Book 16. A standard move is a predetermined harmony, and it is an agreement that allows you to continue playing because you are certain of how the move will be played.

 

Hello. I'm Ten Watanabe.

The theme of this time is breaking down the established rule of impermanence. As beings constantly in flux, we embody the concept of impermanence. Impermanence means that nothing stays the same for long, but everything has the potential to move into a new state.

I know the saying that those who can change are the ones who survive best. They can adapt to new conditions and quickly find their place. I know that the strongest quickly become obsolete.

Even the Edo period came to an end after 260 years. 260 years may seem like a long time, but it actually went by in an instant. As far as I know, 260 years is only the length of three people's lives. Impermanence of all things means seeking change, but once you've succeeded at something, you tend to stick to the methods that worked for you.

I've seen people like this many times, but it's all about trying to catch the same fish a second time. In order to win under the same circumstances, the surrounding conditions must be the same. The same environment. An environment that worked well once may be very different the second time. Is there any point in trying to win the same way?

Of course, there are many ways to win, and they can be used in a variety of situations. These are so-called "joseki" (standard moves), but even these can be easily broken by changing the surrounding environment. Powerful joseki (standard moves) are valid in any era, but if you stick to a method that has won you once, you will quickly become useless.

As time goes by, the weaknesses of the joseki are developed and the joseki is broken. Putting yourself in a position to play is a powerful joseki, but putting your opponent in a position to play is also a powerful joseki.

It's easy to catch a second or third loach. In terms of reproducibility, if a joseki has only recently been created, it can be easily reproduced. This is because the environment is similar. Even with the joseki of Go and Shogi, there are some that have been around for decades, but it cannot be said that playing a joseki will guarantee you a win.

However, if you can create a new joseki every time, that is amazing in itself, but by creating a joseki, new ways of winning will come into view. Essentially, joseki, or ways of winning, are combinations of joseki with other joseki, or ways of winning with other winning methods.

Joseki techniques like these change over time, eventually falling out of use and new ways of winning being created. Joseki techniques are like secret techniques, but at the same time they are something that restricts freedom. New ways of winning not only establish culture but also civilization. Breaking joseki is a tool to gain freedom.

Developing something new also means creating new weaknesses. Finding weaknesses is what breaks the rules, and while continuing to play joseki within established rules gives a sense of stability, if the joseki is disrupted, the moves played according to the rules will immediately fall apart.

Joseki is a pre-established harmony, an agreement that allows you to continue playing because you are certain of how the joseki will be played. It is surprisingly easy to break this agreement. Joseki exists as a stereotype. Breaking a joseki is a move that breaks this stereotype. Breaking a joseki also reflects the impermanence of all things.

That's all. Thank you for your growth. This was Watanabe Ten.