The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-09-05

London llorid.
Tho Game of Hlio."
The game of eco ~ was invented by the
Chinese Emperor Shun or his Predecessor
about lG2O II. c., and fourisled, in China,
ftum about 900 u. C.. TO 400 A. d.
A proof that these dates are not thereby ira
ditional Is that Cliihcse works of the second
century before the Christian eta refer to the
game, comparing certain sceiies In human life
to Go. II is recorded that, on one occasion,
n Chinese Emperor. who was at war with his
nephew, proposed to settle the dispute by
game of Go, and that the offer was accepted.
One player of those old days is specially
mentioned. His memory was SO great that,
when game was finished, he could throw
down the board and replace all the pieces in
their original position This can he done by
many Japanese players at present, who think
nothing of the feat. II is frequently men,
toned by them, however, as n proof that
man has increased in memory and brain
power, although IL is probably due to more
constant practice. Chess is generally be-
licved to he the most ancient scientific game
in the world; hut II is much more modern
than Go. There is no evidence that modern
chess was played before A. d. 500. 1t is now
known that the chess in more ancient
times was played with dice, and was conse-
qucntly game of chance rather than skill.
A kioto monk named Sansha was the most
skillful player in Japan GOO years ago. He
was also the first to establish school where
the game was taught. When lyeyasu be-
came Shotgun, he established a Go academy,
with this monk as chief teacher and all the
celebrated players of the country became off
GERS of the school, with salaries paid by the
yny nt In oil, la 4,
lIonimbo. There were four other principal
teachers, the two most celebrated of whom
were lnouve and Yasui. These five before
their deaths each selected their best pupils,
who succeeded to their positions and salaries,
on condition that they also adopted the names
of their respective teachers.
The player who is now recognized as the
best is a gentleman named Murasse, residing
in Toxic. lIo belonged to the house of
Inouye, one of the hereditary players above
mentioned, hut having beaten the head of the
house at play, he set up a school for him
self. His supremacy seems likely to be dis
puted by young man named Nakagaws,
whose system of play is said to be very striking
aud ingenious. 1t is interesting to notice
that when leading player has met his supe-
rior, or when he feels his faculties and skill
growing weaker from old age or other causes,
he retires from 60 circles, and plays no more.
The remainder of his existence is said to he
very melancholy. His days and nights pre-
viously were devoted to the game, which he
is thus forced to abandon, and literally, the
light of his life has been distinguished. After
the Restoration, for some years, the interest
taken in Western matters caused Go to he
almost wholly neglected, but recently n wave
| of revival of the old game seems to be passing
| over the land, and it is again becoming popu
lar chiefly among the official classes. Al
the ministers play, Mr.. Okuma being credited
| with the most skill among them. In the
| army and navy, also. it il the constant
| amusement of both officers and men. Mr.
| Korschelt thinks that almost every operation
| of modern warfare can find counterpart il
Il game of Go: attacks, retreats, sieges, stra
tegic movements, are all represented. Coco
Go-players are also scarcer than good chess
players, and the game requires more stud,
and memory than chess. Japanese requir,
| three years hard work TO become fair play
ers, and all great players are gray-hairet
men.
| Go-board contains 3Gl squares-ninetcci
squares on each row. The pieces are PLACED
on the points where the lines cross eacl
other, white and black pieces being lait
down alternately. The object is TO combine
Il
to inclose within II chain as many vacan
points ms possible; the player having mos
points so Enclosed being the winner. TN
opponents pieces within such chain mr.
taken out, and placed i'm his field, while hi
chain, II he has completed one, may be sur
| rounded, not only outside but inside, an,
he removed completely in the same name
as isolated pieces. These are virtually tn
only rules of the game. As usual in man,
Chinese and Japanese books, analogics ar
sought to be established between the gam
and things Sin Heaven above, in the cart
beneath, and in the waters under the earth.
Thus there are 3G1 squares on the board
Taking one as starting point, for the unit
the beginning of all things, we have $50 r,
manning, and are there not 800 degrees in til
circle of the lleavcns2 The board has fu,l
quarters and the year four Seasons tlier
are ninety days in season, and ninet
points on quarter of the board. There ar
seventy-two points around the edge of til
board, and there are seventy two division
of the year; the pieces are black and whit,
so are day and night. A large literatur
exists on Go. The books generally contai
examples of good games, studies on gam,
between celebrated players, and problem
Just as in chess. In these latter the task
generally TO destroy an opponents chat
from the inside. A MONTH periodical
also published by Mr.. Murasse. He Assem-
bles leading players of his school once ever
month. Play commences early in the morn
ing, and sometimes n game lasts until III
following night, that is to say, thirty-si
hours. These games are then published |
the magazine with criticisms of the move
usually brief, and of the &c cdths,ird style Il
the editor himself. 1t was the custom
former times for pupils in the academy ,wle
, their course was finished, to travel alsut II
country, challenging celebrated players an
supporting themselves by teaching the gam
This mode of livelihood was common all
! among poets, fences, and other specialist
| Books containing the names Of all do celebr
ties were published, and the travelling playe
. coming To a town, knew at once with who
he could contend. There are at present abo
500 players of the lowest rank, the numb
, growing rapidly less az the rank becon
/ higher, until we reach the seventh viii,
, contains but one player, Mr.. Murasse. befo
. mentioned. The eighth and the ninth ran
, have been the highest, and there have on
| been nine persons who have attained the
| grades since they were first establishe
. These ranks are purely Japanese instit
tlon they are wholly unknown in Chin
but have been copied in Loochoo.-,idp
4 Mail.
- Mr.. HOucicaWIt on thc Stage.
: Perhaps he is seen most completely in |
I element ON the stage-not alone as an act,
l. | but AS alItlor innununr "A nv, ,nanau.r "a,