I heard that in Xiangqi (Chinese chess or 中国象棋), 相 is translated as "Elephant". Is it a correct translation? Should "bishop" or "minister" be better translations for 相 here?
Are there any other circumstances that 相 is translated as elephant?
I heard that in Xiangqi (Chinese chess or 中国象棋), 相 is translated as "Elephant". Is it a correct translation? Should "bishop" or "minister" be better translations for 相 here?
Are there any other circumstances that 相 is translated as elephant?
The Wikipedia about Xiangqi has a part about these pieces:
Elephant
Elephants (or bishops) are labeled 象 xiàng ("elephant") for Black and 相 xiàng ("minister") for Red. They are located next to the advisors. These pieces move and capture exactly two points diagonally and may not jump over intervening pieces; the move is described as being like the character 田 Tián ("field"). If an elephant cannot move due to a diagonally adjacent piece, it is known as "blocking the elephant's eye" (塞象眼).
Elephants may not cross the river, and serve as defensive pieces. Because an elephant's movement is restricted to just seven board positions, it can be easily trapped or threatened. The two elephants are often used to defend each other.
The Chinese characters for "minister" and "elephant" are homophones in Mandarin and both have alternative meanings as "appearance" or "image". However, in English, both are referred to as elephants.
So, while 相 is "minister," it is often referred to as an "elephant" along with 象. 相 is never translated as "elephant" outside of xiangqi.