving piece may not move in that direction; if an opposing piece is there, it may be displaced and captured.)

The step movers are the prince, drunk elephant, neighbor king, blind tiger, blind monkey, ferocious leopard, reclining dragon, Chinese cock, old monkey, evil wolf, the generals (except the wood general), angry boar, cat sword, coiled serpent, deva, dark spirit, go between, and the 25 pawns on each side.

Limited ranging pieces

Some pieces can move along a limited number (2, 3, or 5) of free (empty) squares along a straight line in certain directions. Other than the limited distance, they move like ranging pieces (see below).

These pieces are the water buffalo, standard bearer, vermillion sparrow, turtle-snake, blue dragon, white tiger, dove, she-devil, golden bird, great dragon, white elephant, lion dog, wrestler, Guardian of the Gods, Buddhist devil, golden deer, silver hare, fierce eagle, old kite, violent ox, flying dragon, old rat, enchanted badger, flying horse, prancing stag, violent bear, the barbarians, and the wood general.

Jumping pieces

Several pieces can jump, that is, they can pass over any intervening piece, whether friend or foe, with no effect on either. These are the lion, kirin, phoenix, poison snake, donkey, and knight.

Ranging pieces

Many pieces can move any number of empty squares along a straight line, limited only by the edge of the board. If an opposing piece intervenes, it may be captured by moving to that square and removing it from the board. A ranging piece must stop where it captures and cannot bypass a piece that is in its way. If a friendly piece intervenes, the moving piece is limited to a distance that stops short of the intervening piece; if the friendly piece is adjacent, it cannot move in that direction at all.

The ranging pieces are the soaring eagle, horned falcon, queen, rushing bird, the demons, free dream-eater, water buffalo, flying ox, soldier, dragon king, dragon horse, the chariots, rook, bishop, white horse, whale, standard bearer, vermillion sparrow, turtle-snake, blue dragon, white tiger, side dragon, golden bird, great dragon, white elephant, golden deer, movers, howling dog, ram's-head soldier and lance.

Hook moves (changing tack)

The hook mover, long-nosed goblin, Capricorn, and peacock can move any number of squares along a straight line, as a normal ranging piece, but may also abruptly change tack left or right by 90° at any one place along the route, and then continue as a ranging piece. Turning a corner like this is optional.

The range covered by a hook move is the equivalent of two moves by a rook, or two moves by a bishop, depending on the piece. However, a hook move is functionally a single move: The piece cannot capture twice in one move, nor may it capture and then move on. It must stop before an intervening piece (unless it first changes direction to avoid it), and must stop when it captures, just like any other ranging piece. It can only change direction once per move.

Lion moves (multiple captures)

The lion, lion dog, soaring eagle, and horned falcon have sequential multiple-capture abilities, called "lion moves". Among the pieces that only appear with promotion, so do the teaching king, buddhist spirit, and furious fiend. The details of these powerful moves are described for the lion, below.

Promotion

The vast majority of pieces cannot promote. Those that can promote, however, must promote at the end of their first capturing move. Promotion is indicated by turning the piece over after it moves, revealing the character for the promoted piece. There are no promotion zones; dots on the board that usually represent promotion zones are present after the sixth rank only as a placement guide for initial setup. All this is as in dai dai shogi.

Promoting a piece has the effect of changing how that piece moves: see the table above for what each piece promotes to.

Pieces which are already promoted cannot promote again, except as follows:

Any piece promoted or not, that captures a Deva or teaching king (a promoted Deva) promotes to a teaching king. This is brought about by replacing it on the board with the captured piece. Similarly, any piece that captures a dark spirit or Buddhist spirit (a promoted dark spirit) promotes to a Buddhist spirit. This is sometimes expressed as the piece being contagious: when something captures a contagious piece type, it becomes that piece type. The only exception is (potentially) royal pieces (emperors, princes, and drunk elephants) which promote to their normal promoted forms or stay as they are if unpromotable or already promoted.

It is not clear what happens if a multi-capturing piece such as a lion or a lion dog captures two different contagious piece types in one turn, e.g. a lion capturing both a teaching king and a Buddhist spirit on the same turn. Although the situation is very unlikely to arise, an official of the Japanese Chu Shogi Association has suggested in discussion with H. G. Muller (who programmed an engine HaChu for chu shogi and wrote the descriptions for some large shogi variants for The Chess Variant Pages) that the multi-capturing piece would promote to the last piece captured. In the case of a lion dog capturing two pieces on the same orthogonal or diagonal, the official claimed that it would not be permitted to jump over the first piece, capture the second, and then move back to capture the first, though Muller admits that the logic did not "make much sense" to him and that he would be happy with the option to choose. (Note that this situation is extremely theoretical anyway, because allowing both these powerful pieces to be captured at once would imply very poor play.)[12]

Otherwise, pieces don't promote more than once: they only have two sides.

Individual pieces

In the diagrams below, the different types of moves are coded by symbol and by color: Blue for step moves, yellow for jumps, green for multiple capture, and pink for range moves, as follows:

Notation
○Steps a limited number of squares along a straight line.
☆Jumps to this square, bypassing any intervening piece.
!Igui (capture without moving). Counts as two steps.
☆May jump directly to this square, or reach it through a multiple-step move.
│Ranges along a straight line, crossing any number of empty squares
─
╲
╱
╳May turn 90° at this square.
┼
∞Can jump to any square on the board.

Piece names with a grey background are present at the start of the game; those with a blue background only appear with promotion. Betza's funny notation has been included in brackets for easier reference, with the extension that the notation xxxayyyK stands for an xxxK move followed by an yyyK move, not necessarily in the same direction. Larger numbers of 'legs' can be indicated by repeated application of 'a'. Directional modifiers on continuation legs must be interpreted relative to the previous leg, where 'f' means 'continue in the same direction'; default is 'all directions'. The default modality of the final leg is the usual 'mc', but on non-final legs also includes a hop over an obstacle at their endpoint, provided the path does not bend back onto itself there. Other (combinations of) modalities must be written explicitly. U denotes the universal leaper, a piece which can jump to any square on the board except the one that it is on.

There are many divergent descriptions in the Edo-era sources. However, almost all the pieces in tai shogi already appear either in dai dai shogi or maka dai dai shogi, and so they are presented here identically to how they are on the Wikipedia articles for those two games. Refer to those pages for footnotes detailing divergent moves. Footnotes are presented as usual for pieces that do not appear in smaller games.

Emperor 自在天王 jizai tennō
∞∞∞
∞天∞
∞∞∞
  • The emperor can jump to any empty square on the board.
  • It can jump to and capture any non-royal piece anywhere on the board.
  • It can capture a royal piece (prince, king, or the other emperor) anywhere on the board, but only if that piece is unprotected; capturing a protected royal piece is illegal. (U)
In order to win the game, the opponent must be left with no emperors or princes. Since the drunk elephant also promotes to prince, that means that one might need to capture three royal pieces to achieve victory.
Pieces that gain entirely new powers when promoted
Drunken elephant 酔象 suizō Prince 太子 taishi
       
       
  ○○○  
  ○酔○  
  ○ ○  
       
       
  • The drunken elephant can move one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal, except orthogonally backward. (FfrlW)
The drunken elephant promotes to a prince (right).
       
       
  ○○○  
  ○子○  
  ○○○  
       
       
  • The prince can move one square in any direction. (K)
In order to win the game, the opponent must be left with no emperors or princes. Since the drunk elephant also promotes to prince, that means that one might need to capture three royal pieces to achieve victory.
Teaching king 教王 kyōō Buddhist spirit 法性 hōsei
╲   │   ╱
 ☆  ☆  ☆ 
  ☆ ☆ ☆  
   !!!   
─☆☆!教!☆☆─
   !!!   
  ☆ ☆ ☆  
 ☆  ☆  ☆ 
╱   │   ╲
  • The teaching king can move as either a lion dog or as a queen.
    • It can move as a queen, free-ranging in any one direction, orthogonal or diagonal.
    • It has a triple-capture move in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal. (QavKafavK)

The teaching king does not exist except as a promoted Deva (below).
╲  │  ╱
 ☆☆☆☆☆ 
 ☆!!!☆ 
─☆!性!☆─
 ☆!!!☆ 
 ☆☆☆☆☆ 
╱  │  ╲
  • The Buddhist spirit can move as a lion or as a queen.
    • It can move as a queen, free-ranging in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal.
    • It has a double-capture move in any combination of directions, orthogonal or diagonal. (QNADaK)

The Buddhist spirit does not exist except as a promoted dark spirit (below).

Deva 提婆 daiba Dark spirit 無明 mumyō
       
       
  ○ ○   
  ○提   
    ○   
       
       
  • The Deva can move one square orthogonally left.
  • It can move one square diagonally forward.
  • It can move one square diagonally backward to the right. (f[br]FlW)
The Deva promotes to a teaching king (above).
       
       
  ○ ○   
   無○  
  ○     
       
       
  • The dark spirit can move one square orthogonally right.
  • It can move one square diagonally forward.
  • It can move one square diagonally backward to the left. (f[bl]FrW)
The dark spirit promotes to a Buddhist spirit (above).
Long-nosed goblin 天狗 tengu Hook mover 鉤行 kōgyō
╳ ╱ ╲ ╳
 ╳   ╳ 
╱ ╳○╳ ╲
  ○天○  
╲ ╳○╳ ╱
 ╳   ╳ 
╳ ╲ ╱ ╳
  • The tengu can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, then (optionally) make a 90° turn and move any number of free squares in a perpendicular diagonal direction.
It may only change directions once per move.
  • It can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions. (WmBaB)
 ──┼── 
│ ─┼─ │
││ ┼ ││
┼┼┼行┼┼┼
││ ┼ ││
│ ─┼─ │
 ──┼── 
  • The hook mover can move any number of free squares along one of the four orthogonal directions, then (optionally) make a 90° turn and move any number of free squares in a perpendicular orthogonal direction. (RmaR)
It may only change directions once per move.
The starting hook mover is among the pieces that demote to gold general; it is repeated here because the poisonous snake (below) promotes into it.
Old kite 古鵄 kotetsu Poisonous snake 毒蛇 dokuja
       
   ○   
  ○○○  
 ○○古○○ 
   ○   
   ○   
       
  • The old kite can step one or two squares in one of the four orthogonals.
  • It can step one square diagonally forward. (R2fF)

The old kite promotes to a tengu (above).
       
   ☆   
       
  ○蛇○  
       
 ☆   ☆ 
       
  • The poisonous snake can jump to the second square directly forward or diagonally backward.
  • It can step one square to either side. (rlWfDbA)
Great elephant 大象 taizō Furious fiend 奮迅 funjin
    │    
    ☆    
  ○ ☆ ○  
   ○!○   
─☆☆!大象!☆☆─
   !!!   
  ☆ ☆ ☆  
 ☆  ☆  ☆ 
╱   │   ╲
  • The great elephant, should it exist in this game (there is some dispute on this point among the Edo-era sources), can move any number of free squares along one of the four orthogonal directions, or diagonally backward.
  • It can move up to two free squares along either of the forward diagonals.
  • It has the three-step lion move of the lion dog, but only along the orthogonals and backward diagonals.

The great elephant does not exist except as a promoted lion dog (below).
☆  ☆  ☆
 ☆☆☆☆☆ 
 ☆!!!☆  
☆☆!迅!☆☆
 ☆!!!☆  
 ☆☆☆☆☆ 
☆  ☆  ☆
  • The furious fiend can move as a lion or as a lion dog. (NADaKafavK)

The furious fiend does not exist except as a promoted lion (below).

Lion dog 狛犬 komainu Lion 獅子 shishi
☆  ☆  ☆
 ☆ ☆ ☆ 
  !!!  
☆☆!狛!☆☆
  !!!  
 ☆ ☆ ☆ 
☆  ☆  ☆
  • The lion dog can make a three-step lion move along any one of the eight orthogonal or diagonal directions. That is, unlike the lion itself, but like the soaring eagle and horned falcon, it is restricted to moving along a straight line and cannot move to the in-between squares. This lion power includes jumping, igui, and skipping a turn.
    • A piece may be captured on all three steps.
    • The lion dog may capture a piece on the first and second square, and then retreat to the first square. Or it may snatch a piece off the first square as in normal igui. (Note however that it may not then continue in the opposite direction: it is restricted to one orthogonal or diagonal.)
    • It may jump to the second square, and then continue to the third square, capturing up to two pieces. Or it may jump directly to the third square.
    • It is not required to take all three steps. (KavKafavK)

As it finishes a capturing move, the lion dog promotes to a great elephant (above). In rules that do not use the great elephant, the lion dog cannot promote.
       
 ☆☆☆☆☆ 
 ☆!!!☆ 
 ☆!獅!☆ 
 ☆!!!☆ 
 ☆☆☆☆☆ 
       
  • The lion can step in any direction, and capture, up to twice a turn. The two steps do not need to be in the same direction, so this move is equivalent to two turns of a king. As a piece does not promote until its turn ends, an unpromoted lion has a chance for a double capture.
    • By moving back to its starting square, it can effectively capture a piece on an adjacent square without moving. This is called 居喰い igui "stationary feeding".
    • It can also do the same to an empty square, without capturing anything. This is traditionally indicated by tapping the lion and leaving it in place.
  • A lion can jump anywhere within a distance of two squares: That is, anywhere it could reach in two step-moves on an empty board, though of course it cannot land on a square occupied by a friendly piece. This is equivalent to jumping in any of the eight diagonal or orthogonal directions, or making any of the jumps of a knight in Western chess. (NADaK)

As it finishes a capturing move, the lion promotes to a furious fiend (above).

Western barbarian 西戎 seijū Eastern barbarian 東夷 tōi
       
       
  ○○○  
 ○○西○○ 
   ○   
       
       
  • The western barbarian can move one or two squares orthogonally sideways.
  • It can step one square directly forward or backward, or diagonally forward. (rlR2fbWfF)

The western barbarian promotes to a lion dog (above).
       
   ○   
  ○○○  
  ○東○  
   ○   
   ○   
       
  • The eastern barbarian can move one or two squares directly forward or backward.
  • It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally forward. (fbR2rlWfF)

The eastern barbarian promotes to a lion (above).

Fragrant elephant 香象 kōzō White elephant 白象 hakuzō
╲     ╱
 ╲ ○ ╱ 
  ╲○╱  
 ○○香象○○ 
  ○○○  
 ○ ○ ○ 
       
  • The fragrant elephant can move any number of free squares along either of the forward diagonals.
  • It can move one or two squares along any of the other directions (orthogonally, or diagonally backwards). (fBR2bB2)

The fragrant elephant does not exist except as a promoted northern barbarian (below).
       
 ○ ○ ○ 
  ○○○  
 ○○白象○○ 
  ╱○╲  
 ╱ ○ ╲ 
╱     ╲
  • The white elephant can move any number of free squares diagonally backward.
  • It can move one or two square in one of the other six diagonal or orthogonal directions. (bBR2fB2)
Northern barbarian 北狄 hokuteki Southern barbarian 南蛮 namban
       
 ○   ○ 
  ○ ○  
  ○北○  
  ○ ○  
       
       
  • The northern barbarian can move one or two squares diagonally forward.
  • It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally backward. (fB2rlWF)

The northern barbarian promotes to a fragrant elephant (above).
       
       
  ○ ○  
  ○南○  
  ○ ○  
 ○   ○ 
       
  • The southern barbarian can move one or two squares diagonally backward.
  • It can step one square orthogonally sideways or diagonally forward. (bB2rlWF)

The southern barbarian promotes to a white elephant (above).

Free dream-eater 奔獏 honbaku Free demon 奔鬼 honki
╲    │    ╱
 ╲   │   ╱ 
  ╲  │  ╱  
   ╲ │ ╱   
    ╲│╱    
○○○○○獏○○○○○
    ╱│╲    
   ╱ │ ╲   
  ╱  │  ╲  
 ╱   │   ╲ 
╱    │    ╲
  • The free dream-eater can move any number of free squares diagonally.
  • It can move one to five squares orthogonally sideways. (fbRBrlR5)
╲    ○    ╱
 ╲   ○   ╱ 
  ╲  ○  ╱  
   ╲ ○ ╱   
    ╲○╱    
─────鬼─────
    ╱○╲    
   ╱ ○ ╲   
  ╱  ○  ╲  
 ╱   ○   ╲ 
╱    ○    ╲
  • The free demon can move any number of free squares in the diagonal directions, or directly sideways.
  • It can move one to five squares directly forward or backward. (rlRBfbR5)
Water buffalo 水牛 suigyū Rushing bird 行鳥 gyōchō
╲     ╱
 ╲ ○ ╱ 
  ╲○╱  
───水───
  ╱○╲  
 ╱ ○ ╲ 
╱     ╲
  • The water buffalo can move any number of free squares in the four diagonal directions, or orthogonally sideways.
  • It can move one or two squares directly forward or backward. (rlRBfbR2)

The water buffalo promotes to a free dream-eater (above).
╲  │  ╱
 ╲ │ ╱ 
  ╲│╱  
───鳥───
  ╱ ╲  
 ╱   ╲ 
╱     ╲
  • The rushing bird can move any number of free squares in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal, except directly backwards. (BfrlR)

The rushing bird promotes to a free demon (above).

Queen 奔王 honnō Standard bearer 前旗 zenki
╲  │  ╱
 ╲ │ ╱ 
  ╲│╱  
───奔───
  ╱│╲  
 ╱ │ ╲ 
╱  │  ╲
  • The queen can move any number of free squares in any of the eight directions, orthogonal or diagonal. (Q)
╲  │  ╱
 ╲ │ ╱ 
  ╲│╱  
 ○○前○○ 
  ○○○  
 ○ ○ ○ 
       
  • The standard bearer can move any number of free squares along any of the three forward directions (diagonal or orthogonal).
  • It can step one or two squares along any of the other directions (orthogonally sideways, diagonally backwards, or directly backwards). (Q2fQ)
Flying horse 馬麟 barin Neighboring king 近王 kinnō
       
 ○   ○ 
  ○○○  
  ○麟○  
   ○   
       
       
  • The flying horse can step one or two squares diagonally forward.
  • It can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions. (fB2W)

The flying horse promotes to a queen (above).
       
       
  ○○○  
  ○近○  
  ○○○  
       
       
  • The neighbor king can step one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal. (K)

The neighboring king promotes to a standard bearer (above).

Mountain witch 山母 sambo Wizard stork 仙鶴 senkaku
╲     ╱
 ╲   ╱ 
  ╲○╱  
   母   
  ╱│╲  
 ╱ │ ╲ 
╱  │  ╲
  • The mountain witch can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, or directly backward; or,
  • It can step one square directly forward. (BbRfW)

The mountain witch does not exist except as a promoted blind monkey (below).
╲  │  ╱
 ╲ │ ╱ 
  ╲│╱  
   仙   
  ╱○╲  
 ╱   ╲ 
╱     ╲
  • The wizard stork can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, or directly forward; or,
  • It can step one square directly backward. (BfRbW)

The wizard stork does not exist except as a promoted Chinese cock or old rat (below).

Blind monkey 盲猿 mōen Chinese cock 淮鶏 waikei
       
       
  ○ ○  
  ○猿○  
  ○ ○  
       
  • The blind monkey can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions or either orthogonal sideways. (FrlW)

The blind monkey promotes to a mountain witch (above).
       
       
  ○ ○   
  ○鶏○  
   ○    
       
       
  • The Chinese cock can move one square orthogonally sideways or backward; or diagonally forward. (rlbWfF)
The Chinese cock promotes to a wizard stork (above).
Dove 鳩槃 kyūhan Wizard stork 仙鶴 senkaku
○         ○
 ○       ○ 
  ○     ○  
   ○ ○ ○   
    ○○○    
   ○○鳩○○   
    ○○○    
   ○ ○ ○   
  ○     ○  
 ○       ○ 
○         ○
  • The dove can move one to five squares in one of the four diagonal directions.
  • It can step one or two squares in one of the four orthogonal directions. (R2B5)
╲  │  ╱
 ╲ │ ╱ 
  ╲│╱  
   仙   
  ╱○╲  
 ╱   ╲ 
╱     ╲
  • The wizard stork can move any number of free squares along one of the four diagonal directions, or directly forward; or,
  • It can step one square directly backward. (BfRbW)

The wizard stork does not exist except as a promoted Chinese cock (above) or old rat (below). It has been duplicated here because exceptionally among non-golds, two different pieces promote into it.

Enchanted badger 変狸 henri Old rat 老鼠 rōso
       
   ○   
   ○   
 ○○狸○○ 
       
       
       
  • The enchanted badger can move one or two squares orthogonally forward or sideways. (frlR2)

The enchanted badger promotes to a dove (above).
       
 ○   ○ 
  ○ ○  
   鼠   
   ○   
   ○   
       
  • The old rat can move one or two squares along a forward diagonal or the rear orthogonal, giving it three directions of movement. (fB2bR2)
The old rat promotes to a wizard stork (above), according to TSA rules; see the footnotes.[8]
Racing chariot 走車 sōsha Square mover 方行 hōgyō
   │   
   │   
   │   
───走───
  ○│○  
   │   
   │   
  • The racing chariot can move any number of free squares along one of the four orthogonal directions.
  • It can step one square diagonally behind. (RbF)

Nothing promotes into a racing chariot, but it was included here due to the symmetry of its move with that of the square mover (right).

In several English sources the name of this piece is mistranslated as "side chariot".
   │   
   │   
  ○│○  
───方───
   │   
   │   
   │   
  • The square mover can move any number of free squares along one of the four orthogonal directions.
  • It can step one square on either forward diagonal. (RfF)

The square mover does not exist except as a promoted prancing stag (below).

  Prancing stag 踊鹿 yōroku
 
       
       
  ○○○  
 ○○鹿○○ 
  ○ ○  
       
       
  • The prancing stag can move one or two squares directly sideways.
  • It can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions, or directly forward. (rlR2FfW)
It cannot move directly backwards.

The prancing stag promotes to a square mover (above).

Golden bird 金翅 kinshi Great dragon 大龍 dairyū
○  │  ○
 ○ │ ○ 
  ○│○  
 ○○翅○○ 
  ○│○  
 ○ │ ○ 
○  │  ○
  • The golden bird can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward.
  • It can move one to three squares along any one of the four diagonals.
  • It can move one or two squares directly sideways. (fbRB3rlR2)
○     ○
 ○ ○ ○ 
  ○○○  
───大───
  ○○○  
 ○ ○ ○ 
○     ○
  • The great dragon can move any number of free squares directly to the side.
  • It can move one to three squares along any one of the four diagonals.
  • It can move one or two squares directly forward or backward. (rlRB3fbR2)
Phoenix 鳳凰 hōō Kirin 麒麟 kirin
       
 ☆   ☆ 
   ○   
  ○鳳○  
   ○   
 ☆   ☆ 
       
  • The phoenix can step one square in one of the four orthogonal directions.
  • It can jump to the second square in one of the four diagonal directions. (WA)

The phoenix promotes to a golden bird (above).
       
   ☆   
  ○ ○  
 ☆ 麒 ☆ 
  ○ ○  
   ☆   
       
  • The kirin can step one square in one of the four diagonal directions.
  • It can jump to the second square in one of the four orthogonal directions. (FD)
Because of its unusual movement, an unpromoted kirin can only reach half the squares on the board.

The kirin promotes to a great dragon (above).

Pieces that promote (or demote) to gold general
Capricorn 摩𩹄 makatsu Hook mover 鉤行 kōgyō
╳ ╱ ╲ ╳
 ╳   ╳ 
╱ ╳ ╳ ╲
   摩   
╲ ╳ ╳ ╱
 ╳   ╳ 
╳ ╲ ╱ ╳
  • The Capricorn can make the equivalent of two moves of a bishop: It can move any number of free squares in one of the four diagonal directions, then any number of free squares in a perpendicular direction.
  • It is not required to make a perpendicular move.
  • It may only capture once, and cannot continue after capturing. (BmaB)
  • Because it cannot move orthogonally, an unpromoted capricorn can only reach half the squares on the board.
 ──┼── 
│ ─┼─ │
││ ┼ ││
┼┼┼行┼┼┼
││ ┼ ││
│ ─┼─ │
 ──┼── 
  • The hook mover can make the equivalent of two moves of a rook: It can move any number of free squares in one of the four orthogonal directions, then any number of free squares in a perpendicular direction.
  • It is not required to make a perpendicular move.
  • It may only capture once, and cannot continue after capturing. (RmaR)
The hook mover was duplicated above, as it is the promoted form of the poisonous snake.
Bishop 角行 kakugyō Rook 飛車 hisha
╲     ╱
 ╲   ╱ 
  ╲ ╱  
   角   
  ╱ ╲  
 ╱   ╲ 
╱     ╲
  • A bishop can move any number of free squares in one of the four diagonal directions. (B)
  • Because it cannot move orthogonally, an unpromoted bishop can only reach half the squares on the board.
   │   
   │   
   │   
───飛───
   │   
   │   
   │   
  • The rook can move any number of free squares in one of the four orthogonal directions. (R)
Wrestler 力士 rikshi Guardian of the Gods 金剛 kongō
○     ○
 ○   ○ 
  ○ ○   
  ○力○  
  ○ ○   
 ○   ○ 
○     ○
  • The wrestler can move up to three squares in one of the four diagonal directions, or
  • It can move one square orthogonally sideways. (B3rlW)
   ○   
   ○   
  ○○○   
○○○剛○○○
   ○    
   ○   
   ○   
  • The guardian of the Gods can move up to three squares in one of the four orthogonal directions; or
  • It can move one square diagonally forward. (R3fF)
Buddhist devil 羅刹 rasetsu She-devil 夜叉 yasha
○     ○
 ○   ○ 
  ○ ○   
  ○羅○  
   ○    
       
       
  • The Buddhist devil can move up to three squares diagonally forward; or
  • It can move one square orthogonally sideways or backward. (fB3rlbW)
     ○     
     ○     
     ○     
   ○ ○ ○   
    ○○○    
○○○○○叉○○○○○
    ○○○    
   ○ ○ ○   
     ○     
     ○     
     ○     
  • The she-devil can move one or two squares in one of the four diagonal directions; or
  • It can move up to five squares in one of the four orthogonal directions. (R5B2)
Side dragon 横龍 ōryū Flying dragon 飛龍 hiryū
   │   
   │   
   │    
───横
龍		───
   ○    
       
       
  • The side dragon can move any number of free squares orthogonally forward or sideways; or,
  • It can move one square directly backward. (frlRbW)
       
 ○   ○ 
  ○ ○   
   飛
龍		   
  ○ ○   
 ○   ○ 
       
  • The flying dragon can move one or two squares in one of the four diagonal directions. (B2)
  • Because it cannot move orthogonally, an unpromoted flying dragon can only reach half the squares on the board.
Vertical mover 竪行 shugyō Side mover 横行 ōgyō
   │   
   │   
   │    
  ○竪○  
   │    
   │   
   │   
  • The vertical mover can move any number of free squares orthogonally forward or backward; or
  • It can move one square orthogonally sideways. (fbRW)
       
       
   ○    
───横───
   ○    
       
       
  • The side mover can move any number of free squares orthogonally sideways; or
  • It can move one square orthogonally forward or backward. (rlRW)
Knight 桂馬 keima Donkey 驢馬 roba
       
  ☆ ☆  
        
   桂   
        
       
       
  • A knight jumps at an angle intermediate between orthogonal and diagonal, amounting to one square forward plus one square diagonally forward, in a single motion. That is, it has a choice of two forward destinations. (ffN)
  • The knight ignores intervening pieces on the way to its destination, though its destination square must of course be either empty, or occupied by an opponent's piece (in which case the opponent's piece is captured), just as with any other moving piece.
       
   ☆   
   ○    
  ○驢○  
   ○    
   ☆   
       
  • The donkey can move one square in one of the four orthogonal directions; or
  • It can jump to the second square orthogonally forward or backward. (WfbD)
Western sources do not have the vertical step move, restricting the donkey to half of the squares.
Non-promoting pieces
Peacock 孔雀 kujaku Fierce eagle 猛鷲 mōjū
╳ ╱ ╲ ╳
 ╳   ╳ 
╱ ╳ ╳ ╲
 ╱ 孔 ╲ 
╱ ○ ○ ╲
 ○   ○ 
       
  • The peacock can move any number of free squares along one of the two forward diagonals, then (optionally) turn 90° and move any number of free squares in a perpendicular diagonal direction; or,
  • It can move one or two squares in one of the two rearward diagonals. (bB2fBfmasB)
       
 ○   ○ 
  ○ ○   
  ○猛
鷲		○  
  ○ ○   
 ○   ○ 
       
  • The fierce eagle can move one or two squares in one of the four diagonal directions; or,
  • It may step one square orthogonally sideways. (B2rlW)[13]
Horned falcon 角鷹 kakuō Soaring eagle 飛鷲 hijū
╲     ╱
 ╲ ☆ ╱ 
  ╲!╱  
───鷹───
  ╱│╲  
 ╱ │ ╲ 
╱  │  ╲
  • The horned falcon can move any number of free squares along any direction except directly forwards.
  • It can step twice, or jump two squares, directly forward, capturing up to two pieces. This power includes igui and skipping a turn (see "Lion"). (BrlbRf[avW]fD)
   │   
 ☆ │ ☆ 
  !│!  
───鷲───
  ╱│╲  
 ╱ │ ╲ 
╱  │  ╲
  • The soaring eagle can move any number of free squares in any direction except diagonally forward.
  • It can step twice, or jump two squares, diagonally forward, capturing up to two pieces. This power includes igui and skipping a turn (see "Lion"). (RbBf[avF]fA)
Flying ox 飛牛 higyū Soldier 兵士 heishi
╲  │  ╱
 ╲ │ ╱ 
  ╲│╱  
   牛   
  ╱│╲  
 ╱ │ ╲ 
╱  │  ╲
  • The flying ox can move any number of free squares along any one of the four diagonal directions, or directly forward or backward, giving it six directions of movement. (BfbR)
   │   
   │   
   │    
───士───
  ╱│╲   
 ╱ │ ╲ 
╱  │  ╲
  • The soldier can move any number of free squares along any of the four orthogonals; or along the rear diagonals. (RbB)
Dragon king 龍王 ryūō Dragon horse 龍馬 ryūme
   │   
   │   
  ○│○   
───龍───
  ○│○   
   │   
   │   
  • The dragon king can move any number of free squares in one of the four orthogonal directions; or
  • It can move one square in one of the four diagonal directions. (FR)
╲     ╱
 ╲   ╱ 
  ╲○╱   
  ○馬○  
  ╱○╲   
 ╱   ╲ 
╱     ╲
  • The dragon horse can move any number of free squares in one of the four diagonal directions; or
  • It can move one square in one of the four orthogonal directions. (WB)
White horse 白駒 hakku Whale 鯨鯢 keigei
╲  │  ╱
 ╲ │ ╱ 
  ╲│╱  
   駒   
   │   
   │   
   │   
  • The white horse can move any number of free squares orthogonally forward or backward, or diagonally forward, giving it four directions of movement. (fQbR)
   │   
   │   
   │   
   鯨   
  ╱│╲  
 ╱ │ ╲ 
╱  │  ╲
  • The whale can move any number of free squares orthogonally forward or backward, or diagonally backward, giving it four directions of movement. (fRbQ)
Vermillion sparrow 朱雀 suzaku Turtle-snake 玄武 genbu
╲     ╱
 ╲   ╱ 
  ╲○╱   
   朱   
  ○│○   
 ○ │ ○ 
   │   
  • The vermillion sparrow can move any number of free squares diagonally forward or directly backward; or,
  • It can move one or two squares diagonally backward; or,
  • It can step one square directly forward. (fBfWbRbB2)[14][15]
╲  │  ╱
 ╲ │ ╱ 
  ╲│╱   
   玄   
  ○○○   
 ○   ○ 
       
  • The turtle-snake can move any number of free squares diagonally or directly forward; or,
  • It can move one or two squares diagonally backward; or,
  • It can step one square directly backward. (fQbWbB2)[14][16]
White tiger 白虎 byakko Blue dragon 青龍 seiryū
╲  │   
 ╲ │   
  ╲│○  
 ○○白虎○○ 
   │   
   │   
   │   
  • Range: The white tiger can move any number of free squares directly forward or backward, or along the forward left diagonal.
  • Limited range: It can step one or two squares directly sideways. (fbR[fl]BrlR2fF)
  • Step: It can step one square diagonally forward to the right.
      ╱
   ○ ╱ 
  ○○╱  
───青───
   ○   
   ○   
       
  • Range: The blue dragon can move any number of free squares directly to either side, or along the forward right diagonal.
  • Limited range: It can step one or two squares directly forward or backward. (rlR[fr]BfbR2fF)
  • Step: It can step one square diagonally forward to the left.
Left chariot 左車 sasha Right chariot 右車 usha
╲  │   
 ╲ │   
  ╲│   
   左
車		   
   ○╲  
     ╲ 
      ╲
  • Range: The left chariot can move any number of free squares straight forward, or along the forward left or rear right diagonals. (fR[fl][br]BbW)
  • Step: It can step one square directly backward.
   │  ╱
   │ ╱ 
   │╱  
   右
車		   
  ╱○   
 ╱     
╱      
  • Range: The right chariot can move any number of free squares straight forward, or along the forward right or rear left diagonals.
  • Step: It can step one square directly backward. (fR[fr][bl]BbW)
Golden deer 金鹿 konroku Silver hare 銀兎 ginto
╲     ╱
 ╲   ╱ 
  ╲ ╱   
   鹿   
  ○ ○   
 ○   ○ 
       
  • The golden deer can move any number of free squares diagonally forward; or,
  • It can move one or two squares diagonally backward. (fBbB2)
       
 ○   ○ 
  ○ ○   
   兎   
  ╱ ╲   
 ╱   ╲ 
╱     ╲
  • The silver hare can move any number of free squares diagonally backward; or,
  • It can move one or two squares diagonally forward. (fB2bB)
Violent ox 猛牛 mōgyū Violent bear 猛熊 mōyū
       
   ○   
   ○   
 ○○牛○○ 
   ○   
   ○   
       
  • The violent ox can move one or two squares in one of the four orthogonal directions. (R2)
       
 ○   ○ 
  ○ ○  
  ○猛
熊		○  
       
       
       
  • The violent bear can move one or two squares diagonally forward, or,
  • It can step one square orthogonally sideways. (fB2rlW)
Reverse chariot 反車 hensha Blind bear 盲熊 mōyū
   │   
   │   
   │    
   反   
   │    
   │   
   │   
  • The reverse chariot can move any number of free squares orthogonally forward or backward. (fbR)
       
       
  ○ ○   
   盲
熊		   
  ○│○   
   │   
   │   
  • The blind bear can move any number of free squares orthogonally backward; or
  • It can move one square in one of the four diagonal directions. (FbR)
Blind tiger 盲虎 mōko Ferocious leopard 猛豹 mōhyō
       
       
  ○ ○   
  ○虎○  
  ○○○   
       
       
  • The blind tiger can move one square in any direction, orthogonal or diagonal, except orthogonally forward. (FrlbW)
       
       
  ○○○   
   豹   
  ○○○   
       
       
  • The ferocious leopard can move one square in one of the four diagonal directions; or
  • It can move one square orthogonally forward or backward. (FfbW)
Reclining dragon 臥龍 garyū Old monkey 古猿 koen
       
       
   ○    
  ○臥○  
  ○○○   
       
       
  • The reclining dragon can move one square in one of the four orthogonal directions or diagonally backward. (WbF)
       
       
  ○ ○   
   猿   
  ○○○   
       
       
  • The old monkey can move one square in one of the four diagonal directions or orthogonally backward. (FbW)
Evil wolf 悪狼 akurō Coiled serpent 蟠蛇 banja
       
       
  ○○○   
  ○狼○  
        
       
       
  • The evil wolf can move one square orthogonally sideways or forward; or diagonally forward. (frlK)
       
       
   ○    
   蛇   
  ○○○   
       
       
  • The coiled serpent can move one square orthogonally forward or backward; or diagonally backward. (fbWbF)
Angry boar 嗔猪 shincho Cat sword 猫刄 myōjin
       
       
   ○    
  ○嗔○  
   ○    
       
       
  • The angry boar can move one square in one of the four orthogonal directions. (W)
       
       
  ○ ○   
   猫   
  ○ ○   
       
       
  • The cat sword can move one square in one of the four diagonal directions. (F)
  • Because it cannot move orthogonally, a cat sword can only reach half the squares on the board.
Left general 左将 sashō Right general 右将 ushō
       
       
  ○○○  
   左将○  
  ○○○  
       
       
  • Step: The left general can move one square in any direction except directly left. It is called the left general because it guards the left side of the board. (FfrbW)
       
       
  ○○○  
  ○右将   
  ○○○  
       
       
  • Step: The right general can step one square in any direction except directly right. It is called the right general because it guards the right side of the board. (FflbW)
Gold general 金将 kinshō Silver general 銀将 ginshō
       
       
  ○○○   
  ○金○  
   ○    
       
       
  • A gold general can move one square in one of the four orthogonal directions; or
  • One square diagonally forward, giving it six possibilities.
  • It cannot move diagonally backward. (WfF)
       
       
  ○○○   
   銀   
  ○ ○   
       
       
  • A silver general can move one square in one of the four diagonal directions; or
  • One square straight forward, giving it five possibilities. (FfW)
Copper general 銅将 dōshō Iron general 鉄将 tesshō
       
       
  ○○○   
   銅   
   ○    
       
       
  • The copper general can move one square orthogonally forward or backward; or
  • It can move one square diagonally forward. (fbWfF)
       
       
  ○○○   
   鐵   
        
       
       
  • The iron general can move one square forward, orthogonally or diagonally. (fK)
Because it cannot move sideways or backward, an iron general can only reach a fraction of the squares on the board.
An iron general that reaches the farthest rank is trapped.
Tile general 瓦将 gashō Stone general 石将 sekishō
       
       
  ○ ○   
   瓦   
   ○    
       
       
  • The tile general can move one square diagonally forward or orthogonally backward. (fFbW)
       
       
  ○ ○   
   石   
        
       
       
  • The stone general can move one square diagonally forward. (fF)
Because it cannot move orthogonally or backward, a stone general can only reach less than half the squares on the board.
A stone general that reaches the farthest rank is trapped.
Wood general 木将 mokushō Earth general 土将 doshō / Go-between 仲人 chūnin
       
 ○   ○ 
  ○ ○   
   木   
        
       
       
  • The wood general can move one or two squares diagonally forward. (fB2)
Because it cannot move orthogonally or backward, a wood general can only reach less than half the squares on the board.
A wood general that reaches the farthest rank is trapped.
       
       
   ○    
   土   
   ○    
       
       
  • The earth general and go-between can move one square orthogonally forward or backward. (fbW)
These pieces have the same range of movement, and neither promotes; thus, it is unnecessary to give them separate names. The only differences are the names and placement on the starting setup.
Howling dog 𠵇犬 kiken Ram's-head soldier 羊兵 yōhei
   │   
   │   
   │   
   𠵇   
   ○   
       
       
  • Range: The howling dog can move any number of free squares directly forward.
  • Step: It can step one square directly backwards. (fRbW)
╲     ╱
 ╲   ╱ 
  ╲ ╱  
   羊   
       
       
       
  • The ram's-head soldier can move any number of free squares along either forward diagonal. (fB)
A ram's-head soldier that reaches the farthest rank is trapped.
Lance 香車 kyōsha Pawn 歩兵 fuhyō
   │   
   │   
   │   
   香   
       
       
       
  • Range: The lance can move any number of free squares directly forward, giving it only one direction of movement. (fR)

A lance that reaches the far rank is trapped.
       
       
   ○   
   歩   
       
       
       
  • Step: A pawn can step one square directly forward. (fW)
A pawn that reaches the far rank is trapped.

Repetition

A player may not make a move if the resulting position is one that has previously occurred in the game with the same player to move. This is called repetition (千日手 sennichite). Note that certain pieces have the ability to pass in certain situations (lions, lion dogs, furious fiends, soaring eagles, horned falcons, teaching kings, and Buddhist spirits). Such a pass move leaves the position unchanged, but it does not violate the repetition rule, as it will now be the turn of the other player to move. Of course, two consecutive passes are not possible, as the first player will see the same position as before.

However, evidence from chu shogi problems suggests that this at least does not apply to a player who is in check or whose pieces are attacked, as otherwise one could win via perpetual check or perpetual pursuit. The modern chu shogi rule as applied by the Japanese Chu Shogi Association (JCSA) is as follows, and presumably tai shogi should be similar. If one side is making attacks on other pieces (however futile) with his moves in the repeat cycle, and the other is not, the attacking side must deviate, while in case of checking the checker must deviate regardless of whether the checked side attacks other pieces. In the case of consecutive passes, the side passing first must deviate, making turn passing to avoid zugzwang pointless if the opponent is in a position where he can pass his turn too. Only the fourth repetition is forbidden by these rules. If none of these are applicable, repetition is a draw.

Check and mate

When a player makes a move such that the opponent's emperor or prince (sole one in play) could be captured on the following move, the move is said to give check to the emperor or prince; the emperor or prince is said to be in check. If a player's emperor or prince is in check and no legal move by that player will get the emperor or prince out of check, the checking move is also a mate, and effectively wins the game. If a player has both an emperor and one or more princes in play, then the player need not move only one out of check.

Recall that an emperor can only capture a royal piece if that royal piece is unprotected. (Capturing non-royal protected pieces is legal, just almost always a very poor move.) This prohibition applies even if the opponent's last royal piece is being captured: here "protected" means that the opponent could recapture if we ignore that he has just lost his last royal.

Game end

A player who captures the opponent's sole remaining king or prince wins the game. Thus a player who is checkmated or stalemated will lose. In practice this rarely happens; a player will resign when loss is inevitable and the king will be taken on the opponent's next move (as in International Chess) because of the tradition that it is seen as an embarrassment to lose. The very artificial situation of a smothered stalemate, where no moves are possible (even those that would expose the king), is not covered in the historical sources. On their pages for chu shogi and dai shogi, The Chess Variant Pages rule this as a loss for the stalemated player, for definiteness.

A player who makes an illegal move loses immediately. (This rule may be relaxed in casual games.)

There is a (probably facetious) rule that draws cannot be agreed.

Game notation

The method used in English-language texts to express shogi moves was established by George Hodges in 1976. It is derived from the algebraic notation used for chess, but differs in several respects. Modifications have been made for tai shogi.

A typical example is P-8h. The first letter represents the piece moved (see above). Promoted pieces have a + added in front of the letter. (e.g., +CC for a wizard stork (promoted Chinese cock). The designation of the piece is followed by a symbol indicating the type of move: - for an ordinary move or x for a capture. Next is the designation for the square on which the piece lands. This consists of a number representing the file and a lowercase letter representing the rank, with 1a being the top right corner (as seen from Black's point of view) and 25y being the bottom left corner. (This method of designating squares is based on Japanese convention, which, however, uses Japanese numerals instead of letters. For example, the square 2c is denoted by 2三 in Japanese.)

If a soaring eagle, horned falcon, lion or Buddhist spirit captures by 'igui’, the square of the piece being captured is used instead of the destination square, and this is preceded by the symbol '!'. If a double capture is made, then it is added after the first capture.

If a capture mandates the player to promote the piece, then a + is added to the end to signify that the promotion was taken. For example, ORx7c+ indicates an old rat capturing on 7c and promoting.

In cases where the above notation would be ambiguous, the designation of the start square is added after the designation for the piece in order to make clear which piece is meant.

Moves are commonly numbered as in chess.

Strategy

Piece values

According to the German Chu Shogi Association, the average values of the pieces are as follows. Note that these use the move interpretations of The Shogi Association, e.g. the lion dog as only a three-square limited ranging piece in all directions, with no lion power. They also make the additional change that the prince is allowed to promote to emperor, although TSA rules do not allow this.[17]

Average piece values
Piece name Approximate value Promotion Approximate value
Emperor ∞ — —
Prince 4 Emperor ∞
Drunk Elephant 3 Prince 4
Long-Nosed Goblin 89 — —
Peacock 66 — —
Hook Mover 232 Gold General 3
Capricorn 88 Gold General 3
Lion 22 Furious Fiend 24
Queen 21 — —
Rushing Bird 20 Free Demon 18
Free Dream-Eater 19 — —
Horned Falcon 18 — —
Free Demon 18 — —
Water Buffalo 17 Free Dream-Eater 19
Soaring Eagle 17 — —
Flying Ox 16 — —
Standard Bearer 15 — —
Soldier 14 — —
Vermillion Sparrow 13 — —
White Horse 13 — —
Golden Bird 12 — —
White Tiger 11 — —
Blue Dragon 11 — —
Great Dragon 11 — —
Turtle Snake 10 — —
Left Chariot 10 — —
Right Chariot 10 — —
Dove 9 — —
Whale 9 — —
Lion Dog 8 Great Elephant 9
White Elephant 8 — —
Dragon King 13 — —
Dragon Horse 12 — —
Racing Chariot 12 — —
Golden Deer 8 — —
Ram's-Head Soldier 7 — —
Silver Hare 5 — —
She-Devil 9 Gold General 3
Guardian of the Gods 5 Gold General 3
Wrestler 5 Gold General 3
Buddhist Devil 4 Gold General 3
Rook 11 Gold General 3
Bishop 10 Gold General 3
Side Dragon 10 Gold General 3
Vertical Mover 7 Gold General 3
Side Mover 6 Gold General 3
Reverse Chariot 6 — —
Howling Dog 5 — —
Lance 4 — —
Old Kite 4 Long-Nosed Goblin 89
Poisonous Snake 1 Hook Mover 232
Eastern Barbarian 4 Lion 22
Dark Spirit 2 Buddhist Spirit 35
Deva 2 Teaching King 29
Flying Horse 4 Queen 21
Neighbouring King 3 Standard-Bearer 15
Old Rat 2 Wizard Stork 15
Chinese Cock 2 Wizard Stork 15
Northern Barbarian 3 Fragrant Elephant 12
Phoenix 3 Golden Bird 12
Blind Monkey 3 Mountain Witch 12
Kirin 3 Great Dragon 11
Western Barbarian 3 Lion Dog 8
Southern Barbarian 3 White Elephant 8
Enchanted Badger 2 Dove 9
Prancing Stag 4 Square Mover 12
Flying Dragon 3 Gold General 3
Donkey 2 Gold General 3
Knight 1 Gold General 3
Fierce Eagle 4 — —
Blind Bear 3 — —
Left General 3 — —
Right General 3 — —
Blind Tiger 3 — —
Violent Ox 3 — —
Gold General 3 — —
Ferocious Leopard 3 — —
Violent Bear 3 — —
Evil Wolf 3 — —
Reclining Dragon 3 — —
Silver General 2 — —
Old Monkey 2 — —
Copper General 2 — —
Wood General 2 — —
Iron General 2 — —
Cat Sword 2 — —
Coiled Serpent 2 — —
Angry Boar 2 — —
Tile General 1 — —
Stone General 1 — —
Earth General 1 — —
Go-Between 1 — —
Pawn 1 — —

These average values do not take into account the special status of the prince as a royal piece, or emperor as disposable if there's a prince and other piece(s). They have also been normalized so that the pawn is worth 1 point to avoid fractions. Additionally, pieces change value if they have a good chance of promotion. This is particularly significant for the hook mover and capricorn, which are two of the most powerful pieces in the game, but "promote" to the weak gold general; and the old kite and poisonous snake, which promote respectively to the hook mover and long-nosed goblin.

See also

Notes on pieces with conflicting descriptions

These descriptions are taken from Japanese Wikipedia, which references the Edo-era publications 象戯図式 Shōgi Zushiki (SZ), 諸象戯図式 Sho Shōgi Zushiki (SSZ), and 象棋六種之図式 Shōgi Rokushu no Zushiki (SRZ). The first two are generally though not always in agreement, but the third differs in the case of most pieces which are not found in smaller shogi variants.

For reasons of space, and to avoid duplication, issues regarding pieces that already appear in dai dai or maka dai dai shogi are discussed in those articles rather than here.

  1. ↑ The German Chu Shogi Association allows the prince to promote to emperor, but there is no other support for this assertion. Steve Evans' Shogi Variants software also mentions a promotion to emperor in the Piece Help screen, but the game itself does not allow promotion.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Promotes to gold according to Japanese Wikipedia
  3. ↑ The 行鳥 rushing bird is also called the 行馬 gyōme 'rushing horse' in Japanese, especially in older sources. This may be a scribal error.
  4. ↑ The Japanese Wikipedia articles do not agree on its promotion, some saying it promotes to free demon (like the Western sources), and some saying it promotes to gold.
  5. ↑ The Western sources have the lion dog promote to great elephant. However, while Japanese Wikipedia states that this promotion occurs in other large-board shogi variants, it says that it demotes to gold in tai shogi. In dai dai shogi, the lion dog either promotes to great elephant (according to the SRZ) or does not promote (according to the SZ and SSZ); in maka dai dai shogi, it demotes to gold.
  6. ↑ In some English-language sources, following the SRZ, it is called the "silver demon" 銀鬼 ginki. It is not clear which is right. The SZ gives 銀兔 (a variant of 銀兎) but the pronunciation ginmu; the SSZ has 銀兎 in the diagram of the initial layout but 銀鹿 "silver deer" when describing the movements of the pieces.
  7. ↑ It promotes to a gold general according to TSA rules (as in maka dai dai shogi). In Steve Evans' Shogi Variants software, on the Piece Help screen, it is stated to promote to a dragon king (as in dai dai shogi), but in the game itself, it is programmed to promote to a gold general.
  8. 1 2 3 4 According to TSA rules and Steve Evans' Shogi Variants software, the old rat promotes to wizard stork as in dai dai shogi, but according to Japanese Wikipedia it promotes to bat as in maka dai dai shogi. The bat in that game moves an unlimited distance either straight forward or diagonally backward. Promotion to wizard stork seems unusual as the Chinese cock already promotes to wizard stork, and two pieces otherwise never share a promotion except for the ubiquitous gold. The German Chu Shogi Association lists the promoted old rat in English as a wizard stork, but gives the kanji for the bat.

    There is also confusion about which monkey promotes to mountain witch: in TSA rules, Evans' software, and the German Chu Shogi Association's tables it is the blind monkey as in dai dai shogi, but Japanese Wikipedia is confused over which monkey promotes to mountain witch and which promotes to gold. One article, and the internal pattern of promotions, suggests that the old monkey promotes to mountain witch, as in maka dai dai shogi. The individual game-piece articles claim both promote to mountain witch, which is again unusual.

    The problems arise from tai shogi being a merger of the two games, which here have slightly different promotions. In dai dai shogi, we have the blind monkey promoting to mountain witch, and the old rat promoting to wizard stork; in maka dai dai shogi, we have the old monkey promoting to mountain witch, and the Chinese cock promoting to wizard stork. The old monkey and Chinese cock do not appear in dai dai shogi. The blind monkey does not appear in maka dai dai shogi; the old rat does, but it promotes to bat there. Tai shogi contains all four base pieces.

    For the sake of consistency TSA's promotions have been followed here, as for all other pieces: thus the old rat and Chinese cock both promote to wizard stork, the blind monkey promotes to mountain witch, and the old monkey does not promote. The bat is not used.

  9. 1 2 The fragrant and white elephants are the promotions in dai dai shogi and, in Steve Evans' Shogi Variants software, for tai shogi as well. (See link below.) The Japanese Wikipedia articles are confused. One states that both the northern and southern barbarians demote to gold. A second states that the northern demotes to gold and the southern promotes to white elephant. The fragrant elephant article states that this piece occurs in tai shogi, but provides no piece to promote into it.
  10. ↑ Does not promote according to Steve Evans' Shogi Variants software, The Shogi Association, and the German Chu Shogi Association. Promotes to a free bear in the Japanese Wikipedia, as in maka dai dai shogi. (Despite the name, that is not a free version of the blind bear, which is not a stepping piece.)
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Promotes to a free version of the original piece (with stepping moves changed to ranging moves in the corresponding directions), according to Japanese Wikipedia. For example, a free cat moves the same as a bishop. The free boar is an exception; it moves as the free boar in chu shogi, ranging sideways or along the diagonals. These promotions follow maka dai dai shogi.
  12. ↑ "chessvariants.com -- Comment Listing". www.chessvariants.com. Retrieved Jan 26, 2023.
  13. ↑ The Japanese Wikipedia gives a different movement: one or two squares orthogonally sideways or diagonally backwards, or one square in any of the three forward directions. (fKrlR2bB2) Japanese Wikipedia only gives the move from the English sources in taikyoku shogi, a game which typically has different moves.
  14. 1 2 In Steve Evans' Shogi Variants software, the moves of the vermillion sparrow and turtle-snake are interchanged.
  15. ↑ Japanese Wikipedia gives a completely different move for the vermillion sparrow: any number of free squares along the forward right or rear left diagonals, or one square orthogonally or on the rear right diagonal. It has no move along the fore left diagonal. ([fr][bl]BW[br]F)
  16. ↑ Japanese Wikipedia gives a completely different move for the turtle-snake: any number of free squares diagonally forward to the right or diagonally backward to the left, or one square in any direction. ([fr][bl]BW) Since Japanese Wikipedia also describes the piece this way for taikyoku shogi, which often has unique movements for its pieces, this may be an error, especially as it is not the mirror image of the vermillion sparrow.
  17. ↑ Mesching, Günther (8 January 2015). "TAI Exchange Values" (PDF). katakas.org. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
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