Blood-vomiting game

The blood-vomiting game (Japanese: 吐血の一局, toketsu no ikkyoku) 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 game was cancelled by Jowa's side, who claimed that Inseki did not deserve his promotion but had gained it through intrigue. This led Inseki to attempt to remove Jowa from his post. Failing to keep to an agreement, Jowa refused to give up his post to Inseki after 6 years (1834). Inseki then sent his pupil, Intetsu Akaboshi, expected to become Meijin after Jowa, 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. As Akaboshi was only 25 years old at the time, it is often suggested that pre-existing gastrointestinal bleeding or pulmonary disease had weakened his health, and it is possible that Akaboshi was sick for months with these diseases already.

The game

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

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 led to Jowa winning by resignation.

The first two ghost moves, white 2 and 4 in the diagram below, allowed white to ignore black's move at 1 in order to play another move at 6 due to the aji of "a".

The first two ghost moves.

The third ghost move was an example of bad shape but good move. Although forming an empty triangle shape is normally avoided because it is inefficient, the move allowed Jowa to launch a splitting attack that would lead to his victory.

The third and last ghost move.

End of the game

The end position. The ghost moves are marked in order.

 

• Sensei's Library article on the "Blood Vomiting Game"