In order to better do a good job in the protection, inheritance and promotion of Tibetan chess, enrich people's spare time life, and meet the needs of the public to learn Tibetan chess, on August 17, the 2023 Snowton Festival Tibetan Chess popularization and performance activity hosted by the Lhasa Municipal People's Government and co-organized by the Tibet Autonomous Region Tibetan Chess Association, Lhasa Municipal Sports Bureau and Lhasa Mass Culture and Sports Center was held in Lhasa Mass Culture and Sports Center.
The picture shows the scene of the Tibetan chess match Photo: Deji Dolma
As the essence of the traditional culture of the Tibetan people, Tibetan chess used to be an indispensable part of the historical and cultural life of the Tibetan people, with a prominent status, rich variety, and both competitive and interesting. The purpose of this activity is to experience the unique charm of Tibetan chess culture and enrich the cultural life of the masses. According to the "Rules for Tibetan Xiangqi Competition" compiled by Ngawang Bienpa, first vice chairman of the Tibetan Autonomous Region Tibetan Chess Association and Tibetan chess expert at the Tibet University for the Elderly, 80 students from Tibetan chess interest classes in various schools were selected to participate in Tibetan chess tournaments and perform Tibetan chess categories such as Tibetan Jiuqi, Mimang, and a series of kings and ministers' chess, so as to further publicize, popularize, and popularize Tibetan chess cultural knowledge and meet the public's needs for learning Tibetan chess.
The picture shows Ngawang Bienba introducing the relevant situation to the guests at the scene Photo: Deji Dolma
"Learning Tibetan chess, playing Tibetan chess, and inheriting Tibetan chess culture is an advanced path for Tibetan chess lovers. Today's event is divided into offline competitive competitions and performances, and there are also online competitions between Lhasa players and representatives of teachers and students from Minzu University of China, Chongqing University of Technology, and Nagquru County. Ngawang Bienba said that through the combination of online and offline, the aim is to continuously increase the popularity of Tibetan chess.
The picture shows the contestants playing online Photo: Deji Dolma
The event site is divided into competition area and performance area. The competition adopts a single-elimination system, and the contestants wear national costumes and compete in teams of two. At the performance site, representatives of various units, students and parents performed Tibetan 14-way long chess, 11-way Mimang, 5-way and 14-way central chess, a series of king's minister chess, oxhorn chess, sunshine Lhasa chess, I am undefeated chess, dog chasing deer chess on bull horns, etc., and the little Tibetan chess teacher taught parents how to play Tibetan chess, draw a chess board, paint a black and white chess board and change color chessboard, etc., the activities were rich and interesting.
At the event, parents watched their children compete from afar. Lacao, the mother of 11-year-old contestant Ngawang Sangye, said: "Today my husband and I specially brought our son to participate in the Tibetan chess competition, won a match, and performed well. In our free time, we will play Tibetan chess at home to strengthen the emotional communication between parents and children, which can also relax everyone's spirit and reduce stress. ”
In recent years, with the strong support of the relevant departments of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the Tibetan Chess Association of the Tibet Autonomous Region and teachers who attach importance to the protection of Tibetan chess culture have vigorously promoted Tibetan chess into schools in combination with the requirements of the integration of sports and education, so that the excellent traditional culture of Tibetan chess can take root and germinate among the vast number of young people, and be sustainably inherited and protected.
The picture shows the little Tibetan chess teacher teaching parents how to play Tibetan chess and draw the chess board Photo: Deji Dolma
"I have been learning Tibetan chess for more than four years, so far I have basically mastered all the games, and I have participated in many competitions, and it is basically no problem to enter the top 12 today." Tashi Nyima, who is just about to enter the first year of junior high school this year, said confidently, "Tibetan chess as an excellent traditional culture of our own people, we must better inherit and carry forward, this year I was admitted to Shaoxing Keqiao District Tibetan Nationalities Middle School, I want to set up a Tibetan chess interest class there, so that more people can understand Tibetan chess and like Tibetan chess." (China Tibet Network reporter/Deji Dolma)