Nice find!

Hi Erythen,

Thanks for sharing the detail information about the curving of the legs!


Yes, I have oiled the whole board + wax. I have posted the pictures right after the pictures of its original condition.


I have read somewhere that says traditional Katsura board were all Itame-kiura cut, I am not sure what's the reason.

Since you seems to know a lot about different types of wood, which goban do you think I should keep?
This board with the calligraphy but Katsura or add $200 more for a masame cut Hon-Kaya goban with no calligraphy?

Anyone can feel free to share with me your opinion, so tempting to switch for the Hon-Kaya goban! But I feel like it's so rare to get the chance to buy a goban with calligraphy, especially in the US, which makes it worth more than the a regular Kaya goban. Let me know what you think

I don't think you should make your choice based simply on value. I doubt the value of a goban will appreciate that much over time and they are fairly hard to sell casually. Instead, you should choose the one that will give you the most pleasure. Since Cho Chikun is one of your favorite players that seems like a really special find, but I can't really judge how much you care about having a kaya goban.

Thanks for sharing your opinion. I actually have a table kaya board, I really like the smell of the kaya board and its light golden color. Other than that I don't see a particular reason why I want the kaya board.. maybe it's because kaya goban that are new cost so much more than Katsura goban... but you have a good point since I really like Cho Chikun it adds another layer of meaning to the board.

Yes, I may have misread the post about the legs. Katsura boards are always Itame (Kiura or Kiomote) because the trees don't grow large enough to produce Masame boards. The legs themselves will be a combination; simply from the nature of the way their cut. Typically they should come from the scraps of the same tree (left over from the board).

For what kind of board to buy it's a matter of personal taste and real (non-monetary) value is determined by you.

It is a pleasure to own good Kaya and clamshell, but Go is a beautiful game that can be easily be played with lines drawn in the sand and rocks picked up off the street. Nice equipment adds to the aesthetic, but so does the feeling that's gone into it. A decades old board that's truly loved will have a lot of soul. It's a matter of what you yourself are looking for, are you wanting to build the soul in a board or find one that has history and love in it already?

Yeah, I know, I'm sentimental

Nice find.
My antique goban also has quite a bit of history and soul
https://tchan001.wordpress.com/2011/05/ ... en-go-set/

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http://tchan001.wordpress.com
A blog on Asian go books, go sightings, and interesting tidbits
Go is such a beautiful game.

It's a nice board that you got there! It must feel very special to use a board that a Honinbo once used! and I can't believe the ink preserved so well on your board, do you use it regularly or is it more like a decoration for you? I am curious to know if the board still produces the unique smell of kaya board?

Wow!

Same goes for the OP, who has a board from the 25th Honinbo

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Patience, grasshopper.

But I very much doubt it belonged to Cho. More likely he signed it for a fan.

I doubt he ownd the board, but maybe he used it to play a game after an important tournament? Or at least placed a few stones? I guess that's the beauty of antique goban, you never know what's the story behind the board and you could imagine anything you want!

I have used it in the past but currently it is in storage so at the moment I can't tell you if it still has the unique smell of kaya.

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http://tchan001.wordpress.com
A blog on Asian go books, go sightings, and interesting tidbits
Go is such a beautiful game.

It is hard to say which is more valuable. Obviously Kaya is considered the "best wood" to make GO boards out of. It is also rare and slow growing adding to its value. But I would rather have the cheaper board signed by Cho Chikun. I think many players would feel the same. So if u wish to keep the Kaya and sell the Cho let me know! I would be interested! I hope u get lots of enjoyment and improvement from both boards. : )

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Walla Walla GO Club -(on FB)

We play because we enjoy the beauty of the game, the snap and feel of real stones, and meeting interesting people. Hope to see ya there! お願いします!

Anthony