Dancing With Elephants: Xiang Qi (象棋): Lessons In Life

Dancing with Elephants is a collection of lessons of life as taught to me by my father through the game of xiang qi (象棋) or Chinese chess. Some are clichés, long taught by famous masters that they have come to be regarded as common sense. Others are less popular but nevertheless impart good advice. And still others are simple brilliant pearls of wisdom. Whether he learned them through his own experiences or passed on to him by his own teachers, the lessons he taught me have served me well; enough for me to pass them on to my sons, befittingly enough, through teaching them how to play xiang qi, too. I would like to think I have succeeded for the most part. I would also like to think they have benefitted greatly from the lessons.

My father passed away March 12, 2012. This collection is my way of celebrating his life. With this, hopefully more people will benefit from these lessons. If so, I would be thankful. For in this manner, I would be spreading my late father’s legacy. That much I owe to him.