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Esthetics

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Aesthetics
    Keywords: Culture & History

The aesthetics of Go are almost as important as the play in some ways.

The harmonisation of the board and pieces, the materials used, etc., can be for some almost as important as the game (i.e. never use a yuki stone set on a cheap wooden board or don't use thin plastic stones on a table kaya board, etc.).

Also, as many a beginner's book points out, there is aesthetic harmony in the contrasts of wood and stones, line and circle, black and white. -- Tim Brent


The cover of "Basic Techniques of Go" shows a flower arrangement, a calligraphy scroll, tatami mats, and a Goban, thereby uniting some of the most important elements of Japanese esthetics.

With a properly matched Goban and stone set, it is impossible to lay a straight line of stones across the board without it bending in places. This accords with Japanese aesthetics, where for example in pottery if a cup is too perfect, the artisan will purposely introduce an imperfection.

Many a book will talk about how a play is "vulgar" ("zokusuji"). Often an atari will be called vulgar if it does not efficiently advance the line of play.

In the classic "Meijin" ("The Master of Go"), by Kawabata, there is considerable discussion about how the challenger's play was not esthetic.


See also Literature, Appreciating Famous Games, Bad Style, Playing Styles and Player Types, Professional Players' Go Styles, Bad Habits, Good Habits, Playing the First Move in the Upper Right Corner, Go Etiquette, Ukiyo-E, The Art of Resignation, Philosophy of Go.

Either spelling, esthetics or aesthetics, is generally acceptable.



This is a copy of the living page "Aesthetics" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2003 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.