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In Beijing in October 1959, the autumn was crisp. In the Great Hall of the People, a unique meeting is underway. Vice Premier Chen Yi, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, is having a warm conversation with Kenzo Matsumura, a veteran of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan. Although the two met for the first time, they seemed to be old friends for many years, and the topic of Go was endless. This seemingly ordinary meeting concealed a mystery and laid the groundwork for the thawing of Sino-Japanese relations.
【Chen Yi's Chess Fate】
Chen Yi's fate with Go began when he was young. In 1921, 20-year-old Chen Yi was working and studying in France. At that time, he was in the prime of his life, and he was full of enthusiasm and wanted to do something for the motherland. But who would have thought that because he participated in a patriotic movement, he would be forcibly repatriated back to China by the Chinese and French governments.
On October 13, Chen Yi and more than 100 other classmates were escorted aboard the ship "Portega". The conditions on the ship were poor, the food was poor, and everyone was in a very low mood. At this moment, Chen Yi remembered something and flipped out a pair of Go from his luggage.
It turned out that this chess set was made up of small black and white pebbles that they picked up in the courtyard of the barracks. Although it is simple, it is their spiritual sustenance in a foreign land.
Chen Yi set up the chessboard and beckoned everyone to come and play chess. Suddenly, laughter rang out in the dreary cabin. After a game of chess, everyone's mood was a lot more relaxed.
Since then, whether in the war-torn era or in the period of peace-building, Chen Yi has regarded Go as an indispensable part of his life.
【Chess Opponent】
Speaking of Chen Yi's level of Go, it is not ordinarily high. Once, students from Sichuan and Hunan provinces held a Go competition, and Chen Yi represented Sichuan. His opponent was Hunan representative Li Longzhi, who later became Li Lisan.
At the beginning of the game, Chen Yi showed superb chess skills. Every step he made was like a military attack, and it was extremely powerful. Although Li Longzhi is also a master, he is gradually a little overwhelmed.
The surrounding students were dazzled and applauded for Chen Yi. Li Longzhi, who was not very good-tempered, was even more annoyed and angry when he was provoked by this. I saw him make a "bang" and overturn the chessboard, and the chess pieces spilled all over the ground.
This scared everyone. But Chen Yi didn't care, and said with a smile: "Don't be angry, play chess, winning or losing is a common thing."
When Li Longzhi heard this, he also felt that he was too impulsive. The two quickly reconciled and picked up the scattered chess pieces together.
This incident was later recalled by Li Lisan, and he sighed: "Young people are very competitive, and their self-esteem is not weak. After going back and forth like this, it will be a lot of trouble. "
【Chess Confidant】
Chen Yi is not only superb in chess, but even more rare is that he can use Go as a diplomatic means. In 1959, Sino-Japanese relations were at a low point. At this time, Kenzo Matsumura, a veteran of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, led a delegation to visit China. In the Great Hall of the People, Chen Yi accompanied Premier Zhou Enlai to meet with the Japan delegation.
After the meeting, Chen Yi learned that Matsumura Kenzo also liked to play Go, and he was immediately interested. He said to Matsumura, "How about we play a game of chess?"
Matsumura readily agreed. The two of them sat down at the chessboard. At the beginning of the game, Chen Yi showed superb chess skills. Although Matsumura is also a master, he was still amazed by Chen Yi's chess style.
As it fell, Matsumura suddenly said, "Vice Premier Chen, I heard that an ancient chessboard with 17 lanes was found in Sikkim. You say that where Go could have originated?"
Chen Yi's eyes lit up when he heard this. He said, "Interesting! I do remember something. When I went to Tibet in 1956, local officials invited me to play chess. When I looked at it, it was also a chessboard with 17 lanes. "Really?" Matsumura was interested.
Chen Yi continued: "I guess it probably spread from the Tang Dynasty to Tibet, then to Sikkim, and finally to Japan. Of course, during the Tang Dynasty, there were frequent exchanges between China and Japan, and it was possible to spread directly to Japan. "
Matsumura nodded repeatedly. In this way, the two chatted about the history of Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges while playing chess.
This scene was seen by Zhou Enlai. He was secretly happy in his heart, and felt that this Go diplomacy was very interesting.
【Go Diplomacy】
From then on, Chen Yi began to consciously use Go as a means of diplomacy.
He said to Matsumura: "Go, table tennis, calligraphy, orchids, these are all good things." Let's not talk about politics, let's talk about these things and make friends. "
Zhou Enlai heard it and immediately understood. He said, "That's a good idea." Vice Premier Chen, you and Mr. Matsumura have just made a decision, and it should be regarded as a gentleman's appointment. "
Matsumura was also very happy, and nodded again and again and said, "Okay, okay, I'll push this thing when I go back."
In this way, under Chen Yi's skillful operation, the Go exchange between China and Japan gradually unfolded.
In June 1960, the first Japan Go delegation visited China. Since then, Go masters from China and Japan have often visited each other to learn from each other.
This exchange is not limited to the chess world. There are 8 million Go fans in Japan, including politicians. Although some right-wing legislators are politically opposed to China, they are also willing to sit down and play against Chinese players when it comes to Go.
In 1962, the Chinese Go delegation visited Japan for the first time and was warmly welcomed.
In September 1963, the Japan Go community made an exception to award Chen Yi the honorary title of seven dans. This was a very high honor at the time, and the Japan Go community had never awarded such a high title to a foreigner.
【Chess Game and National Game】
Although Chen Yi loves chess, he is not just for fun. He often said: "The chessboard is the battlefield, and we must fight seriously." If you treat this as a child's play, make a move, and throw a child indiscriminately, then you deserve to die. "
In his view, there are many similarities between playing chess and governing the country. He said: "People should look at their character, and when they play chess, they must also look at their quality."
Chen Yi also often expounded military principles from Go. Under his influence, many generals of the New Fourth Army fell in love with Go. He said: "The chess path is full of military dialectics, and you can benefit a lot from seeing the big from the small."
Not only that, Chen Yi also applied the wisdom of Go to diplomacy.
At a meeting with the Japan Go delegation, Chen Yi said: "Playing chess pays attention to the overall situation, and diplomacy is the same. Sometimes, for the sake of the overall situation, you have to know how to be willing. It's like playing chess, sometimes you have to abandon your discs to save the momentum. "
These words deeply inspired the Japan guests present. They exclaimed: "Vice Premier Chen is worthy of being a master, and these words can be described as a perfect combination of chess and diplomacy!"
[Resolving the deadlock]
Chen Yi's "Go diplomacy" not only enhanced the friendship between the Chinese and Japanese peoples, but also made important contributions to breaking the diplomatic deadlock.
On December 20, 1964, 29 prominent chess players in Japan issued an appeal calling for hundreds of chess players in Japan to participate in a signature campaign calling for the restoration of diplomatic relations between China and Japan.
Many chess players took to the streets to promote Sino-Japanese friendship. The nine-dan chess hand held Takeo Hara and even carried a loudspeaker on his back to collect signatures in the downtown area.
This signature campaign has played no small role in promoting the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan.
On September 29, 1972, China and Japan finally announced the end of the state of war and the resumption of diplomatic relations. Although Chen Yi has passed away, his "Go diplomacy" has contributed a lot.
Former Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan once commented: "Everyone knows about 'ping-pong diplomacy,' but I think that before 'ping-pong diplomacy,' the first thing is 'Go diplomacy.'"
Looking back at Chen Yi's "Go diplomacy", we can't help but sigh at his cleverness. He skillfully applied a seemingly simple board game to complex international relations.
In today's world, relations between countries are intricate and sometimes tense. Perhaps we can take inspiration from Chen Yi's approach: cultural exchanges, sports competitions, and even a game of chess can be an opportunity to resolve conflicts and strengthen friendships.
After all, whether it is a game of chess or diplomacy, the ultimate goal is to achieve a win-win situation, not to live or die. As Chen Yi said: "Victory is gratifying, and defeat is also gratifying." This kind of open-mindedness and bearing may be what we need most today.
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