When did Weiqi begin and how did it develop?

The splendid culture of the Chinese nation for 5,000 years, such as the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, has a long history and flows endlessly. Weiqi, the crystallization of this ancient civilization, is like a bright pearl, shining with beautiful colors.

As early as Zhang Hua's Natural History in Jin Dynasty, there were records of "Yao made Go teach children" and "Shun fools taught children, Bo made Go teach children". This shows that as early as 4000 years ago, there was a legend about Go. Of course, what Weiqi looked like at that time needs further study. The earliest and most reliable records of Go can be found in Zuo Zhuan. "? Uncle Wen Zi heard this and said, "Wow! Today, Zi Ning thinks you might as well play chess. Why not? I can't help it! " ? "It's about a worthies who want to abolish the monarch. It can be seen that Weiqi has been popular in the Central Plains of China at least in the Spring and Autumn Period.

There are different opinions about the explanation of the emergence of Go. Or as mentioned above: the emperor did it to educate fools; Or think that from the urgent war, the ancient tribal war, there must be a strategist, using black and white to show that the enemy and our sergeant will move, surrender, and simulate the battle, so there is a poem "a little watching, the law is to use troops"; Or do you think it originated from entertainment? The earlier chessboard had 17 vertical and horizontal lanes, totaling 289 lanes, with 150 pieces for white and black "(Yi Jing by Han Danchun [Wei]). Up to now, this seventeen-way Go is still popular in China, Tibet and Nepal, and it is called Tibetan chess. The game planning of Tibetan chess is also somewhat different from that of Go. Later, nineteen chessboards gradually replaced seventeen chessboards. This is probably due to the gradual improvement of chess skills, and players strive for the complexity and diversity of chess games, instead of "striving for the number of 36 1 quarter anniversary" as recorded in some ancient books, which is rigidly related to the solar calendar.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Warring States Period, Qin and Han Dynasties, Weiqi gradually spread and became quite popular. During the Three Kingdoms and the Jin Dynasty, Weiqi prevailed. Shen Yue of the Liang Dynasty said in the "Chess Preface": "There are many famous people in Han and Wei Dynasties, and the Jin and Song Dynasties are rich in soil, so they lose their thoughts and struggle for flow." It can be seen that Weiqi flourished at that time, and the masters came forth in large numbers. At that time, there were already works about Go.

In the Tang Dynasty, the national power was strong, and the rulers established an imperial edict system with chess as poetry, with chess players waiting for imperial edicts and chess fu. This official professional chess player is sometimes summoned by the emperor to play chess for entertainment, and sometimes the instructor is waiting to play chess.

Around the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Weiqi was introduced to Korea and Japan. Later, Japanese and Korean players visited China many times to exchange chess skills. Thirteen Chess Classics written by Zhang Zhun in Song Dynasty is a widely circulated book that systematically discusses chess skills. This book, which imitates Chapter 13 of Sun Tzu's Art of War, has a grand structure, exquisite reasoning and simple dialectical truth, which has a great influence on the theory and practice of Go in China. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, Weiqi developed rapidly. In addition to professional chess players, many literati are also keen on playing chess, leaving many precious historical materials and literary works.

In the Yuan Dynasty, Xuanxuan and Qi Jing, the masterpiece of Weiqi, appeared. The authors are Yan Defu and Yan Zhangtian. This book is divided into six volumes, based on etiquette, music, archery, royal art, calligraphy and mathematics. These include Zhang Zhun's Thirteen Qi Jing, Ban Gu's Zhi Yi, Liu Zhongfu's Seven Unique Works and other specialized theoretical works. Valuably, it is also included. In the Ming Dynasty, Weiqi activities were more extensive, and famous players were often found in historical books. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, famous national chess players were over 100 years old. They not only played chess with superb skills, but also wrote Guanzi Manual, Sanzi Manual and Zisi Manual, which had a great influence on later generations.

After entering the Qing Dynasty, Weiqi made epoch-making progress and reached the peak of ancient Weiqi in China. In the Qing dynasty, both the number of chess players and the level of chess skills were unprecedented. Huang Longshi and Xu Xingyou in the early Qing Dynasty were both famous players in Weiqi. Huang Longshi's chess moves are dense and cautious, but he always wins by surprise, from which most future chess players get inspiration. Xu Xingyou studies and works hard in Huang Longshi. It is said that he stayed at home for three years. After Xingyou reached the level of the second son, Long deliberately let the third son play, and the teachers and students played ten games of chess. In these ten games, the two sides competed with each other and tried their best, which is unprecedented. After ten games, Xingyou jumped to the left of the dragon and lion. And this ancient chess game called "blood and tears" is well known.

Fan Xiping and Shi Ding 'an, born in Kangxi period of Qing Dynasty, were also two peaks in the chess world. Both of them are from Haining, Zhejiang, and they are leading in chess. Fan and Shi have different chess styles. Xiping is quick-thinking, extremely talented, and has a broad and magical chess style, and is known as the "unpredictable dragon"; Dingan is rigorous and profound, subtle and profound, and operates within the rules and regulations. Known as "the old horse gallops without losing its pace". Fan Xiping and Shi Ding 'an's masterpiece Ten innings in Danghu has always been regarded as a treasure.

Looking at the ancient Weiqi in China, it has gone through a long process from its birth to its development and perfection. Many Go masters have emerged, accumulated rich junior high school experience and theoretical knowledge, and left a lot of valuable legacy. Comrade Chen Yi has said many times: "The national luck is declining, the chess game is also booming, the national luck is prosperous, and the chess game is also prosperous." From the late Qing Dynasty to before liberation, with the decline of national strength, China's Weiqi also fell behind, and the chess world appeared a scene of depression. Chen Zixian and Zhou were outstanding chess players in the late Qing Dynasty, and they were far behind Fan Xiping and Shi Dingan. When Wu Qingyuan emerged as a young man, China couldn't find anyone who could teach him success, forcing him to go to Japan to study chess hard. After that, he dominated Japanese chess for decades and became a brilliant star. To be fair, if Mr. Wu stayed at home, it would be difficult to reach such a high level with the level of chess at that time.

After the founding of New China, the country was stable and people lived and worked in peace and contentment. Under the care of the party and the people's government, Weiqi, an ancient art of competitive thinking, has been rejuvenated. Comrade Chen Yi, Vice Premier of the State Council, spoke highly of Go, a "China stunt", and actively advocated it. In the early 1950s, Weiqi competitions at all levels began to be included in the work agenda of sports committees at all levels, and competitions were held regularly. From 65438 to 0960, Sports Daily published editorials such as "advocating chess" and "actively organizing chess activities". The first special Weiqi publication Weiqi was published in Shanghai. Held many Chinese and Japanese Go competitions; The older generation of Go players (such as Liu Dihuai and Guo Tisheng). ) has been revitalized by the party and the government. Chess clubs have been established in major cities; The National Weiqi Association was established in 1962, with Li Menghua, deputy director of the State Sports Commission, as the chairman and Chen Yi as the honorary chairman. Go is on the right track The older generation of players strive to innovate, and the new generation of players emerge.

"The waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead". Since 1960s, a group of new forces, represented by young player Chen Zude, have risen rapidly and become the backbone and mainstream. Chen Zude's chess style is warm and vigorous, implicit and subtle, and his chess method is bold and rigorous. He won the national championships in 1964 and 1966. At the same time, Chen Zude grew up with Luo He, who was clear in thinking, profound in calculation, concise in writing style and good at logical reasoning. These outstanding young players carry on the past and forge ahead into the future, breaking the decades-long situation of "South Liu (Dihuai) and North Guo () dominating the world", creating a fresh and cautious modern chess style and laying a solid foundation for the rapid development of new China Weiqi. At that time, most of these young players were in their twenties, energetic, studious and promising. However, just as the chess world in China is thriving and improving greatly, the ten-year turmoil has begun, and the natural hijacking of Weiqi is inevitable. The project was cancelled, the competition was stopped, the professional team was dissolved, and the chess players were sent to rural factories. Except for a few people who insist on working alone and studying independently in their spare time, most people have no choice but to change careers, and their chess skills are deserted.

After the downfall of the Gang of Four, everything was prosperous. Comrade Fang Yi, Vice Premier of the State Council, became the honorary chairman of Weiqi Association after Mr. Chen. In the national development plan, the goal of maintaining the advanced level of Weiqi in the world has also been clearly put forward, and it is also the first time that Weiqi has been included in the national development plan since the founding of New China. The prosperity of the country in the new period has created a new generation of romantic figures. The younger generation of chess players, represented by Nie Weiping, showed their dazzling abilities. Nie Weiping, Liu, Ma successively won the championship. Nie Weiping, in particular, has won many championships in major competitions at home and abroad with its vigorous and broad chess style and perfect chess skills. Especially in 1985, he turned the tide and defeated three high-level Japanese players in one fell swoop, winning the final victory for the China team and making outstanding contributions.

The victory of the Sino-Japanese Weiqi competition greatly inspired people in Weiqi field and Weiqi lovers, and also inspired people all over the country to care about the sports cause of the motherland and strive for self-improvement. An unprecedented climax of Go has arrived. At present, in addition to the professional competitions held by the state, local and social circles also hold various competitions, such as "New Sports Cup", "National Handball Competition" and "Chen Yi Cup". Go competitions between college students and children have also been held. Many colleges and universities also offer Go elective courses. Many extracurricular activities of primary and secondary school students take Go as the main project. Young people regard Go not only as a hobby, but also as a sport to train their thinking and improve their intelligence. In recent years, young players such as Luo Xianhe and Chang Hao have shown amazing chess skills in the youth Go competition. There are successors to the cause of Go in China.