The Chess Master

by Ah Cheng

The Chess Master is a story of escape and salvation, and the clue for both is chess. The protagonist, Wang Yisheng, undergoes a gradual transformation from "chess fool" to "chess master" -- from an alienated young man obsessed with the material needs of life to a spiritually enlightened transmitter of the Chinese tradition. By reversing the pervasive anti-traditional trend in modern Chinese literature and eschewing any overt influence from Western literature, Ah Cheng has created in the The Chess Master a radically new fiction that is both thoroughly modern and deeply imbued with the Chinese tradition.

Genres: China, Chess, Asia

Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

Ah Cheng, born in Beijing in 1949, is the pen name of Zhong Acheng (simplified Chinese: 钟阿城; traditional Chinese: 鍾阿城; pinyin: Zhōng Āchéng). An accomplished fiction writer, painter, and screenwriter (for internationally renowned Taiwanese director, Hou Xiaoxian), Ah Cheng spent the Cultural Revolution years in a small village in Inner Mongolia where he painted the sheep and grasslands, and on a State Farm bordering Yunnan province and Laos. During the 1980s he came to prominence as a member of the “primitive” or “seeking roots” literary movement. He has lived in several countries including the US, often not writing for long periods and working various jobs such as fixing bicycles and house painting. In 1992 he received the Italian Nonino International Prize for his literary achievements, which includes a travel journal, Venetian Diary. He lives in the outskirts of Beijing.

Reviews

[Sergio · Rating 3 out of 5]

La storia del giovanissimo giocatore di scacchi Wang Yisheng che durante il periodo che segue alla Rivoluzione Culturale di Mao viene inviato insieme a molti suoi coetanei nei campi di lavoro della regione dello Yunnan per essere "rieducato" e riesce a realizzare il sogno di giocare e vincere contro nove campioni.

[Maria Grazia Carrara Gala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eccomi giunta a concludere la Trilogia dei Re. Ed anche questo breve romanzo (93 pag) non mi ha deluso anzi mi ha esaltato ancora di più ad indagare nella storia della Cina ai tempi di Ascheng.
Come scisse nell’ introduzione Maria Rita Masci “ ... gli scacchi non sono una metafora dell’esistenza perché ... i principi della vita e quelli degli scacchi non coincidono. Nel gioco le regole sono sempre le stesse e i pezzi sulla scacchiera ben in vista , mentre degli eventi del mondo sono troppe le cose che si ignorano”.
Novità di questo racconti è notare che la politica non ha più un posto preminente neppure per essere criticata .
Racconto semplice e diretto che ti incanta !

[Anmol · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting, even if a rather contrived take on this particular era of Chinese history towards the end of the cultural revolution. It is short and crisp and methodical (which is not always the best thing). I liked the camaraderie and bonding but the climax, though dramatic, did not produce an awe-inspiring response.

[SY · Rating 3 out of 5]

[2.5 stars] This was a bit meh. The Taoist philosophy stuff was a little undercooked and superficial. Overall this has been an enjoyable and captivating read, but it lacked detail in all of the places that really mattered.

[I-330 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cum să-ți alini întristarea?/ Ei bine, jucând şah!"

[Kevin Yee]

(tr. W.J.F. Jenner)
Not my favorite translation, but it is good to have a Bilingual edition.

[Michelle Chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beauty of the original Chinese version has been lost in the English version to a certain extent, but nevertheless, the author did a good job. It is hard to translate, and to keep the book's essence intact is akin to moving a mountain.

[Ivano Porpora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Il Topo degli scacchi, Wang Yisheng, è un personaggio che sembra tratto da una stampa giapponese antica. La ricerca del cibo, la voglia di lavarsi, la capacità dell'uomo di separare la necessità dalla bellezza; una piccola chicca.