Classical Go Problem books at Sensei's Library

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Classical Go Problem books

Keywords: Culture & History, Books & Publications

Year

Title

Author/Editor

# of Origin Problems

Wangyou c. Qingle Ji Li Yimin 1100 ( )

34

Xuanxuan Yan Defu, Yan 1347 Qijing 347 Tianzhang ()

Xian Ji Wu Lu Xuanyu, Lu 1629 Ku 419 Xuanyu's Son ()

Other Available Names on SL? ENG: Carefree & Innocent Pastime Collection JPN: Gengen China Gokyo ( No ) KOR: Hyeon Hyeon Gi Gyeong ( ) ENG: Gateway to All China Yes Marvels JPN: KOR: ENG: Arsenal of Immortal Yes China Devices (Partial) JPN: KOR:

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Classical Go Problem books at Sensei's Library

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Wanhui Xianji ( 1634 Zhuchang Fang 490 ( ))

ENG: China JPN: KOR:

No

1660

Guanzi Pu Guo Bailing, () Tao Shiyu

1473

China

1710

Yi Kuo ()

Huang Longshi 361

China

Igo Hatsuyoron Inoue Dosetsu 1713 183 ( Inseki )

Japan

Gokyo 1812 Shumyo Hayashi Genbi 520 ()

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Japan

ENG: Endgame Collection JPN: Kanzufu No () KOR: Gwan Ja Bo ( ) ENG: JPN: No KOR: CHN: Fayanglun () ENG: Analysis of Generating Yes Yang KOR: Wiki Balyangron ( ) CHN: Qijing Yes Zhongmiao

6/4/2013 1:33 PM

Classical Go Problem books at Sensei's Library

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1833

Genran ()

Akaboshi Intetsu

69

Gokyo 1835 Seimyo Hayashi Genbi 297 ()

( ) ENG: Brilliancies from Go Classics KOR: Ki Kyeung Joong Myo ( ) CHN: Xuanlan () Japan ENG: No Mysterious Vision KOR: CHN: Qijing Jingmiao ( ) ENG: Best Yes Japan of the Go (Partial) Classics KOR: Ki Kyeung Jeung Myo ( )

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Katsugo Kishimoto 1848 Shinpyo Saichiro ()

130

Shikatsu Myoki Honinbo 1910 ( Shusai )

168

CHN: Japan ENG: No KOR: CHN: ( ) ENG: New Japan Life & Yes Death Brilliant Stratagems KOR:

Notes
Overview of the better known "Classic" works, list compiled by Harry Fearnley and John Fairbairn Bill: (Shiqing-lu) by (Lin Yinlong), 1525 This book came in 20 volumes. It contains some problems, as well as some opening positions. (See this site for some of the openings.) It contains 384 diagrams by a Japanese monk, Kyochu. The openings suggest that there was an initial position where, aside from the Black and White stones on diagonally opposite 4-4 points, Black had a stone on tengen. (See Sunjang Baduk for a different prescribed opening setup.) John F. Without being wrong, this statement needs to be treated with care, especially as regards tengen. The Shiqing-lu of 1525 by Lin Yinlong is notorious for adding stones on tengen and/or reversing colours in games that are known from earlier texts. Lin was a very weak player and was mocked accordingly. This was a time when go polemics

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Classical Go Problem books at Sensei's Library

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were in fashion and writers slagged each other off. As the famous Wang Shizhen said around this time, "Even if a person has made a name in expositions, poems or essays on go, it does not necessarily mean this is a proof of the writer's go ability." Lin was mocked because he was weak but also because of the title of his book. Shiqing is a made-up word. He indicated he plucked the two characters from a poem by Wang Anshi, but as Wang Anshi was known as one of the great weakies in go history, Lin's peers took the title to mean it was a collection of trivia (and in some senses it is - at times it belongs more to astrology than go). Lin defended himself by pointing out that the bulk of the content (8 of the 20 volumes) was by the Japanese monk Xuzhong, resident in Hangzhou and perhaps the most esteemed player of the early Ming. But Lin had lost many papers of Xuzhong's original works and reconstructed them from memory for Shiqinglu - we do not know how reliably. The title can perhaps be best rendered as "Records of doing as the heart pleases". It is believed the poem by Wang that inspired it runs (in part): "When I play go I am in the mood to forget the hardships of travelling on horseback round the garrison forts of far-off regions, and I end up rushing about eagerly trying to catch the beautiful butterflies I saw in my dreams." Rather nice! Maybe Lin can be said to have had the last laugh, as his book, errors and all, is now considered one of the most important documents for go history. Bill: Thanks, John. :-) That Lin was a weak player makes sense. My impression of a number of the openings shown on the site is that the play is weak and the style is generally heavy.

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Anonymous: Could some players please list the suggested strength for the problem collection listed here. This would be very great. Thank you very much in advance. John F. I had no part in compiling this list as it happens. I only answered a few queries from Harry, But I can tell you that generally the problems in the above list range from hard to very hard (5-dan plus), and in the case of Hatsuyoron to very, very, very, very hard (i.e. tough for pros). But every now and then a very easy problem will be found in some cases, which can create a misleading impression. The easiest is the Gokyo Shumyo. The above makes it look like a Chinese book, but it's Japanese, and it's the book that goes by the name of Kanazawa Tesuji Series elsewhere on SL. The Guanzipu problems are mostly a kind of endgame problem (a type I call encroachment problems - the task is to encroach as much as possible into the enemy territory. In each case you need to exercise great care in getting a version that is correct in terms of both starting position and solutions. In the main, Internet versions have many defects, partly because the originals are also defective. An edited modern printed version is much the best bet. There are quite a lot of other classic collections. If you tackle Gokyo Shumyo first you might find it sensible to move onto Gokyo Seimyo. Shikatsu Myoki and then Hatsuyoron you should leave until you are studying to be a pro. Imagist: Some of these problem sets can be found here.

tderz: This is the first time for me to hear about a Gokyo Seimyo. Does someone know the Hanzi/Kanji for it?

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