Honinbo

The Honinbo school was one of four major schools of Go in Japan. Established in 1612, the Honinbo school survived until 1940. Upon the closure of the school, the title Honinbo came to be used for the champion of the Honinbo Tournament, which is now an annual event in honour of the school.

Heads of the Honinbo School

1. Sansa[?] (1612 - 23)
2. Sanetsu (1630 - 58)
3. Doetsu (1658 - 77)
4. Dosaku[?] (1677 - 1702)
5. Dochi (1702 - 27)
6. Chihaku (1727 - 33)
7. Shuhaku (1733 - 41)
8. Hakugen (1741 - 54)
9. Satsugen (1754 - 88)
10. Retsugen (1788 - 1808)
11. Genjo (1809 - 27)
12. Jowa[?] (1827 - 39)
13. Josaku (1839 - 47)
14. Shuwa (1847 - 73)
15. Shuetsu (1873 - 79)
16. Shugen (1879 - 84)
17. Shuei (1884 - 86)
18. Shuho (1886)
19. Shuei (1887 - 1907)
20. Shugen (1907 - 08)
21. Shusai[?] (1908 - 1940)

Another prominent member was Honinbo Shusaku (1829 - 1862), who was heir to be head of the school, but died of cholera first.

All three of the "go saints" (or Kisei[?]) came from this school - Dosaku, Shusaku and Jowa. Most of the holders of the Meijin[?] title (awarded to a player recognised by all as strongest) were also from this house.

Reference

• John Power, Invincible: The Games of Shusaku

External link

• The Honinbo Tournament (http://gobase.org/games/japan/TITLES/?ev=honinbo)