History of Go
The game of Go (simplified Chinese: 围棋; traditional Chinese: 圍棋; pinyin: ⓘ; Old Chinese: *ɢʷəj grə "surrounding game") is widely regarded as one of the world's oldest continuously played board games. Its origins are rooted in ancient China, with the earliest textual reference found in the Zuo Zhuan (c. 548 BCE). Its prestige and popularity rose over time, until it became considered one of the four essential arts of a cultured Chinese scholar. By the Tang dynasty, Go had become a major pastime at the imperial court, which also established a system of ranks and Go tournaments. Go spread from China to Korea between the 5th and 7th centuries CE, where it became known as baduk, and later to Japan in the 7th century, gaining popularity at the imperial court from the 8th century onward.
Initially played on a 17×17 grid, the standard 19×19 board emerged by the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE). Ancient Chinese and Korean Go also began the game with set stone placements. This way of setting up the board was abandoned in 1600s Japan, where players adopted the now standard empty board way of starting the game. In Japan, from the early 17th century (1603 onwards), the Tokugawa shogunate established four official Go schools and patronized highly formalized competitive play, including annual castle games in the presence of the shōgun as well as introducing a formal ranking system. These institutions extensively advanced the level of play in Japan. With the Meiji Restoration and the collapse of shogunal patronage, modern professional Go organization took shape under the Nihon Ki-in (Japan Go Association) in the early 20th century. Similar Chinese and Korean associations were also soon established to promote professional play.
Go's introduction to the Western world occurred in the late 19th century when German scholar Oskar Korschelt published descriptions of the game after his time in Japan. Western organized play followed in the early 20th century with figures like Edward Lasker founding clubs and publishing texts. Institutions such as the American Go Association (1935) and the German Go Association (1937) were established. In the post-war era, Japan played a major role in promoting Go globally through overseas centers, professional tours, and publications. By the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Go had evolved into a globally organized competitive activity, with numerous international championships, a thriving amateur community, and recognition by the International Go Federation. Another major development in the early 21st century was the rise of Go computers who could defeat the top Go professional players and help enthusiasts analyze Go games.