Ancient Xiangqi Classics: Plum Flower Manual by Wang (Ancient Xiangqi Manuals)

The study Xiangqi is incomplete without going through the ancient manuals. Throughout the ages, many have gone through the ancient manuals and became experts. Amongst the many ancient manuals still extant, the Plum Flower Manual (by Wang Zaiyue) stands out. Its content and skill level were a notch up from its predecessors, most notably the Secret in the Tangerine and the Elegant Pastime Manual. Perhaps Wang’s Plum Flower Manual was a representative of the level of play of his era, an era that had already some rudimentary foundation in various aspects of Xiangqi, but an era where there was still so much to explore. Although other Plum Flower Manuals would be written over time, the one by Wang remains to the standard.Wang’s most significant contribution was perhaps the introduction of the Screen Horse Defense as a viable counter against the mighty Central Cannon. Since Wang’s time, the Central Cannon vs. Screen Horse Defense opening system has become the most commonly played opening system in Xiangqi for centuries, upending the Same Direction Cannons. While his work was rudimentary by modern-day standards, they exemplified basic Xiangqi opening theory. There are over 1400 diagrams with clear explanations of the various positions comparison of similar positions.It is with great pleasure the English version of another Xiangqi classic, the Plum Flower Manual by Wang, is now available for the English speaking world. Read more