xiang

Xiang is a pinyin transliteration that may refer to several distinct terms in Chinese language and geography. It is commonly used as a personal surname, representing more than one Chinese character, and appears in various place names and cultural terms.

Geography and administrative use: The Xiang River, or Xiang Jiang, is a major river in southern China that flows through Hunan Province and passes the provincial capital, Changsha. Its waters feed Dongting Lake and connect to the Yangtze River basin via the lake system. The character 湘 (Xiang) is also used as the standard abbreviation for Hunan Province on maps, vehicle plates, and other official designations.

Cultural usage: In Xiangqi, the Chinese board game known as Chinese chess, a piece called xiang represents the elephant. It moves diagonally within its own half of the board and cannot cross the river. The syllable xiang also appears in several Chinese words with different meanings, such as 香 meaning fragrant and 象 meaning elephant in other contexts, depending on the character used.

Other uses: Xiang can function as a given name or as a component in various geographic names, often reflecting regional identity associated with Hunan or the Xiang river system. The term’s meaning and character vary by context, spanning geography, language, and culture.