Shogi lance piece

A tile bearing the fragrant chariot character.

Also known as: Kyosha piece, Fragrant chariot, Shogi lance

In Japanese:: 香車
In Japanese (Latin):: kyōsha

CulturalSport & gamesQuiet profile

Meanings

The shogi lance, moving any distance directly forward and never in any other direction.

Culturally establishedVerified fact
Moves any distance directly forward and in no other direction.
Contexts: History
Culturally establishedVerified fact
Cannot retreat, so a lance that has advanced has permanently given up the ground behind it, which is a strategic property written into the movement itself.
Contexts: History

Visual description

A narrow five-sided pointed shape carrying two glyphs on its front and the promoted gold glyph on its reverse.

A fuller structured visual breakdown is not yet documented for this symbol.

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

Shogi: rules, pieces and notation
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-25
Tertiary reference, used for the names, characters and movement of shogi pieces and for the promotion system. Cited for identity and role. Not cited for opening theory or for competitive practice.

Last reviewed 2026-08-26

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Meanings

The shogi lance, moving any distance directly forward and never in any other direction.

Culturally establishedVerified fact

Moves any distance directly forward and in no other direction.

Contexts: History

Culturally establishedVerified fact

Cannot retreat, so a lance that has advanced has permanently given up the ground behind it, which is a strategic property written into the movement itself.

Contexts: History

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.