Yi Qiu

Yi Qiu (Chinese: 弈秋; pinyin: Yì Qiū; Wade–Giles: I Ch'iu) was a Chinese weiqi (go) grandmaster active during the early Warring States period, described as one of the best in his era. He was the first recorded weiqi player in history, having been mentioned in an anecdote from the ca. 300 BC text Mencius.

Yi Qiu
Born
State of Qi (modern Shandong, China)
Known forFirst recorded weiqi (go) player

Biography

Yi Qiu was a native of the state of Qi, and lived during the start of the Warring States period (475–221 BC). Originally named Qiu (his surname is unknown), he was so brilliant at weiqi − it was said that nobody had ever defeated him − that the honorific prefix of Yi (弈, an ancient term for Weiqi) was added to his name. He was also lauded as the "finest Yi player of the whole state" (通国之善弈者); Weiqi historians have given him the honorary title of "Guoshou".[1] Given his tremendous skills, scores of weiqi enthusiasts wished to become Yi Qiu's proteges, and he was most obliging to take in disciples, given his "benevolent" character.[2]

An anecdote titled "Two Students Learn Weiqi" (二子學弈), collected in the ca. 300 BC philosophical book Mencius, revolves around Yi Qiu and his two disciples, whose attitudes were in stark contrast with one another.[3] The first student was easily distracted, whereas the other was focused and diligent in studying weiqi. Consequently, the former found no success whereas the latter excelled in the game. Mencius used this tale to expound that even a simple game like Weiqi demands one's full attention.[4] This is also the earliest known historical reference to weiqi, making Yi Qiu the first recorded weiqi player in history.[5][6][7]

See also
  •  China portal

References
  1. Wang, Xinlong (2013). 中华美德 [Chinese virtues] (in Chinese). 1. Green Apple Publishing. p. 176. GGKEY:KZNGUYK80WG.
  2. 大学 [Great Learning]. Green Apple Publishing. 2013. p. 47. GGKEY:7TYB6QABRF2.
  3. Mencius. "Gaozi I". Mencius (in Chinese and English). Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  4. Sima Zhi (2014). 孟子新解 (in Chinese). 華志文化. p. 278. GGKEY:KWUBFK9L7S9.
  5. China Books & Periodicals (1986). Sports and Games in Ancient China. New World Press. p. 60. ISBN 9780835115346.
  6. Buzan, Tony; Keene, Raymond (2005). Buzan's book of mental world records. Hassocks: D & B. p. 106. ISBN 978-1904468172. Yi Qiu was the first named go player in literature, being mentioned by Mencius in the 4th century
  7. "A Story about Go Learning". Chinese Ministry of Culture. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
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