Waka (poetry)

Waka (和歌 means literally "Japanese poem")

Important Facts:

• Also referred to as Yamato uta.
• Classical Japanese verse genre.
• The term comes from the Heian period.
• The term differentiates it from kanshi (poetry written in Chinese by Japanese poets).
• Instead of lines, waka has the unit (連) and the phrase (句).
• When translated into other languages, the units or phrases may be turned into lines.

Forms of Waka:

• Bussokusekika
• Chōka
• Katauta
• Sedōka
• Tanka

Tags: Bussokusekika - Chōka - Japanese Poem - Katauta - Poetry - Sedōka - Tanka - Waka
Posted by ALCHEssMIST - Alchemipedia - Cetacographer - Nirvana - Tags alliance.

Go (Game)

Strategically complex board game for two players.

Other names:

• Baduk (Korean).
• Igo (Japanese),
• Wei ch'i / Weiqi (Chinese)

Game description:

• Played with 2 players.
• Uses a grid of 19x19 lines.
• Players alternately place black and white stones on the intersections of the grid.
• Main object is to control more territory on the board than your opponent.
• A stone or group of stones can be captured if they are completely surrounded by stones of the opposing colour.

Game history:

• Appears to have originated in ancient China over 2,500 years ago.
• Several legends to it's origin.
• One legend is that Chinese Emperor Yao, either himself or his counselor Shun, designed the game for his son Danzhu to teach intellectual discipline.
• Also possible the game may have started as a type of crude military map used by generals and warlords to plan campaigns.
• Already very popular by 3rd century BC (referenced by Confucius).
• The early game may have been played on a 17x17 grid (archeological evidence).

Liu Bang

Liu Bang also known posthumously as Emperor Gao.

Background information:

• First Emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty.
• Ruler of China from 202 BC -195 BC.
• One of the few dynasty founders who came from the peasant class (Zhu Yuanzhang is the other notable example).
• Prior to becoming Emperor, he was called Duke of Pei (沛公) - from his birthplace.

Family information:

• Father - Liu Zhijia
• Mother - Wang Hanshi (王含始)
• Wife - Empress Lü Zhi (mother of Emperor Hui & Princess Luyuan)
• Concubines - Consort Cao (mother of Prince Fei), Consort Qi (mother of Prince Ruyi), Consort Zhang, Consort Wei, Consort Bo (mother of Emperor Wen), Consort Zhao (mother of Prince Chang)
• Children - Liu Fei, Prince Daohui of Qi, Liu Ying, Liu Jian, Liu Ruyi, Liu Heng, Liu Hui, Liu You, Liu Chang.
  
• Grandchildren - Liu Xiang, Liu Zhang, Liu Xingju, Liu Qi

Early life:

• Born in Pei, to a peasant farming family.
• Served as a patrol officer in Pei County as a young adult.
• Became a rebel leader - he lead a band of prisoners after earning their respect by killing a powerful cobra which had killed many of their escaping colleagues.

Xi Han Dynasty 西汉

Xi Han Dynasty 西汉(西漢 206 B.C. - 8 A.D.)

Important facts:

• Founded by the rebel peasant leader Liu Bang.
• Preceded by the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE)
• Succeeded by the Three Kingdoms (220–265 CE).
• Was interrupted for ~14 years by the Xin Dynasty (9–23 CE).
• The interruption separates the Han Dynasty into two periods: the Western Han (202 BCE–9 CE) and Eastern Han (25–220 CE) periods.

The Han Dynasty was known for:

• Chinese cultural consolidation
• Economic prosperity
• Political experimentation
• Technological advances
• Territorial expansion

Dan Zhu (丹朱)

Important facts:

• Father - Emperor Yao Di (Tang Yao).
• Mother - concubine San Yi.
• Legend is that Emperor Yao (2357-2255 B.C.) invented Go (Weiqi) to enlighten his low intelligence son Dan Zhu.
• Dan Zhu spent most his time playing Go (Weiqi).
• Emperor Yao believed he was not suitable for anything other than Go (Weiqi).
• Dan Zhu was exiled to present day Zhucheng in Shandong by his father.