From: C A Steadman <angus <at> HALCYON <dot> COM>
Date: 9 apr 1997
Subject: 1st english shogi book, for sale

Date: Sat, 05 Apr 1997 15:16:13 -0800
From: angus <at> +halcyon <dot> com (C. A. Steadman)
To: angus <at> halcyon <dot> com
Subject: Book for sale
Newsgroups: rec.games.go,rec.games.chinese-chess

(A copy of this message has also been posted to the following newsgroups:
rec.games.go, rec.games.chinese-chess)

In 1904  a brilliant if odd man was inspired by the "little Japanese of the
small little island Empire (which) are contesting with the gigantic and
most puisant Russian Autocrat" to teach "sho-ngi," "chong-kie," and "I-
go," as he says:

"The writer is wholly convinced that if any one would a little study the
easy movements of the pieces of this fascinating chess war, he will,
without doubt, understand how the brain is easily improved and his nerves
will be tempered and hardened; and the author fully hopes that his mental
faculty, brightened, sharpened and advanced by maneuvers, tactics,
diplomacy, strategy of wise men and generals on minimized battlefields
on a small board upon a table - the maps of real warfares or struggles -
would surely contribute one of the greatest shares for the everlasting
promotion of the GREATEST REPUBLIC, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
the FIRST in peace, and FIRST in the hearts of all nations, and for its
supremacy to oversee and direct the whole world for the sake of SUBLIME
HUMANITY."

"Japanese Chess (sho-ngi).  The Science and Art of War or Struggle
Philosophically Treated.  Chinese Chess (Chong-kie) and I-go"
by Cho-Yo (Eurasiamerica/New York: The Press Club of Chicago, 1905; 242
pages).

This wonderful book is a fascinating journey into another time, when
people spoke an ornate language filled with invented fantasticisms, words
like "chessology" which is a science that comprehends go:

"The greatest aim of Chessology is to seek the absolute peace and
happiness in the domain of all struggles of the self-interested human
aggrandisement of things, as "to return violence (brute force) for violence
is wrong."- (Kazan), "Bo-wo motte Bo-ni Koru, Kore Hi nari" (Chinese
sage's in Japanese), and lastly to secure that same peace even in the
struggle of peace itself versus struggles: "The soft conquers well the
hard."- (Kazan), "Ju yok Ko-wo seisu" (Chinese sage's in Japanese)..."

Anyway, only 999 copies of this strange book were printed, and I bought
one for $200 I can't afford, so I am offering it via auction here.  I will
post the top offer in two weeks, accept two more weeks of bids before
selling it in one month  (May 3rd) to the highest bidder.

Please make bids in US dollars to angus <at> halcyon <dot> com, and be prepared to
add postage if you are not in the USA.

Thanks,

angus (angus <at> halcyon <dot> com)


"Speaking now with the irresponsible imbecility of a private individual
and not with the profundity of a professional advisor..."

Charles Dickens