The Throne That Wouldn’t Yield
When Doseki—mentor, protector, and now reigning Meijin—was officially appointed as head of the Go world, few dared question the decision. His justification was wrapped in duty: a visiting envoy from Ryukyu required an official certificate from a legitimate Meijin, and only Doseki, as an 8-dan, could fulfill that request. It was presented as temporary, a technicality to preserve national honor.
Ten Years on the Throne
Doseki didn’t rule briefly. He ruled for a decade.
The oath he once treated as sacred was buried under layers of silence and formality. At first, he claimed it was temporary. Then, he avoided the topic altogether. And finally, he simply acted as though the promise had never existed.
Behind closed doors, the Honinbo school simmered. Douchi was no longer a child. He was a full-fledged 7-dan professional, respected and feared. To many, he was Dosaku’s true heir—by talent, and by right. Yet he remained in the shadows, while his own master sat on a throne.
It was a betrayal wrapped in paternalism.
And outside the Honinbo, whispers grew. Had Doseki stolen the title? Was this all part of a long game, masked as mentorship?
Still, Doseki continued to produce. He compiled Hatsuyōron—a brilliant and enduring book of Go life-and-death problems. Some said he merely compiled existing Chinese problems. Others argued it was his original contribution to the art. Either way, the book secured his name in history.
But to the Honinbo, none of it erased the core truth: he had betrayed his vow.
Time Runs Out
Doseki finally passed in 1723 at the age of 74, after ten full years as Meijin. By then, Douchi was 31.
To this day, historians debate whether Doseki truly intended to keep his word or whether ambition consumed him along the way. Was he preserving the dignity of the Go world? Or preserving his own place in it?
What is certain is that the Honinbo school never forgave the theft. Not truly. Though Douchi carried on with grace, and the Go world moved forward, the wound left by that broken oath remained—silent, but deep.
The Shadow of Legacy
A master can pass on knowledge, but reputation? That’s a harder thing.
When Douchi finally assumed control of the Honinbo school, he did so not as a chosen successor, but as a survivor. A student who had waited in the wings too long. And while he carried the legacy of Dosaku, he did so with the bitter taste of a promise unkept.
Doseki’s name would be honored. His books are preserved. But among the students of Honinbo, he was no longer a guardian of the house.
He was its usurper.
Next Episode:
What comes after betrayal? How does Douchi rebuild trust—and reclaim the honor that was once promised him? Subscribe to the Simple Baduk email list to find out what happens next. History isn’t done with Douchi yet.
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Copyright Notice
This English adaptation is based on Japanese Go Stories (《日本围棋故事》, 2016) by Xue Zhicheng (薛至诚).
For non-commercial use only: Shared for educational purposes under fair use.
Rights retained: All copyrights belong to the original author and cited sources.
Modifications: Minor narrative adjustments were made for readability; all historical content remains accurate.
No affiliation or endorsement: This work is independent and unaffiliated with the original author or publishers.
Contact: For verification or takedown requests, please email help@zeejyan.com.
References
Adapted from:
Xue Zhicheng (薛至诚), Japanese Go Stories (《日本围棋故事》), 2016.
Cited in original work:
Watanabe Hideo (渡辺英夫), Shin Zaigin Dansō (《新坐隱談叢》)
Watanabe Yoshimichi (渡部義通), Kodai Igo no Sekai (《古代囲碁の世界》)
Lin Yu (林裕), Weiqi Encyclopedia (《围棋百科辞典》)
