Blood-vomiting game

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The blood-vomiting game (Japanese: 吐血の一局) is a famous game of go of the Edo period of Japan, played on June 27, 1835 between Honinbo Jowa (white) and Intetsu Akaboshi (black). It is noted for the three ghost moves that were allegedly given to Jowa during the game by ghosts, and for the premature death of the go prodigy Intetsu Akaboshi who died soon after coughing up blood onto the board after the game. Selected moves of the game are shown in diagrams.

After continually struggling to gain the post of Meijin, Honinbo Jowa had won the title over rival Inoue Genan Inseki. The rivalry between Jowa and Inseki began when a game scheduled between the two was cancelled. The game, scheduled for February 18, 1828, was to be played due to Inseki's recent promotion to 8 dan. The cancellation was due to Inseki gaining promotion not for his playing ability increasing, but for his intrigues. This led Inseki to attempt to remove Jowa from the post. Not keeping his agreement, Jowa did not give up his post to Inseki after 6 years (1834). Inseki then sent his pupil, Intetsu Akaboshi, expected to become Meijin after Jowa,^[1] to play Jowa in a match. The match lasted for four days without any adjournments. Jowa won the match, and while kneeling over the board Akaboshi coughed or vomited up blood. He died within a few months. The cause of death was thought to be declining health, although Akaboshi was 25 years old at the time. Gastrointestinal bleeding and pulmonary disease have also been suggested as possible causes, and it is possible that Akaboshi was sick for months with these diseases already.

1 The game
2 Notes
3 External links

[edit] The game

[edit] The secret Inoue house move

The secret move used by Akaboshi in the match was developed by Genan Inseki and others in the Inoue house as a taisha variation. The move, shown in the diagram, gave Akaboshi a lead by attacking the white stones in the center and being able to capture two stones later on in the game.

The secret move

[edit] The ghost moves

The three ghost moves were believed to have been brought to Jowa by ghosts, allowing him to come back in a game he was losing. These moves eventually lead to Jowa winning by resignation. The first two moves allowed white to ignore a move at a14 in order to play another move due to the aji of "a".

The first two ghost moves.

The third ghost move was an example of good shape and bad shape with a move. The good of the move was it allowed Jowa to launch an attack that would lead to him winning, while the bad was making an empty triangle, a shape that is frowned upon.