Life In 19x19

Have recently started reading "Four Hundred Years of Japanese Go" and found like the game itself, is fascinating reading. A quick search didn't seem to turn up much in way of books or other sources (if there are threads links appreciated). Sharing some of what you found fun and or interesting about your favorite source(s) would be awesome!

I don't really go out of my way to read Go history, but John Fairbairn's books (such as on Go Seigen's games) usually have an historical introduction as well as the game commentaries (which themselves have little cultural/histroical nuggets thrown in) and I've found those interesting. I've not read it but I think his (e?)book/books on Shuei has quite a bit of history.

My favorite source was always Go World.

I am not really into go history, and whether you think it is an interesting read, but I recently came across this webpage.
http://www.babelstone.co.uk/Blog/2006/0 ... of-go.html

There is a lot of historical information in the book Invincible, covering the period before and during Shusaku's time. I think there was some kerfuffle regarding whether Four Hundred Years of Japanese Go was too close to material written by others (copyright violation?) but since the book is still available I assume that issue was cleared up.

There are some good historical go books in Japanese, such as the three volume Igo Hyaku Nen (One hundred years of Go). Volume one is subtitled Senban Hissho wo Kimete (Settling a sure win for Black) and covers from Shuho's time through Shusai's peak. Volume two is subtitled "Shin Fuseki Okoru" (The rise of the new fuseki), covering the arise of new fuseki, Shusai's retirement and the founding to the Nihon Ki-in. Volume three "Jitsuryoku Shugi no Jidai" (The age of the policy of actual strength); covers the rise of tournament go,through the age of Takagawa and Sakata, the determination of titles and ranks through playing, and the rise of Rin Kaiho and Otake Hideo, the development of women pros, and amateur go.

Another interesting book, which is not so well known, is the two volume Shouwa Igo Fuun Roku (A record of the winds of Go in the Showa Era) by Nakayama Noriyuki 7p. This is a cultural and historical study of the evolution of Go in the Showa era (December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989).

All in Japanese.

Happysocks and others,

Are you also interested in go games / kifu from (very) old times?
http://www.badukmovies.com has a very large collection of games, the oldest dating back to the year 1062.
This website http://www.uzulmez.info/Files/ap2/famous.html also has some famous ancient go games. The oldest dates from the year 1253.
I find it fascinating, in various ways, to be able to see and replay those games.

Some anecdotes from looong time ago: http://www.e-budo.com/forum/showthread. ... 90f01e9932

Now THIS is an interesting new perspective on go history.
http://www.go-mind.com/download/let_my_ ... ragman.pdf

http://www.gobase.org is a splendid source of information.
It also has a page describing the games at the Japanese Edo Castle. I can be found here http://gobase.org/reading/history/edo/.
Gobase also has articles about go in ancient China and ancient Korea, by John Fairbairn.

Go history?

Well, you see... First there was this guy named Sai. He possessed this Shusaku dude. Then Shusaku died. Then there's this guy that died his hair yellow, and Sai possessed him next. Then he became pro.

I think that's how it went.

Meijin of Meijins: The Life and Times of Honinbo Shuei

Kirby wrote:Go history?

Well, you see... First there was this guy named Sai. He possessed this Shusaku dude. Then Shusaku died. Then there's this guy that died his hair yellow, and Sai possessed him next. Then he became pro.

I think that's how it went.

If the internet then gets involved followed by some sort of hoopla, may of heard this one before.