Go Tables
For connoisseurs, a Go-ban is the most traditional and fitting way to enjoy the game of Go. A great way to play the most aesthetic board game in existence and a trendy piece of furniture that can be a great talking point for visitors as well.
Chinese Cherrywood Veneer Goban
Our
first Go ban is made from a solid block of wood with a polished Chinese
Cherrywood veneer top.
It comes with 4 shaped, screw-in legs and the dimensions of the block part are 44 x 47 x 14.5cm. The legs add a further 12cm to the height.
Shown with slate & clamshell stones (not included).
Click on the picture to enlarge.
Change to $  Change to  |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
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Goban - Chinese Cherrywood (15cm) |
£153.11 | £179.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Katsura Goban
Our
second Go-ban is a high-quality table made from solid Katsura wood which
is a good hard, long-lasting wood and one of the most popular quality
woods for Go equipment. It is sourced from Japan and has four ornately
shaped, integral legs.
Dimensions are 46.5 x 43.5 x 15cm.
Click on the picture to enlarge.
| Change to $ Change to |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
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Goban - Japanese Katsura 15cm |
£619.49 | £727.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Shin Kaya Goban
This
is our top-of-the-range Go-ban made from sold Shin Kaya wood (Alaskan
Spruce), which is generally accepted as one of the best woods for Go equipment.
It has four ornately shaped, integral legs and is sourced from Korea.
Dimensions are 46.5 x 43.5 x 14cm with legs approx. 9cm.
Click on the picture to enlarge.
| Change to $ Change to |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goban - Korean Shin Kaya 14cm |
£691.83 | £812.90 | 2 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
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The Origin of Go
Wei Qi (also spelt Wei-Ch'i) as it's known in China, Baduk (Paduk or Pa-dok) as it's known in Korea or Go, as it is known in Japan and generally in the West, is considered by most Oriental game experts to be the worlds greatest strategic skill game, far surpassing Chess in it's complexity and scope. Wei-Ch'i means "surrounding game" or "surrounding chess" and the object is simply to capture territory by placing down counters on the board.
Wei Qi is the most perfect of board games from several perspectives. Of all the serious board games, Go has the fewest rules and yet, the game itself is is the most intellectually challenging. No computer program has yet been written which has been able to compete with the best Go players. The mathematical elegance of the rules is complemented by the great beauty of the boards and stones - of all board games in the world, Go has been raised by the Japanese to a pinnacle of aesthetic beauty.
According to Chinese history, Wei-Ch'i was invented by Emperor Shun (2255 - 2206 BC) to help develop the intelligence of his son, Shokin. A alternative version attributes the invention of Go to U, who lived during the reign of Emperor Kieh Kwei several hundred years later. Under non-Chinese history, it is thought more likely that the game originated in central Asia from where it spread eastwards through Nepal and Tibet to China.
The Go board can either be a flat table board or the more traditional floor-board with legs (Go-ban). The wood used, the quality of the grain and how the grain is oriented is of prime importance. Most common are Itame boards in which the grain is bent or irregular. Better boards are Masame which means the grain runs straight across the top of the board. Best of all are Tenmasa Masame boards that have grain running from bottom to top as well as straight across the top.
The best Go stones are made of slate and clamshell and the quality and the grain on the clamshell matters. There are two grades of Go stone based on the white pieces, Yuki - snow white and jitusyo - ordinary. The thickness of the stones varies according to personal taste. There is a knack to playing a stone - it should be held between the index and middle fingers and placed with an audible click. The Go bowls which hold the stones should also be of good quality wood with straight grain.
You can learn more about the History of Go from The Online Guide to Traditional Games.