Secret in the Tangerine, Vol. 1: 20 classical games

Volume one of Secret in the Tangerine, the most influential classical xiangqi manual, compiled by Zhu Jinzhen and first printed in 1632. All 20 games of its even-game section, keyed leaf by leaf from the National Archives of Japan's scan of a Qing woodblock printing, with the book's complete printed variation trees: every numbered variation, editorial supplement, and capture note. Every line was replayed move by move through the Mistboard rules kernel; woodblock misprints are emended only where a unique legal reading exists, and each emendation is noted in place.

20 chapters

1. Rank chariot vs file chariot: the horse sacrifice25 moves

   Volume one of Secret in the Tangerine (compiled by Zhu Jinzhen, first printed 1632), the most influential of the classical xiangqi manuals. This study keys its complete even-game section, 20 games with their full printed variation trees, from the National Archives of Japan's scan…

   Sacrifices the horse.

2. The horse sacrifice against the early horse45 moves

   The horse sacrifice against the early horse. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 45 moves plus 11 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the boo…

   Advances first.

3. When the horse sacrifice is declined41 moves

   When the horse sacrifice is declined. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 41 moves plus 11 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the book gloss…

   Declines the capture.

4. Beating the file chariot with the horse29 moves

   Beating the file chariot with the horse. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 29 moves plus 8 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the book glo…

   Takes the soldier.

5. Beating the file chariot with the cannon33 moves

   Beating the file chariot with the cannon. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 33 moves plus 5 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the book gl…

   Takes the soldier.

6. Beating the corner cannon patched late37 moves

   Beating the corner cannon patched late. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 37 moves plus 10 numbered variations, all reproduced here. The book prints a short note under this title. Every line was replayed through the Mistboa…

   Takes the soldier.

7. Beating the corner cannon patched early21 moves

   Beating the corner cannon patched early. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 21 moves plus 12 numbered variations, all reproduced here. The book prints a short note under this title. Every line was replayed through the Mistbo…

   Patches first.

8. The palace-heart cannon beats the corner cannon27 moves

   The palace-heart cannon beats the corner cannon. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 27 moves plus 4 numbered variations, all reproduced here. The book prints a short note under this title. Every line was replayed through the…

   Into the palace heart.

9. Beating the horse-flanked cannon15 moves

   Beating the horse-flanked cannon. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 15 moves plus 11 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the book glosses w…

   Takes the soldier.

10. File chariot and riverbank cannon beat the rank chariot43 moves

    File chariot and riverbank cannon beat the rank chariot. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 43 moves plus 14 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every cap…

    Takes the soldier.

11. The riverbank cannon against the flanking horse25 moves

    The riverbank cannon against the flanking horse. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 25 moves plus 5 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the…

    The general traps the chariot.

12. Beating the left lifted-horse defense21 moves

    Beating the left lifted-horse defense. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 21 moves plus 8 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the book gloss…

    Dares not.

13. Beating the right lifted-horse defense41 moves

    Beating the right lifted-horse defense. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 41 moves plus 11 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the book glo…

    Takes the soldier.

14. The rank chariot breaks the elephants23 moves

    The rank chariot breaks the elephants. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 23 moves plus 4 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the book gloss…

    Takes the soldier.

15. Breaking the tangled-horse elephant defense15 moves

    Breaking the tangled-horse elephant defense. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 15 moves plus 3 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the book…

    Takes the soldier.

16. The great opposing cannons35 moves

    The great opposing cannons. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 35 moves plus 39 numbered variations, all reproduced here. The book prints a short note under this title. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules ker…

    Takes the horse.

17. Small opposing cannons beat the great63 moves

    Small opposing cannons beat the great. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 63 moves plus 3 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the book gloss…

    Takes the soldier.

18. Opposing cannons beat the gathered cannon31 moves

    Opposing cannons beat the gathered cannon. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 31 moves plus 2 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the book g…

    Takes the cannon.

19. Opposing cannons beat the patched corner cannon27 moves

    Opposing cannons beat the patched corner cannon. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 27 moves plus 4 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the…

    Takes the horse.

20. Screen horses beat the central cannon33 moves

    Screen horses beat the central cannon. An even game, where the first player presses the initiative. The book prints a mainline of 33 moves plus 7 numbered variations, all reproduced here. Every line was replayed through the Mistboard rules kernel, and every capture the book gloss…

    Takes the cannon.