河洛余数 Karaku yo su by 安井仙知 著 Yasui Senchi. Preface by Oota Jyokai (Gukei Sanjin) - 1823

Offering: The very rare second edition woodblock printing of the four volumes set with exemplary print impressions, sharp and bright. The text by Yasui Senchi and the 97 double-page illustrations with top frame commentary on positions and lines of play demonstrate his highly innovative game theory and center play attack. Rarity: Virtually unobtainable, a worldwide catalog search including Japan finds one holding for the first edition and one holding for the second edition, both in the Rare Books Room of the National Diet Library of Japan. Senchi [1770-1838]: Seventh head of Yasui house [1780-1814], also known as the Great Senchi (O-Senchi) and Yasui Senchi Senkaku. He reached 8th dan rank in 1801. Pre-eminent in play, he was never interested in becoming Meijin and finally stepped aside and took over his father's allied Sakaguchi School. No prominent players continued with his style. "The next genius to appear after Satsugen was O-Senchi, who invented a singular style of play that was so bold, revolutionary, and complex that it wasn't imitated until the 1930s. Emphasizing the center by playing on the fourth and fifth lines in the fuseki, instead of on the territory-oriented third line, and building large moyos, he was able to routinely crush opposition." [Shotwell, Go! More Than a Game] A century later, this style came to the forefront with Go Seigen and Kitani Minoru and their highly influential New Fuseki Theory. Now, that historical perspective has been gained, with his emphasis on the center and play from the 4th and 5th lines, O-Senchi is often called the father of the modern game of go. Condition: Near Good. Prints: Exemplary, bright and sharp. Seals: page 1, Vol. I. / Pages: Vols. I and II: Near Fine, a few light spots; note on rear blank of Vol. I / Volumes III and IV: clean and bright. Worming: worm trails in Vols. III and IV. Vol. III: minor worming, a lacy trail at one side edge continues to sheet 5; large trail near bottom begins on sheet 4, and after sheet 10, it becomes small. Vol. IV: trail at side and bottom edges continues to sheet 3; top edge tube trail begins at sheet 4 and continues to sheet 14, but small after sheet 11; final page with a top margin trail. / Wrappers: abrasion, chiefly edges, some color fade, upper sides of Vols. II and III with 2 ink spots. / Title Slips: some soiling, one with small top corner chip, another with light stains, Vols. III and IV slips loose at bottom edge. / Bindings: Vols. I-III: excellent. / Vol. IV: reliable, paper corner cap loose, cord loosened on lower side, lacks threading for holes 3-4 on upper side. Pagination: Complete; 218 pages or 109 folded leaves, 100 numbered; 6 leaves of text, (3 numbered), 97 numbered leaves of woodblock print illustrations, commentary in the top frame + 6 blank leaves. Format: Later azure wrappers with a blind printed wavelet design, mounted title slips printed in black, sewn with 4-stab holes in the fukuro-toji style, spine corners with protective caps (kadogire). Size: Covers: 257 x 176 mm (10.12 x 6.93 inches) / Prints: 335 x 214 mm (13.2 x 8.43 inches). Reference: Kokusho so mokuroku, v. 2, p. 246, no. 2239294. Additional Images: by request.