[Stones and Stories] The Right First Move Opens the Path

How to begin. A game of Baduk starts with the first move. The choice belongs to the player holding the black stones. The player with the white stones and the spectators can only watch. Depending on where the black player places the first stone, the blueprint of the journey changes. One may choose a familiar joseki known to both players, or turn to a variation that feels unfamiliar.

The history of Baduk regards placing the first stone on the four corner star points as the standard opening. It is a compromise between territory and influence. Familiar moves are comfortable for me and equally comfortable for my opponent. If one wants to shake up the board from the start, new choices are sometimes made. Moves once considered taboo, such as the 3-3 point (sam-sam) in the corner or the center point of the board called the Cheonwon (天元), are also chosen.

Whether to start steadily or to begin a great change depends entirely on the choice of the black player. There is no correct answer. Only responsibility follows the choice. The modifier “first” accompanies emotional agitation. First snow, first love, and the first move. To transform the trembling feelings into joy and happiness, actions that meet expectations are necessary. Only by accumulating learning throughout the game can it truly be a “meaningful Baduk.”

Not only in Baduk but also in life, there are countless times when one must choose the first move. Sometimes one carefully deliberates to find the path, and other times one passes by without even realizing it was the first move. These results accumulate to form each person’s life map. Trajectories of life with different shapes and contents. Some steadily approach their destination, even if slowly, while others take big steps but trap themselves in a whirlpool of confusion.

At such times, having a life advisor nearby can be helpful. One does not have to be a sage (賢人) to be an advisor. Those who keep their ears open to advice given with a heart wishing for their success are the ones who ultimately achieve their goals. What role should politics play for the great strides of our society? Advisor, or disruptor?

The turbulent years are now coming to an end. The cold winter time passes, and the season of spring’s energy spreads. Our society has endured the hardships of the past winter. But the wait has been too long. It has pushed the limits of patience. Can a society that can only endure because citizens fill the streets battered by rain and wind, even spaces swept by snowstorms, be called normal?

Now it is time for politics to provide answers. Understanding the people’s longing is the key to unraveling the tangled threads. The process of healing our society stained by hatred and discord. The day when the first move announcing a bold journey will be placed is not far away.