Xuanxuan Qijing
Xuánxuán Qíjīng (玄玄棋經) (Gateway to All Marvels) is a classic, Chinese problem collection published in 1349 by Yan Defu and Yan Tianzhang. It consists of 347-problems. It is one of the most influential problem collections in go history. In Japan it is well-known as the Gengen Gokyo. Many editions and versions of the book have appeared since it's first printing, sometimes varying in problem order, solution, 'revised' problems, and so on.
The Xuanxuan Qijing is available on Sensei's Library here.
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 - 13 Articles About Go
- Chapter 2 - Playing Techniques in Detail
- Chapter 3 - Joseki and Actual Games
- Part 1: Joseki
- Part 2: Actual Games Records
- Chapter 4 - The Zhenlong Go Problems
- Section 1: Corners
- Section 2: Sides
- Section 3: Center
Sample Problems
Online Versions
- SL's Xuanxuan Qijing Problems - 347-problems with partial solutions.
-
tsumego.tasuki.org - PDF, 347-problems with no solutions.
-
http://u-go.net
zip or
gz file - SGFs, 347-problems with solutions.
- John Fairbairn's translated version for the Amazon Kindle
here - English ebook, 466-problems with solutions, problem variants, historical notes, anecdotes.
Print Versions
- Yellow Mountain Imports
here - 20 USD, 226-problems with solutions, ISBN: 9787530848593.
Reviews
Notes
- As noted in an old GoDiscussion thread, Kobayashi Chizu, 5d recommended that everyone should do the Xuanxuan Qijing, giving the opinion that it was the easiest of the classic problem collections. Weaker players can also try for a bit, and then look at the solution -- noticing new motifs. She says that it is a lot about "feeling" & vital points.
- tchan001:The original 1349 Chinese version is composed of 6 parts 禮, 樂, 射, 御, 書, 數.
- The version which seems to be based on the ancient Chinese edition is the Xuanxuan Qijing ISBN 7-80511-757-8 from the Chinese Weiqi Ancient Manuals Big Series.
- The earliest Japanese version is the Kan'ei (寛永) version (1624-43) but this edition is said to be more complex than the original Chinese edition as if revised.
- In 1753, Kawakita Meihei produced a version called "Explanation of the Gengen Gokyou in Proverbs" splitting the Kan'ei version in three sections for three scrolls.
- The Hashimoto Utaro version seems to be a major re-edit of the Japanese version with selection and explanation by Utaro. It is quite different from the original chinese version in the way it is organized.
- Discussion page.