by Stan Ho Whenever I play Go, I can’t hear any noise except the sound of the contact of stones and board; I can’t see anything except white and black like constellations shining in the sky; I can’t feel anything except the intense pressure that overwhelms the atmosphere. Let me show you the magical power of Go. The game known in English as Go—Igo in Japanese, Weiqi in Chinese, Baduk in Korean—is not only more difficult and subtle than chess. It may also be the world’s oldest surviving game of pure mental skill. Devised in China at least 2500 years ago, it stirred enough interest by the time of the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) to inspire poets, philosophers, and strategic theorists. It is said that the board of Go represents the universe and the interactions between black and white stones imply that everything in the universe has its positive and negative sides. Stones can unite to become stronger while isolated stones might be captured or undergo “life and death” issues just like a reflection of human life. 8 reasons to play Go 1. Go is the simplest of games The Chinese term for Go is “surround chess,” if you directly translate it. Just like its name, the essence of Go is to surround more territory than your opponent. 2. Go is the most complex of all games There are 361 intersections on a Go board for displaying stones and all moves are possible at all times, adding even more to the complexity. Think about all the combinations it can generate. It is said that the possibilities of a Go game is 10 followed by more than 200 zeros. That’s why in the long history of Go, there are no two identical games. 3. Go is the most popular game in the world Although still rather obscure in the West, go is a popular game in Asia, especially in China, Japan, and Korea, where there are more than 100 million active players. Players can range in age from kindergarten children to old people with wrinkles all over their faces. When I pass the park near my home, there are always older people sitting on a boulder playing Go. 4. Go is about building, not destroying Most popular board games begin with a set position. On the contrary, Go begins with an empty board. Players seek to create strong, flexible structures by placing stones one after another. As you gain playing experience and have a deeper understanding of Go, stones can form meaningful and amazing patterns, just like letters and spaces can form a beautiful poem. 5. You can always find a place to fit in In Go, there is a ranking system, which not only shows how skillful you are but also provides protection for people who are not as well trained. In a Go game, the player who is ranked higher needs to take a handicap depending on the gap between rankings. In other words, the weaker player simply places several stones on the board to begin the game. The number of stones placed equals the difference in rank. Thus nearly any two players can have a mutually challenging game. In short, Go is a game in which you compete with yourself. 6. It’s easy to learn from mistakes "A stone laid is a stone played.“ Once a stone is placed on the board, it can’t be removed unless captured. Each game is a record of itself, and players can reflect on their past mistakes. Therefore, as in life, players have to live with their choices. But unlike life, players can learn from their mistakes and try to correct them in another game. 7. Ancient rituals impart important values Before we learn any skills of Go, a teacher usually talks about etiquette first. For thousands of years, many traditions have been passed down among Go players that allow us to express respect for their opponent, humility, and other important virtues. 8. Go is the oldest game still played in its original form When you place a stone on a Go board, you share the same experience of billions of people who have done exactly the same thing for thousands of years. Go probably originated in China, but no one really knows. 2500 years ago, Confucius advised his readers to avoid frivolous pastimes and to learn the virtues of this already ancient and venerable game. In Japan, the strongest players have been viewed as national heroes for centuries. Koreans were playing at least 1200 years ago, even before the Japanese. With the development of technology, playing Go on the internet has become a trend, speeding up the transmission of the game to nearly anywhere. I am looking forward to the day that wherever there are people, there is Go. Go is the ultimate mind sport that combines wisdom in a form of art. I am happy that I can seek happiness from Go and you should too.
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May 2024
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