SHOFAR, SCHOFAR or SHOFER, the ancient ram's horn trumpet of the Hebrews. It consisted of a natural horn turned up at the bell end, and, having a short conical bore of very large calibre, it would be capable of producing at most the funda mental octave and twelfth.
the Japanese game of chess. Like Go-bang, the game of the middle classes, and Sugoro chu (double-six), that of the common people, it was introduced from China many centuries ago and is still popular with the educated classes. It is played on a board divided into 81 squares, nine on a side, with 20 pieces on each side, arranged on the three outer rows. The pieces, which are flat and punt-shaped with the smaller end towards the front, represent, by means of different inscriptions, the 0, or Silo, King General, with whose checkmate the game ends, his two chief aids, the Kin and Ghin, Gold and Silver Generals (two of each), Ka Ma, horse or knight (two), Vani, spearman (two), one Hisha, or flying chariot (rook), one Kaku (bishop), and nine Hio or Fu, soldiers or pawns. All these pieces, like those in chess, possess
different functions. The chief difference between chess and Sho gi is that in the Japanese game a piece does not cease to be a factor in the game when it is captured by the opponent, but may be re turned by him to the board at any time as a reserve ; and, secondly, all pieces, except the King and Gold General, are promoted to higher powers upon entering the last three rows of the enemy's territory. This possibility of utilizing captured forces against their former masters and the altering values of the different men render Sho-gi a very difficult and complicated game.
See E. Falkener, Games Ancient and Oriental (1892) ; the Field (Sept. 1904).