Fixed stone placements

In ancient China, games of Go started with this position, with White playing first. This system is called Zuozi Zhi (座子制) in Chinese. In the 1600s, the Japanese abolished this system in favour of the present system. The China Weiqi Association formally abolished this system in 1949.

Some features of Zuozi Zhi:

• It is intended to prevent mirror go.
• It aims to reduce the first player's advantage without the use of komi.
• The two points needed for each group to live are not counted as territory, called 还棋头. That is, group tax is implemented.

See also:

• Ancient Fuseki In Old China
• Online references (Chinese): 1, 2
• Review of an old Chinese game with this setup
• John Fairbairn's article, but much wider in scope.

Tibet

According to Feature: Go in Tibet by John Fairbairn, Tibetan Go is played on a 17 by 17 board and has the fixed placement as shown here.

Korea

Sunjang Baduk was common in Korea through the 16th century and into the 20th century. The first 16 moves are prescribed and Black makes the first free play usually at tengen.