Gomoku, also known as “Renju” or “Gomoku-bibe”, is a board game with simple rules but profound strategies. It is widely popular in East Asia, especially in China, Japan, South Korea and other countries.

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1. The Ancient Origins of Gobang

1. The Beginning of Ancient China

• Gobang originated in China . According to historical records, as early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period (around the 5th century BC) , China had a prototype game similar to Gobang.
• People at that time used a simple chessboard and black and white stones to play the game. The winner was the one who formed a line first. This primitive form is considered to be the earliest form of Gobang.

2. Evolution of the name

• In ancient Chinese books, Gobang was once called “Wudao” or “Wumuqi”.
• “Gomoku” means five chess pieces connected in a line , whether it is a straight line, horizontal line or diagonal line, you can win. This simple and clear rule has been used to this day.

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2. The Spread of Gobang to Other East Asian Regions

1. Introduced to Japan

• With the cultural exchange between the Tang Dynasty and Japan, Gobang was introduced to Japan between the 7th and 8th centuries .
• In Japan, backgammon is called “Gomunai”.
• Japan later developed more formal competition rules based on Gobang, such as the “Renju Rules”, which emphasize fairness and strategy, and established a special Renju Association.

2. Popularity in South Korea

• In South Korea, Gobang is also popular and is called “Omok”.
• South Korea has also developed its own competition system and technical school, making Gobang one of the most popular intellectual competitive games in South Korea.

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3. Evolution and Standardization of Gomoku Rules

1. Original rules

• The rules of traditional Gobang are very simple: both players take turns placing pieces on the board, and the first player to connect five pieces in a straight line, horizontal line or diagonal line wins.
• The Go board usually uses a 19×19 grid board, but different sizes such as 15×15 grid are also available.

2. The birth of the rules of Goju

• In order to prevent the first player from having too much of an advantage, Japan established the rules of “Renju” in the early 20th century .
• In the rules of Lianzhu, the black player (the first player) is subject to more restrictions, such as prohibiting “three-three forbidden moves”, “four-four forbidden moves” and “long consecutive forbidden moves” (more than five connected pieces are considered a foul) to balance the winning rate of both players.

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4. The Modern Development and Internationalization of Gobang

1. Establishment of the Go International Federation (RIF)

• In 1988 , the **Renju International Federation** (RIF) was established with the aim of promoting the games of Renju and Gomoku and standardizing international competition rules.
• RIF regularly hosts the World Renju Championship and youth championships.

2. Gomoku and Video Games

• With the development of technology, Gobang has quickly entered computer and mobile phone platforms, and various online Gobang games and AI game programs have become popular around the world.
• For example, Yahoo Games, KGS Lianju Server, Gobang App, etc. allow players around the world to play games and communicate at any time.

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5. SEO Summary of the Origin of Gobang

project	content
Place of origin	China
Origin period	Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period (approximately 5th century BC)
Main distribution areas	China, Japan, South Korea
Rule evolution	Original Go-Rong system → Japanese Go-Rong rules (banned moves system)
Modern Development	International competitions, electronic games

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Summarize

Gomoku, a traditional Chinese chess game, has undergone millennia of evolution and cultural exchange, gaining widespread popularity and development not only in East Asia but also globally.
With its ease of learning, rich strategic possibilities, and endless variety, Gomoku has become a classic board game that blends wisdom, artistry, and competitive spirit.