Goban

The original goban

The go can be played on grids of various sizes, without particular installation of the basic rules. The original size of the Goban is besides a historical question which is the subject of debates. According to certain researchers, the go would have been initially exploited a support of 8x8 boxes , that is to say 9x9 lines . It would have then evolved towards a size of 17x17 lines (which would be the fusion of 4 grids 9x9, and finally to the size of 19x19. One of the reasons of this last evolution would reside in the mathematical, calendar characteristics and divinatoires lent to number 361…

The traditional goban

Traditionally, the goban is a table whose dimensions are 45,45 cm in length and 42,42 cm in width and 15,15 cm thickness. The table rests on 4 feet. However, concedes the payment, the go can be played on goban not respecting these standards. The thickness varies, it is often larger than that of the chess-board S or the Damier S (from 5 to 20 cm). When the thickness allows it, the lower face of the goban is worked in the shape of bell, which confers a sonority different according to the place from the play one one plays ( striking ) its stone.

The surface of play is supported by 4 feet of approximately 12 cm in height. On the surface of the goban, the grid is traced with ink or is grooved. The boxes all, identical, measure 23,7 mm (in the direction length) on 22 mm (in the direction of the width), so that the player has the impression that the boxes are square.

Alternatives

The imposing size of the goban, its cost (the Kaya is a very expensive wood) and its brittleness pushed manufacturing them to find other solutions.

The traditional goban in the shape of table is very bulky, cumbersome and not very practical for transport. Moreover, it is not conceived to be posed on a table. One removes the feet and one reduces the thickness. Width and length are with difficulty “compressible”, because of the fixed size of the stones, but there exist foldable gobans.

The most elaborate form can be realized only on trees multiséculaires and only two or three gobans can be manufactured starting from a tree. These goban can reach considerable sums (40 000 €, for example). A traditional goban in Kaya, even with another cut remains in any event of an high price.

The current gobans are thus less thick and other wood replace the Kaya. For example, the will katsura and the shin kaya ( new kaya in Japanese), but also the Hêtre, the Chêne or the bamboo. But one now finds gobans in plastic, vinyl, out of paperboard, even out of paper.

Hoshi

The hoshi (Japanese star) are intersections marked by a point a little thicker on the grid. On a goban standard 19x19, it acts of the nine following points:

four to (4,4) of a corner;
four to (4,10) between the preceding points;
a center point (10,10) called the tengen (the center of the sky ).

In addition to their interest for the location on the grid, the hoshis mark the positions on which the stones of handicap are deposited.

Internal bonds

go|go

Stones of go: another essential part of the equipment of go;
Shôgi (set of Japanese failures, is played on a Shôgiban, to which the physical characteristics are close to the goban);
Xiangqi (set of Chinese failures), is also played on a grid.

To manufacture its goban

Detail of dimensions
How to manufacture its goban?
Stages of manufacture of a goban

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