Just like people everywhere, the cultural history of the Tibetan people is very colorful. They have created numerous recreational customs, some of which are very famous, such as the horse-riding, archery, dancing and singing, while some are still relatively unknown by outsiders. Along with the increasing cross cultural pollination of different ethnicities along with modern civilization, people here have always enjoyed a rich recreational life.

The Tibetan go game is indigenous rather than exotic. Its origin has something to do with religion, like most of other Tibetan recreational customs. It was initially inverted for soothsaying and incantation, and then evolved into a chess game. People, though, have still kept in mind its original functions. Some specialists verify that the Tibetan go game emerged about, 4,000- odd years ago, when the Tibetan aboriginal religion, Bon, was in full flourish. According to Yan Zhenzhong, the Tibetan go game originated in the Bon religion, and was then transferred to India. Though it has no original relation with the go game of China's hinterland, they have many common points. For instance, both originated roughly during the same period of time; the chessmen are black and white; they are played with two players and even the rules are almost identical.

However, the Tibetan game has its own strikingly religious and local brand, which can be clearly seen through its definition on the colors of the chessmen. In Tibet, the white color is ubiquitously worshiped, and symbolized justice, good fortune and the sublime; while the black marks sinfulness, disaster and lowliness. The white color worship is also reflected in the rules of the game-the white side always begins. While playing, the player of the white side takes the opponent as a real evil, and chants incantations to enhance his own supernatural power and imprecate his opponent. By doing so he unintentionally reveals the earliest function of the game. But the rules of the weichi of China's hinterland regards the two sides as being equal, which allows that each side begins the game in turn. When playing both sides are calm, and do not chant at all. Hence, the incantation, the unique way of accompanying the playing in the Tibetan go game hints at its relation to religion. That adds to our perception and understanding: in Tibet, the religious atmosphere is ubiquitous, even in the realm of recreation.