Unlike Kawabata’s more lyrical works like Snow Country , The Master of Go adopts a sparse, almost documentary style. It is not merely about a board game; it is an allegory for the clash between pre-war and post-war Japan. The master represents the fading, ritualistic honor of the old guard, while the challenger embodies cold, modern efficiency. The novel captures the psychological tension, the formal ceremonies, and the tragic physical decline of the Master, who dies shortly after the match. Consequently, it is required reading for students of modern Japanese literature, game theory, and cultural history.
The Master of Go (PDF): A Definitive Overview
The Master of Go (Japanese: 名人, Meijin ) is a seminal novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Yasunari Kawabata. First published serially in 1951–1954, it stands as a unique work of faction—a masterful blend of factual sports journalism and profound literary fiction. The novel chronicles a legendary, six-month-long Go match in 1938 between the aging, traditional Master Shusai (the last "Hon'inbo" champion) and a young, calculating challenger, Otaké. For readers seeking the text in digital format, this document outlines the nature and availability of the PDF version .
The Master of Go is a quiet, devastating masterpiece. While a direct, free PDF does not legally exist, a high-quality authorized digital copy is accessible via library lending or retail purchase. For academic or personal use, obtaining the legal PDF ensures you read the complete, correct translation while supporting the continued publication of classic world literature.
A legitimate PDF of The Master of Go (translated by Edward G. Seidensticker, ISBN: 978-0679761060) is not legally available through free public domain sources. Because the translation was published by Knopf (Vintage International) in the 1990s, it remains under full copyright protection in nearly all jurisdictions.
Measure your chest (A) and hips (B) following our indications.
The reference measurement will always be the larger of the two (A or B).
Look in the chart to which size corresponds to that measurement.
| Size | Reference measurements | |
|---|---|---|
| Inches | Centimeters | |
| 2XS | 25.6 – 29.4 | 65 – 74 |
| XS | 29.5 – 32.6 | 75 – 82 |
| S | 32.7 – 36.1 | 83 – 91 |
| M | 36.2 – 39.7 | 92 – 100 |
| L | 39.8 – 42.8 | 101 – 108 |
| XL | 42.9 – 46.3 | 109 – 117 |
| 2XL | 46.4 – 49.9 | 118 – 126 |
| 3XL | 50 – 53 | 127 – 134 |
| 4XL | 53.1 – 55.9 | 135 – 142 |