The Legs and the ‘Chidamari’ of a Go Board: Meaning and Origins

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The short answer: the legs and the “chidamari” carry old lore

The legs of a go or shogi board are said to be modelled on the fruit of the kuchinashi (gardenia), and together with the hollow on the board’s underside — the chidamari (“blood pool”) or heso (“navel”) — they carry lore handed down for centuries. These are not mere ornament but marks of a board’s rank and of Japanese culture. Note that the origins are traditional lore, with several accounts and little that can be stated as fact.

Legged boards vs tabletop

A legged board is set directly on floor or tatami and played from seiza. The legs let the board resonate, so stones and pieces sound well, and they add presence. For this reason legged boards have long been considered higher in rank, chosen for commemorations and serious play.

The legs and the “kuchinashi” fruit

The rounded legs are widely said to be shaped after the fruit of the kuchinashi (gardenia). Because kuchinashi can be read as “no mouth” (kuchi-nashi), lore holds that the shape carries a warning: no one may speak during a game — no advice from onlookers. It expresses the spirit that a game is a serious contest between the two players alone. This is tradition, not documented fact, and details of the shape differ from one board maker to another.

The “chidamari” / “heso” on the underside

On the underside, at the centre, is a pyramidal hollow called the chidamari (“blood pool”) or heso (“navel”). Practically, it is said to tune the board’s resonance and to relieve stress in a thick single slab, preventing cracking. It also carries a famous, extreme piece of lore: that one who gave advice during a game would be beheaded and their blood collected in the hollow — never an actual practice, but a vivid way of expressing how strongly meddling was forbidden.

The “rank” of a legged board

A legged board is held higher in rank than a tabletop one. What raises its rank: the legs, the wood (honkaya is finest), the thickness, and the grain (cut). A thick, well-cut honkaya legged board is the finest of instruments, and such boards have long been valued as gifts for milestones like retirement or promotion.

Using and choosing a legged board

Legged boards are heavy and need space to place, move, and store. Natural wood is vulnerable to dryness, direct sun, and sudden humidity change, so placement matters to preserving quality. Carry a board by supporting its body, not by the legs.

FAQ

What do the board’s legs mean?

They are said to be shaped after the gardenia (kuchinashi) fruit; read as “no mouth,” this carries a warning against giving advice during a game. The origin is traditional lore, with several accounts.

What is the chidamari (heso)?

The hollow at the centre of the underside, said to tune resonance and prevent cracking — and linked to the lore that warned against meddling in a game.

Was the “blood pool” lore ever real?

There is little historical evidence of any actual use; it is understood as an extreme tale expressing the rule of no advice — a cultural caution.