Xuanxuan Qijing

    Keywords: Problem, Culture & History, Books & Publications

Chinese: simplified: 玄玄棋经; / traditional: 玄玄棋經 (Xuánxuán Qíjīng)
Japanese: 玄玄碁経; (Gengen Gokyō)
Korean: 현현기경 (RR?: Hyeon hyeon gi gyeong; M-R: Hyŏn hyŏn ki kyŏng)

Xuánxuán Qíjīng (玄玄棋經) (Gateway to All Marvels) is a classic Chinese problem collection consisting of 347-problems, known in Japanese as Gengen Gokyo.

Published 1349 [20], authors Yan Defu and Yan Tianzhang.

Per Kobayashi Chizu everyone should do the Gengen Gokyo (Xuánxuán Qíjīng), the easiest of the classical collections. Even weaker players should do Gengen Gokyo; they can try for a bit and then look at the solution. It's good to see new motifs. Also, Gengen Gokyo is a lot about "feeling". It's important to get a feeling for vital points. (as [ext] noted at GoDiscussions)

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 Problem (problem 118)

[Diagram]

典琴沽洒 Black to play


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 [ext] 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.


A translation and compilation of Xuan Xuan Qijing has been published as an Amazon Kindle e-book by John Fairbairn as "The Gateway to All Marvels".


Links to online versions of Xuánxuán Qíjīng

GenGen? Gokyo Online (incomplete I think): [ext] http://www.scribd.com/doc/20730816/GenGen-Gokyo

Malcolm Both of these are great! One can print out one page at a time, and take it with you when commuting, for city-dwelling wage slaves like myself.

The sgf file is a very useful resource. However it mostly only gives the main line of the solution. This leaves a lot of work for the reader in some cases. [1] For instance, in problem number 78 the sgf gives a variation where Black makes unconditional life. It seems to me there also is a line in which White makes a (very risky) ko. White may prefer this solution in some cases. More details here.

[1] tderz: only gives the main line of the solution. This leaves a lot of work for the reader in some cases. Malcom, this is standard in TsumeGo! You see a tip of an iceberg (the solution) and the 89% below is very important. Malcolm: Is it standard? I have a japanese book of Dan-level tsumego, and each problem gets three solution diagrams (solution, variation, mistake). Some of the harder ones get more. I think it's nice to have lots of detail in solutions - it really can help.

Links to print versions of Xuánxuán Qíjīng

http://www.books88.com/Books_Pic/200511/7801308689.jpg Available at Yellow Mountain Imports [ext] http://www.ymimports.com/p-64-gateway-to-all-marvels-xuanxuan-qijing.aspx

Discussion

See: /discussion


[20] Defu & Tianzhang & Fairbairn , Yan & Yan & Fairbairn. Xuan Xuan Qijing (The Classic of the Mystery of the Mysterious). Translated from original chinese to GoGoD CD Database., 1349 & 2005.

is this: [ext] http://www.scribd.com/doc/7236392/ gengen gokyo?

No, it is the Taiwanese edition of Cho Chikun's Dictionary of Life and Death, Volume Two.


There seems to be a problem with some of the tsumego:
I use the pdf on tasuki for the numbering of the problems.

[Diagram]

number 2 w to play

-first number 2, white should clamp at a but what if black simply connects at c... (There is a similar problem in Cho Chikun's advanced life and death problems (number 1) but white's clamp at a and black's descent at b are already exchanged thus the variation where black connects at c is no longer possible, white 1 cuts at c immediately. I also found a similar problem on goproblems.com but there was an extra white stone on the outside so if black connects at c white connects to the outside)

[Diagram]

number 121 w to play

-second number 121, it states white to play but there is no possible way to kill black. white should play elsewhere (if he plays locally he only loses ko threats) and if black should play he should play away because he's already alive. (white's attempt to kill : a-b-c-d-c-e-a-square and black lives)

[Diagram]

number 248 w to play

-third number 248, it states white to play but white dies anyway...

 -- Minsc (around 1d KGS)

248: white can escape, similar to a in number 2. XuanxuanQijingProblem121 gives the best solution for 121, whether or not it is convincing as a problem. - Slarty

248: white cannot escape. see XuanxuanQijingProblem248/Solution (just found this page).
248: Please do not say white cannot escape just because you can't read it out on your own. I fixed the solution on the SL page. - Koffein?

121: white gets around 3 points sente... but loses ko threats

 -- Minsc

Quote from this page: "Xuanxuan Qijing Problems (as always with or without attempts and solution by the SL deshis)". I'm surprised you don't doubt that particular "solution" as much as you doubt the problems. If you still say white cannot escape, one of us has misread. - Slarty


This is a copy of the living page "Xuanxuan Qijing" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2013 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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