Sustaining Qi

AnonymousBashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

4.0

Word count: 406 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

A Go term, also called "ka qi," "song qi," or "shen qi." When groups of both sides that have not yet made life surround each other, a move that increases one's own liberties during a capturing race (or in the course of forming a seki) is called "yan qi" (extending liberties).

Editor's review

“Yanqi” is a specific move term in Go fighting and dual-life positions, also called “kaqi,” “songqi,” or “shenqi.” This entry-style reading centers on a concise definition: when both sides’ unsettled stones surround each other, during a capturing race (or the formation of dual life), a move that increases one’s own liberties is called yanqi. Its value lies in isolating a technical concept easily overlooked in actual play and explaining it clearly, helping readers recognize when to extend their own liberties and when to tighten the opponent’s. For enthusiasts who already know the basic rules of Go and have begun studying capturing-race calculations, this kind of terminology entry can serve as a portable reference for filling gaps. It need not be read straight through; it is better used alongside specific shapes for repeated comparison, especially noting the difference in direction between yanqi and ordinary tightening moves, so as not to mistake extending one’s own liberties for extending the opponent’s.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Enthusiasts who know the basic rules of Go and have begun practicing capturing races
Self-learners who need to look up definitions and usage of Go terms
Teachers or coaches who need concise terminology explanations in Go instruction
Intermediate players interested in judging dual-life and capturing-race positions

Not a good fit for

Complete beginners with no knowledge of Go rules or the concept of liberties
Readers expecting a systematic Go course or full-game commentary
People who want only Go cultural stories rather than technical terms

Reading tips

Review the basic definitions of “liberties” and “capturing race” first, then read the yanqi entry for smoother understanding.
Set up unsettled shapes on the board while reading and play a yanqi move to verify the effect.
Memorize yanqi alongside similar terms such as tightening liberties and extending liberties to avoid confusion in play.
When encountering game records with dual-life positions, return to this definition and check whether you can identify the timing for yanqi.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
延气

FAQ

What is the difference between yanqi and ordinary extending of liberties?

Yanqi specifically refers to a move that increases one’s own liberties when both sides’ unsettled stones surround each other during a capturing race or the formation of dual life, emphasizing the tactical purpose in a capturing-race context. Ordinary extending of liberties broadly refers to any move that increases a stone group’s liberties and does not necessarily occur in a capturing race or dual-life position, so its scope is wider.

Why is yanqi also called “kaqi” or “songqi”?

These are alternative names for the same concept used in different contexts or by different players’ habits. “Kaqi,” “songqi,” and “shenqi” all point to moves that adjust liberties during a capturing race to gain a favorable liberty relationship; the differences in name mainly come from regional usage, while the substance is the same tactical action.

Do beginners need to specifically memorize the term yanqi?

If you have just started learning the rules, there is no need to rush to memorize terms. It is more appropriate to learn the definition and usage of yanqi when you begin practicing capturing races and encounter dual-life positions. Terms are tools for judging shapes; memorizing them together with specific shapes is more effective than reciting definitions in isolation.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.