Go (board game)

Go is a strategic, two-player board game originating in ancient China between 2000 BC and 200 BC.

Go in popular culture

Go has been mentioned in many novels and short stories published in the Orient, and occasionally turns up in Western media as well. The game of Go plays a part in the American TV miniseries, Wild Palms which references a piece of computer technology called a "Go chip." Go figures prominently in the introduction of Nikita to the mysterious character of Jurgen during an important character arc in the television series La Femme Nikita. The game also appeared in an episode of ' entitled "The Cogenitor" in which it was revealed that Charles Tucker plays the game. In another Gene Roddenberry show, Andromeda, Dylan Hunt and Gaheris Rhade both play a futuristic version of the game, apparently on three boards at once. During episode 15 of season 3 of the television show 24, several scenes took place in an underground Chinese go club uncharacteristically populated by beautiful women. The characters even called it a "go club."

Related Topics:
American - Miniseries - Wild Palms - Nikita - Charles Tucker - Gene Roddenberry - Andromeda - 24

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Hikaru no Go is a manga and anime series, in which a boy is taught to play Go by the spirit of an ancient Go player. At the end of each episode in the original anime, there is a short segment of approximately three minutes where a simple concept of Go is taught. Through the first few episodes, a new player can be taught the concepts of the game in a very simple and easy to understand format. This segment appears to be mainly geared towards children.

Related Topics:
Hikaru no Go - Manga - Anime

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In 1951, Nobel Prize-winning author Yasunari Kawabata published The Master of Go, a short novel based upon an epic game that took place over the course of several months in 1938. An English translation appeared in 1972, around the time of Kawabata's death. Go also features (as "Wei-ch'i") as a favourite pastime of and philosophical inspiration for the archvillan Howard Devore in the Chung Kuo novels by David Wingrove.

Related Topics:
1951 - Nobel Prize - Yasunari Kawabata - The Master of Go - 1938 - 1972 - Chung Kuo - David Wingrove

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Go is featured in the cold war thriller, "Shibumi" by Trevanian. The central character spends his adolescence studying the game under a master, and the major chapters of the book reflect Go strategies.

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One popular Chinese/Japanese movie is Mikan no taikyoku (1982) aka The Go Masters. The movie depicts the time period when the Japanese army invaded China. The story begins when a Japanese Army Captain forces a famous Chinese Go player to play at a Go match. Due to resentment of the invasion, the Chinese player cuts off the finger that is used to hold Go stones. The story ends at a post-war time, where both the Japanese Captain and the Chinese Go player meet and play a peaceful game.

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Shan Sa, a Chinese writer who lives in France, wrote La Joueuse de Go, where a Chinese girl plays go with a Japanese soldier and wins, although they are both extremely strong players.

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Go was depicted in the films Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison, A Beautiful Mind, Pi, Restless and Hero among many others.

Related Topics:
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison - A Beautiful Mind - Pi - Restless - Hero

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See the Internet Go Filmography for an extensive list.

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The book The Way of Go by Troy Anderson likens the game to a rosetta stone for understanding the underpinnings of strategy, especially for business.

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