Cultural tips

Weiqi and Xiangqi

Weiqi with a history of more than 3,000 years, originated in China. Round about 500 A.D., it was introduced into Japan. There are nineteen lines respectively in length and breadth which constitues 361 crossings on the chessboard. Weiqi has 181 chessmen and 180 white ones. Two person play chess. At the end of the game, the person who occupies more dots wins. Skills, strategy and resistence are required in playing Weiqi. The rules are simple and clear, but there are various ways to play. It takes your more time to play Weiqi than to play Xiangqi. Generally speaking it may cost you an hour or two to play a game of chess.

Chinese Chess, known as "Elephant Chess" or "Xiangqi", is an ancient game. The chessman are divided into following seven types: 将(jiàng, King or General), 士(shì, Mandarins), 象(xiàng, Elephants), 马(mǎ, Knights), 车(chē, Rooks), 炮(pào, Cannons), 兵(bīng, Pawns). The game board consists of two sides: the "northern territory" (typically using blue pieces) and the "southern territory" (using red), separated by a space called "the river". Each territory contains a "king's palace", and the objective it to capture your opponent's king, while simultaneously protecting your own king.

In Chinese culture, there are many idioms related to chess. For instance, 当局者迷, 旁观者清(dāng jú zhě mí, páng guān zhě qīng; the spectators see the chess game better than the players; the outsider sees things more clearly than one involved.), 举棋不定(jǔ qí bú dìng, unable to make up one's mind), 棋逢对手(qí féng duì shǒu, to meet one's match in a game of chess; diamond cut diamond), etc.

Calligraphy, Four Treasures of the Study

Chinese calligraphy (Brush calligraphy) is a kind of excellent traditional art. By controlling the concentration of ink, the thickness and absorbability of the paper, and the flexibility of the brush, the artist is free to produce an infinite variety of styles and forms. With a history of more 3,000 years from Yin-shang, Chinese calligraphy not only has broad practical value, it also have strong aesthetic value. Regarded as the most abstract and sublime form of art in Chinese culture, calligraphy is often thought to be most revealing of one's personality.

Traditionally the "four treasures of the study" are a brush pen, an inkstick, paper, and an inkstone because they are indispensable to any traditional Chinese scholar. Only through, these four tools can the Chinese painter or calligrapher create the beauty of Chinese art. As a result, much importance has been attached to the "four treasures of the study".

(1) Brush. The brush pens are classified by the type of hair used: goat hair, rabbit hair, and wolf hair. Wolf hair brushes are actually made from weasel hair. Goat hair brushes are soft, flexible, and absorbent. People in Spring and Autumn Period could already make brush pen.

(2) Ink stick. The ink stick is made from a mixture of soot and resin, molded into stick form. The three types of soot most commonly used pine, oil, and lacquer soot. A good inkstick is finely grained and has an even and smooth texture. It is firm and not sticky. It is pure, solid black in color.

(3) Paper. Paper is one of the four great inventions of China. Ever since Tang and Song dynasties, xuan paper has become reputable art paper for painting and writing. Xuan Paper are famous for their special features such as pliable but strong, kneading and folding no damage, white as jade, clear vein changeable lingering charm of Chinese ink, absorb ink sufficiently and the clear colour of ink. The paper can prove rot or moth-eaten. Its life can be a thousand years.

(4) Inkstone. To use the traditional inkstick, an inkstone is required. As the name suggests, most inkstones are made of stone. Now it has a history of 5,000 year. From Han dynasty inkstick has been listed in the traditional art of painting.