1. The material used to make the chessboard is very expensive.

Torreya is the wood of Torreya, which is also called Torreya, wild fir, and belongs to the Taxaceae family. The growth rate is slow, and it takes hundreds of years to make a whole wooden chessboard. Now Torreya is listed as a protected tree species, so the materials are rare, which is one of the reasons for the high price. The picture below shows Torreya wood.

2. The drying of torreya wood is very particular and time-consuming.

Usually, the torreya wood used to make the chessboard needs to be naturally dried after cutting. Otherwise, the water loss of the wood after the chessboard is made will cause the chessboard to become discolored and deformed. Torreya wood with a thickness of 1 cm needs to be dried for 1 year, and so on. The two-inch plate is about 6-7 cm and needs to dry for 6-7 years. The wood used to make the foot-attached chessboards (chess blocks) needs to be dried for 20 years or even longer. While drying, the wood is stored in a drying chamber and turned over regularly to allow all sides to dry evenly. This way the chessboard is less likely to crack and deform.

The picture above is a domestic plate that was cut improperly and not completely dried. The picture below shows the wood being dried on the shelf behind the craftsman who is polishing the wood.

3. Wood Determining the appearance of the chessboard

Mutori refers to the position of the wood taken out to make the chessboard in the tree. It is usually hoped that the straight grain will be on the sky surface, and the wood is divided into junmu, wood surface, wood surface, etc. The wood is divided into celestial wood, heaven and earth wood, square wood, etc. There are no scars or other defects in the removed parts, and whether the color of the wood after drying is perfect, etc. All will affect the price. The thickness of the chessboard is of course also a determining factor in the price.

The picture above is a 6-inch square-footed chessboard, and the cypress wood should be produced in Japan

4. Workmanship

The workmanship of Japanese chessboards is the most exquisite. There are Taidaomesheng, Xusheng, etc., which refer to the craftsmanship of marking lines. It is also necessary to process the sound receptor (the back side of the chess pier, navel) and attach the foot. Then paint, polish, etc., the process is complicated, and if it is not enough, it may be a waste of resources. It is worth mentioning that Taito Memori is not carved with a knife at all, as some merchants say. Instead, the blade of the knife is dipped in ink to suppress the chessboard lines. The lines are prominent. In this way, if the lines are worn, wipe them off with sandpaper, and the board itself will not be damaged when you draw them again. The reputation of the craftsman himself and the name of the chessboard shop will also greatly affect the price.

Be careful when shaving wood. The shavings are extremely thin. Any thicker ones will waste material.

The lines can only be marked in appropriate weather. The old craftsman dipped the blade into ink and pressed the ink onto the chessboard.

5. Origin

Torreya trees from Japan are the most expensive, followed by those from Yunnan and Myanmar. Chessboards made in Japan are also the most expensive because of their exquisite craftsmanship. You get what you pay for.

6. Hype

No need to explain this.

It is natural that good things are expensive.

Of course, you can also enjoy it when using it...