Wu Qingyuan's life serves as a vivid illustration of the words spoken by Wu Ruizheng. As a legendary Go Grandmaster, his name is well-known to anyone familiar with the game. His achievements were incomparable. After traveling to Japan at the age of 14, he defeated the renowned Honinbo Shusai, causing a sensation across Japan. He subsequently dominated the Japanese Go world for 22 years with his formidable strength. Had it not been for a sudden car accident, he might have continued his reign indefinitely. During this period, he swept through the Japanese Go scene, proving invincible. Notably, during the lengthy ten-game title matches from 1939 to 1956, he subdued all the top masters in Japan; except for Gakin, who conceded mid-game, all other opponents were relegated in ranking. Even his rival, Taniguchi Minoru, sincerely referred to him as a milestone figure of the Showa era.
While Japan was implementing its 'scorched earth' policy on Chinese soil, the Master was, in a different sense, turning the Japanese Go world into a 'scorched earth' with his transcendent skill. Consequently, director Tian Zhuangzhuang once proposed filming a biopic and suggested portraying him from the perspective of an 'anti-Japanese hero.' However, the Master would never have agreed, as to him, Go is simply Go, untainted by external factors. He seemed born solely for the game, making his name a synonym for an era. Despite being a globally recognized genius, he adamantly denied the title: "I never consider myself a genius, but there is one thing I can boast of, which is diligence; I have spent my entire life devoted to the unswerving study of the art of Go." His sublime skill and humble character will be eternally inscribed in the sacred hall of Go. The name Wu Qingyuan will endure through the ages, just like the game itself.
