Writer’s Workshop: WeiQi Anyone?
Wei Qi on a board
When I was in school I never had the chance to learn this game of GO (Wei Qi). This game is more then a normal game of black and white seeds which covered a checkered board. I never learnt this game when I was in school. It would be great as I would could have picked up 6 skills just from this game.
It is a game which teaches the following.
- The importance of using strategies.
- How to be patient.
- Photographic memory by studying and reflecting on how to place the pieces optimally on the board.
- How to guard and protect your territory.
- Perseverance
- Learn to be gracious and accept defeat while learning to be stronger.
During the weekend the boys chanced upon a WeiQi workshop while we were at the library. We signed them up on the spot for them to attend when we heard there were still some slots available as some registered participants did not turn up.
Starting off the game
We were given a brief introduction to the history of the game. It originated 4000 years ago from China but was made popular by the Japanese. This day the Koreans are the masters of this game and they even have a degree for it at one of their universities.
Deliberating where to put his piece
It was the first time that the boys are being introduced to the game and couldn’t wait to get started playing it. It wasn’t as simple as it seems and it took some time for them to get to know the basics of how to execute the game.
Monkey boy thinking where to put his seed next.
Doggie boy got rather exasperated as he kept losing the game to the elder brother. After some time he called it quits as he couldn’t figure out how to “overpower” his brother in the game. I too found it frustrating as R was paired up with Monkey boy and he does have some prior experience playing the game as compared to Doggie boy and me.
We decided that it was a good introduction that they had to this strategy game and we will certainly purchase a set for them to try out again at home as a family.
Have your kids learned any new games lately?
What are they currently playing?
March 14, 2013 @ 8:21 am
hmm, that seems to be a very nice board game for kids. when my little boy grows up, i would love to see him play games like this. 🙂
March 14, 2013 @ 8:52 am
Oh I am so thrilled to hear you are learning this game ~ a friend told me about this game and have wanted to learn it ~ Have fun ^_^
Thanks for ‘visiting’ my blog.
March 14, 2013 @ 10:57 am
looks like an interesting board game to play coming summer vacation..
March 14, 2013 @ 12:46 pm
That’s interesting! My hubby and sil wanted to teach my elder boy to play chess but he has no patience to learn
March 14, 2013 @ 4:26 pm
Yay! Looks like a fun game board game to play. I am up for that.
March 14, 2013 @ 6:25 pm
Not only did I never learn to play this, I’ve never heard of it! In our house, we most recently learned Mancala… I say my children have defeated it because they have a strategy down pat and it’s hard to beat them. We also like Risk and Qwirkle.
Stopping by from Mama Kat’s
March 14, 2013 @ 6:43 pm
This is new to me ; very interesting; great Q post! 🙂
March 14, 2013 @ 7:27 pm
That looks fun! I would love for my kids to play that game. We’re playing a game called Labyrinth by Ravensburger these days. It also helps them learn to strategize and should teach a little patience, but we’ll see how that goes!
Linking up from Mama Kat’s.
March 14, 2013 @ 8:33 pm
That looks like a fun game to learn. I bet my kids would love to play it as they have gotten interested in board games nowadays.
March 14, 2013 @ 8:42 pm
Such an interesting-looking board game – must investigate!
Lovely informative post.
March 14, 2013 @ 8:45 pm
Looks quite challenging.
My granson is learning to shape sort he is only 15 months
quality post
March 14, 2013 @ 9:30 pm
I am not familiar with this game (and have always been terrible at all games!). But I think they do teach some brain fundamentals, so I applaud you for having them try it out. 4,000 years ago is a long time ago, so I guess it’s safe to say this is a tried and true game.
March 14, 2013 @ 10:26 pm
new game to me! I bet my boys would like it…
March 14, 2013 @ 10:55 pm
What an adorable post! I don’t have kids, but I do have 2 giant dogs…I’m pretty sure they’d guzzle those pieces up like Junior Mints. Maybe I can get the Hot Mess Hubby to play instead!
March 15, 2013 @ 12:15 am
great game, i am really bad at strategy games….
March 15, 2013 @ 5:01 am
I have never heard of it! Thanks for enlightening me.
March 15, 2013 @ 5:09 am
This game sounds so interesting. I’m going to look it up.
March 15, 2013 @ 10:17 am
I love to play games. I have never played this one. Thank you for sharing your lovely blog at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop xo
March 16, 2013 @ 9:28 am
It would be great to learn this game. I like your 6 reasons why one should learn this game. Most strategic games teach patience, having patience is a virtue.
March 16, 2013 @ 11:22 am
That looks quite interesting.
I love learning new things.
My daughter is dancing and my son is learning the art of soccer and that it’s not just about kicking the ball.
And I’m about to teach them Pictureka 🙂
Happy weekend!
March 18, 2013 @ 7:47 am
The newest game my grandson introduced us to was one where you put a word on your forehead which you cannot see, and try to guess what it is by the descriptions of all those who do see the word. I don’t remember the name of the game – I think it’s called Headache!
March 28, 2013 @ 6:56 am
Although I’ve never played this, I suspect my Grandlittles could beat me at it! ha!
Love the idea of this!
Thanks for sharing what looks to be quite a fun activity.
A+