Zhang, a quiet Chinese student at a U.S. college, often felt invisible and out of place in the classic sports culture. His life altered when he discovered the Go Club, where his talent for the ancient game shone. Representing his school at the National Youth Go Championship, Zhang outplayed every opponent and brought home the trophy. His victory was celebrated across campus, earning him respect and recognition. In his award speech, Zhang shared his insight: “Go teaches you to balance offense and defense, preparing you to adapt to challenges—lessons that go beyond the board.”
Go, with a history of over 4,000 years, originated in East Asia and became profoundly rooted in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cultures. Over time, it spreads globally, captivating players with straightforward rules and deep strategic complexity. Today, Go unites people worldwide through its timeless appeal.
UW library records a rich collection of the ancient history of Go, including illustrations of historical Chinese figures playing the game, reflecting its profound history at the University of Washington. However, there are little to no records and artifacts related to the modern development of Go, highlighting a gap in the preservation of its more contemporary history.
For students, the Go game reflects the Collegial Ideal for its spirit of competition and collaboration, shared responsibility, and diversity. College is a place that embraces all kinds of possibilities. Even though an individual might not find physical sport suitable, there are always other options
to practice. By exploring diverse sports choices, players not only can win friendships and skills but also have a chance to get to know the history and spirit behind the sport. Go game symbolizes strategy and Asian civilization, demonstrating the collegial ideal through balance, respect, and thoughtful exchange, and building a harmonious and diverse community.
“I think Go teaches patience and planning ahead. You have to think about each move carefully, I need to think long-term and be patient with my goals which helps me in my college life too. It’s also about learning from mistakes, which is helpful.” said by one of our interviewee. This highlights how Go can teach important life lessons that are useful in college such as patience, planning ahead, and learning from mistakes. These skills helps Go players stay focused on long-term goals. It is inspiring to see how a traditional game like Go can offer such valuable skills beyond just playing.
Another Go player who’s been playing Go for over ten years said: “Go is a niche and hard game, and the way you think when playing Go helps you prepare for the upcoming challenges and situations because a Go player needs to balance their offense and defense, reflecting their adaptivity.” This game encourages patience and resilience, as each move can shift the momentum of the match, teaching players to remain composed and adaptable even in the face of uncertainty. These qualities are invaluable not only in Go but also in navigating life’s complexities and pursuing personal and professional growth.
Go as a table top sport provides a unique platform for students who may not resonate with traditional athletics to engage with the collegiate ideals of competition, community, and personal growth—an opportunity vividly illustrated through Zhang’s transformative journey.
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Stories From The Place of Sports in The University, 4th Edition Copyright © 2024 by Students of the Place of Sports In the University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
