Wizardry from the Stone Chamber (c. 1590): Museum of Go Theory Paperback – August 25, 2021

"Wizardry from the Stone Chamber" is the third book in John Fairbairn's Museum of Go Theory project. It can be regarded as the foundation book in the series, providing the benchmark from which the evolution of theory shown in other books can be considered to have begun. It is attributed to Xu Gu and was published, possibly without authorisation, around 1590 shortly after he died, that is in the late Ming period. As typical of most go books of that period it was an anthology made up largely of older material, which in itself makes it fascinating. We see, for example, evidence that sunjang baduk came from China, famous ancient games, a vast array of old openings and a large section of already treasured life & death problems. That will delight the antiquarian. But there is clearly also much contemporary material, making this an ideal book, a relatively large on, to understand how go theory took off soon after in the Qing period. Extensive notes have been added by the translator.The translator, John Fairbairn, is an orientalist and journalist, is a long established go author specialising in history. He has published major works on Go Seigen and various Edo players, notably Honinbo Shuei and the great rivals Honinbo Genjo and Yasui Chitoku. He has also produced a full exposition of the 1347 Chinese classic Xuanxuan Qijing. The present book is part of his attempt to map the evolution of go theory over the centuries, mainly through further Chinese classics of the Ming to Qing eras (roughly 1600 ~ 1900), in which games commentaries by the old masters in their own words will predominate. In line with the ethos behind this series, the Museum of Go Theory books also offer something of a 'medieval tour' in which the various masters and their milieu are brought to life, using above all their own words. Read more