China

China can mean 1) the general area occupied by past Chinese dynasties, or 2) the current People's Republic of China established in 1949.

Table of contents Classical China Players Wu Qingyuan (Go Seigen) Modern China Organization Players See also External Links

Classical China

China is considered the birthplace of Go, circa 1500 BCE (date and place disputed - it might be Tibet. See Go History). At least, there is evidence in China of Go equipment from over 2000 years ago (found in Imperial tombs) with 17x17 board - 19x19 board was introduced around the 6th century. The game started with four stones placed at star points, as shown in the Chinese classical opening.

From China, Go spread to Korea and then to Japan.

Players

• guoshou — general title for the strongest player of the time
• Huang Longshi
• Fan Xiping and Shi Ding'an

In addition, many go books and problem collections were compiled - see Chinese Ancient Books and Classical Go Problem Books.

Wu Qingyuan (Go Seigen)

The game suffered a decline in China in the 19th and 20th centuries. In early 20th century, the modern free opening was introduced from Japan. Wu Qingyuan (Go Seigen) went to Japan in 1928 and achieved overwhelming results there in the 1940s and 50s.

Modern China

After the end of World War II, two ideologically different factions restarted the Chinese Civil War. The communists under Mao prevailed and established the People's Republic of China in 1949. For the other side of the Civil War, the Republic of China, see Taiwan.

During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) there were only 30 government sponsored professional players. In the quarter century since Mao, the game has come back in a massive way. In 1982, the current professional system of China was established. At this time, Chinese pros are as strong as their Korean and Japanese counterparts.

Organization

Chinese Go Association is under the umbrella organization for table games, Zhongguo Qiyuan.

Professional tournaments and Obsolete titles pages have sections on tournaments held in China, international and domestic.

Players

• Chen Zude and Wu Songsheng, given 9 dan ranks as soon as China gave them out in 1982.
• Nie Weiping — “Iron Goalkeeper” in Japan-China Super Go
• Liu Xiaoguang
• Rui Naiwei — was the best female player in the world for long years
• Ma Xiaochun
• Yu Bin
• Chang Hao
• Kong Jie
• Gu Li
• Chen Yaoye
• Ke Jie
• List of Chinese Professionals

See also

• Chinese rules
• Yunzi — half flat stones produced in Yunnan
• Chinese Go Books
• Chinese Go Terms

External Links

• Go History
• Chinese Culture
• Chinese History
• Travel information at Wikivoyage