Xuanxuan Qijing

Xuánxuán Qíjīng (玄玄棋經, Gateway to All Marvels, Gengen Gokyo, 현현기경) is a classic, Chinese problem collection published in 1349 by Yan Defu and Yan Tianzhang; it is one of the most influential problem collections in go history.

The Chinese title could be translated literally as "mysterious weiqi classic". (玄 xuán mysterious; 棋 qí chess or chess-like game i.e. Go; 經 jīng classic/sacred book).

Table of contents Table of Contents of the Xuanxuan Qijing Sample Problems Online Versions Published Versions Reviews Notes and comments See also

Table of diagrams [Problem 1 | Xuanxuan Qijing Problem 1], White to play [Problem 118 | Xuanxuan Qijing Problem 118], Black to play [Problem 267 | Xuanxuan Qijing Problem 267], Black to play

The Xuánxuán Qíjīng traditionally consists of 347 problems. In Japan it is known as the Gengen Gokyo. Many editions and versions of the book have appeared since its first printing, sometimes varying in number of problems, problem order, solutions, 'revised' problems, and so on.

The Xuanxuan Qijing problems part is available on Sensei's Library here.

Table of Contents of the Xuanxuan Qijing

• 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

Problem 1, White to play  

Problem 118, Black to play  

Problem 267, Black to play  

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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.
• https://tsumego-hero.com/sets/view/163 - 347-problems with solutions.

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Published Versions

Year	Title	Annotator(s)	Language	Publisher	ISBN	Notes
1913	Gengen Gokyo	Kobayashi Kentaro	Japanese	Igo Zasshisha		Available at Japanese National Diet Library Digital Collection here
1935	Gengen Gokyo Shin Teihon	Hashimoto Utaro	Japanese	Seibundo Shinkosha
1956	Shinshaku Gengen Gokyo	Hashimoto Utaro	Japanese	Kansai Kiin
1974	Hyeonhyeon Gigyeong	Kim In	Korean	Hyeonhyeon-gak
1979	Gengen Gokyo	Hashimoto Utaro	Japanese	Sankaido	978-4381079688　(2004 ed.)	Reprinted in 1997, Revised in 2004
1980	Gengen Gokyo-shu	Go Seigen	Japanese	Heibonsha	4-582-80387-3 & 4-582-80390-3	2 volumes, boxed. Now available as on-demand paperbacks.
1987	Xuanxuan Qijing	Trans. Chen Xianhui Hashimoto Utaro	Chinese	Shijie Wenwu Chubanshe	89-333-0342-1 89-333-0341-3	Chinese translation of 1979 Hashimoto version.
1988	Xuanxuan Qijing, Xinjie	Wang Runan	Chinese	Renmin Tiyu Chubanshe	7-5009-0054-4	(top right picture)
1989	Gengen Gokyo	Takagi Shoichi	Japanese	Kyoikusha	4-315-51033-5 4-315-51034-3	2 volumes. Digest, only 140 problems.
1996	Xuanxuan Qijing	Lin Tianduo?	Chinese	Shanghai Wenhua Chubanshe	7-80511-757-8
1999	Iyagi Hyeonhyeon Gigyeong	Kwon Gyeong-eon?	Korean	Hanguk Giwon	89-7990-058-0
2000	Wan-yeok Wan-gyeol Hyeonhyeon Gigyeong	Yi Hae-beom?	Korean	Jeonwon Munhwasa	89-333-0342-1 89-333-0341-3
2005	Weiqi Shengjing: Xuanxuan Qijing, Zhenlong Qiju Pojie		Chinese	Tuanjie Press	7-80130-868-9
2012	The Gateway to All Marvels	John Fairbairn	English	Amazon Digital Services / SmartGo Books		Collected version from multiple sources. 466-problems and variants with solutions. Historical notes and translations.
2014	Baduk Classic : The Profound and Mysterious	ChoHyeYeon	English	BadukTV

Reviews

to be added

Notes and comments

• 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 Hashimoto. It is quite different from the original chinese version in the way it is organized.

See also

• The Discussion page.
• Xuanxuan Qijing Problems — All of the problems here on Sensei’s Library
• https://www.usgo.org/sites/default/files/bh_library/historyofgorules.pdf The History of Go Rules by Chen Zuyuan (2011, 13 page PDF) — References the Dunhuang Classic (c. 557-581), Wang You Qing Le Ji (Carefree and Innocent Pastime Collection, c. 1100) and the Xuanxuan Qi Jing (see above)