[Retrospective] Where Is the Spirit of Go?
This episode is a rerun of a program from September 15, 2023. Chinese Go player Nie Weiping passed away on January 14, 2026. We dedicate this past episode to commemorating this Chinese "Go Sage." The stones are arranged in two opposing forces, black and white leading in parallel. Go was once a symbol of Eastern wisdom, and also the path of inquiry where the spirits of countless players remained undying. But by 2023, perhaps the most viral Go news was that professional 2-dan player Zhan Ying was awarded the title of Hupu Goddess of the Year. (Of course, there is nothing wrong with that!) Since the emergence of AlphaGo, Go has undergone a revolutionary transformation in both its tactics and public image. "Hearing of Chang'an is like watching a game of Go; a hundred years of worldly affairs bring unbearable sorrow." Fujisawa Hideyuki's famous saying, "I know only seven-tenths of the Way of Go," has been unfortunately proven true in the new era. Go is still Go, but can hand-to-hand play still be played as before? In this era of AI training, live streaming, abstract culture, walking dogs, and players discussing strategy on digital boards instead of observing silently, we cannot help but ask: Where is the spirit of Go?
Original Chinese title & description
【过番回顾】围棋棋魂安在哉？
本期为2023年9月15日往期节目。中国围棋棋士聂卫平于2026年1月14日遽归道山。谨以本期过往节目纪念这位中国“棋圣”。 参差分两势，玄素引双行。围棋既曾是东方智慧的象征，也是多少棋士精魂不灭的问道所在。但到了2023年，可能最出圈的一条围棋新闻，却是职业二段棋手战鹰老师荣获本年度虎扑女神的消息。（当然，这也并没有任何不好！） 围棋在AlphaGo出现之后，无论是其技战术，还是公众形象，都发生了革命性的转变。闻到长安似弈棋，百年世事不胜悲——藤泽秀行曾经的那句“围棋道百我知七”，在新时代被不幸言中。围棋还是那个围棋，手谈仍可那般手谈么？在这个AI训练、网络直播、抽象文化、学狗遛狗、棋手从观棋不语到在数字世界里纹枰论道的时代，我们不禁要问，围棋棋魂安在哉？
Participation credit “本期参与者”：沙青青（微信公众号：13号埋立地、小红书：Sha-13号埋立地）。
Original episode page ↗