RULE GUIDE · ELEPHANT

How the Elephant Moves in Chinese Chess

Two points diagonally, never across the river

The elephant (bishop) moves exactly two points diagonally and may never cross the river. If the point at the centre of that two-by-two square is occupied, the move is illegal — the blocked elephant eye.

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Movement

Two points diagonally

Restriction

Never crosses the river

Role

Defends the palace

The two-point diagonal

An elephant move is two diagonal steps in the same direction, tracing the diagonal of a two-by-two square. It can never move a single point diagonally.

There are up to four destinations, and all of them stay on the elephant’s own half of the board: the river is a hard boundary.

  • Exactly two points diagonally.
  • Never crosses the river.
  • The destination must stay on the board.

When the eye is blocked

The elephant eye is the centre point of that two-by-two square. If any piece stands there — either colour — the elephant cannot move in that direction.

Like the horse leg, the eye is checked before the move: only the centre point matters, not the destination.

  • The eye is the centre point.
  • Both sides can block it.
  • A blocked eye makes the move illegal.

Value in practice

Elephants are defensive pieces. Together with the advisors they protect the general and cover the key points around the palace, and a complete elephant-and-advisor wall makes an endgame much harder to lose.

Because they never cross the river their attacking value is limited, but losing them opens holes that horses and cannons love.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can an elephant cross the river?

No. Both elephants stay on their own half of the board; the river is an absolute boundary.

Can an enemy piece block the eye?

Yes. Any piece on the centre point blocks the elephant, regardless of colour.

Can an elephant move one point diagonally?

No. That is the advisor’s move; the elephant always moves two points diagonally.

What does “full elephants and advisors” mean?

It means both advisors and both elephants are still on the board, which is the standard solid defensive structure in xiangqi endgames.

All games

How the Chariot Moves in Chinese Chess Any distance along a rank or file, with a clear path How the Horse Moves in Chinese Chess An L-shaped move that a single piece can block How the Cannon Moves and Captures A rook that needs exactly one screen to capture How the Advisor Moves in Chinese Chess One point diagonally, always inside the palace

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