---
title: "How to Memorise the Xiangqi Pieces Quickly · Xiangqi Master"
description: "Learn them by starting position first and by character shape second. Three pieces do most of the work, so learn those three properly."
url: https://xiangqimaster.com/blog/how-do-i-remember-which-piece-is-which
updated: 2026-09-22
source: Xiangqi Master (https://xiangqimaster.com)
license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
---

# How do I remember which xiangqi piece is which?

These answers restate the rules implemented by our open-source engine, which follows the WXF laws and is regression-tested against the official 110-diagram repetition casebook. Where an answer refers to a specific position, that position lives on the linked reference page, where the build verifies it against the engine before publishing.

> Direct answer
>
> Learn them by **starting position** first. Corners are chariots, next in are horses, then elephants, then advisors, general in the middle; cannons sit two ranks up under the horses; the five spread-out pieces on the fourth rank are soldiers. Character recognition follows on its own after a few games.

## The three to learn properly

**車** (chariot), **馬** (horse) and **炮** (cannon) do almost all the work and are the three you must never confuse. 車 is boxy with one vertical stroke through it; 馬 has four short legs along the bottom; 炮 has the fire radical 火 on its left.

The other four barely move, so mistaking them costs little while you learn.

## A shortcut that works

Play ten games with western symbols turned on, then turn them off. By then you know what belongs where, and the characters attach themselves to pieces you already understand rather than being memorised cold.

## Related questions

Do I need to learn both sides' characters?

Eventually, but position tells you the side, so in practice you learn seven shapes and recognise their partners.

Are there western-symbol sets?

Yes, physically and on every digital board including this one.

## Related xiangqi resources

Chess in Chinese

The words for the game and every piece

Board setup

The board, the river, the palace, and where the 32 pieces go

Play the computer

Four difficulty levels, no account needed

## Try it on a real board

Reading an answer is one thing; playing it is another. Free, instant, and nothing to install.