Art in Public Space: JR Ichigaya Station / 公共の場のアート：JR市ヶ谷駅

The ward Thumego, Japanese Go term meaning the problems mainly about ‘life and death’ and used as an exercise for solving the problems.

There is an old Tsumego pattern called ‘Cho-sei no Zu’ imbedded on the floor in Ichigaya JR station.  This Tsumego was taken from an old book called Hatsu-yo Ron, which published in Edo era.

Then reason why Tsumego graphic installed on the station’s floor is the national (and as well as the inter national) head quarter of Go organization, Nihon Ki-in, is located in Ichigaya.

JR Ichigaya Station

http://www.jreast.co.jp/estation/stations/135.html

Nihon Ki-in

http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp.e.qs.hp.transer.com

囲碁で言う詰碁は石の生死に関わる状況を再現し、解決方法を練習するためのものです。

JR市ヶ谷駅の床には、「長生の図」と呼ばれる詰碁図が敷かれています。この図は江戸時代の發陽論という本に載っている詰碁です。

市ヶ谷駅の床に詰碁図が描かれているのは、この近くに日本棋院があるからです。

JR市ヶ谷駅

日本棋院