History of Kendo.Pdf

A Brief Synopsis of the History of Kendo By Alex Bennett Originally published in Kendo World Issue 3.1, 2004 The Meiji Restoration and Kendo The modern art of kendo, now practiced by millions of people in Japan and around the world evolved from tried and tested battlefield techniques. With the advancement of tenka taihei, or “peace throughout the realm” during the Tokugawa period (1600-1868), the martial arts took on new a role for the ruling samurai class. With no more wars to demonstrate martial valour, the military arts were studied as vehicles for self-development, with increasing emphasis placed on aesthetic and spiritual values rather than just as a means to kill. The Tokugawa period saw the martial arts decline temporarily towards the end of the seventeenth century then flourish with unprecedented popularity from the mid eighteenth century. Martial schools (bugei-ryūha) increased in number exponentially during this period with an estimated number of over seven-hundred schools of kenjutsu alone. Respect for the traditional martial arts was brought to an abrupt end with the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry’s “Black Ships” from America in 1853. After centuries of self-imposed isolation (sakoku), Japan found herself out-dated, outgunned, and out of its depth with the Western nations. Although seclusion from the rest of the world had given the Japanese martial arts time to develop into fascinating martial anachronisms, rich in ritualistic symbolism and spiritualism, they were no match for the devastating firepower of Western nations demanding special rights and privileges for trade. Following the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the Japanese set about rebuilding the nation by drawing on the latest technology and ideas the West had to offer. This essentially meant that long-established Japanese martial arts such as kenjutsu fell into obscurity due to a lack of perceived practical application. Guns, cannons, and a new conscript army were the order of the day if Japan was to catch up with the rest of the world. The era abounded with catch phrases such as wakon-yōsai (Japanese spirit, Western technology) as they strove to educate the masses, arm the nation, and match the West in terms of a new modern civil society. Kenjutsu, along with the other martial arts, was considered by many symbolic of the outdated feudal hierarchy which placed the minority bushi above all other echelons of society, and was thus relegated to the realms of old-fashioned nonsense with no practical use to the newly emerging modern society. With the abolishment of the Bakufu’s military academy the Kōbusho in 1866, and the dissolution of han (feudal domains) and the bushi controlled hankō (domain schools) in 1871, martial arts were no longer taught on a wide scale. The new national education curriculum was redesigned on the Western model to educate the masses rather than the privileged few, and martial arts classes were not included. Former bushi rapidly lost their special privileges, and the final nail in the coffin was the edict denying them the right to wear the item considered the embodiment of their very soul, the katana. Many of those from bushi stock found themselves in a world of unemployment and poverty. Some high-ranking bushi were endowed with positions of authority in the organs of Japan’s new government, but many others were left without status, employment, or income, and a significant number were reduced to utter destitution. In the midst of this social upheaval, those hit particularly hard were the bujutsu instructors in the employ of the Bakufu or domains, or those who managed their own private dōjō . Sakakibara Kenkichi and Gekken Kōgyō A notable warrior who dedicated himself to reviving the martial arts was Sakakibara Kenkichi (left). He successfully initiated a series of public demonstration matches by celebrated martial artists in an event known as gekken-kōgyō (gekken or gekken=kendo, kōgyō=entertainment). The first of these curious martial shows was held in Asakusa for 10 days commencing April 11, 1873. Any member of the public was welcome to witness the spectacle as long as they paid the entrance fee. Spectators were even allowed to participate in matches if they thought they were up to the challenge. Sakakibara’s initiative was well received by the public and the media, and the makeshift arena was packed to capacity. The success of Sakakibara’s first meet inspired similar demonstrations throughout the country, giving rise to a gekken- kōgyō boom conducted by newly set-up troupes of martial artists. Apart with providing martial artists with income, of even more significance to modern practitioners of kendo was the role gekken-kōgyō played in ensuring the survival of the traditional martial arts. The martial arts had fallen into decline a few years after the Meiji Restoration, but gekken-kōgyō ensured that they didn't fall completely out of view. In fact many acknowledge that if it were not for the gekken-kōgyō and the efforts made by Sakakibara Kenkichi, traditional bujutsu may not have made the transition into the modern period. Nevertheless, there was also a perceived downside to gekken- kōgyō. To many critics, it was lamentable to see the once proud bushi "selling their souls and prostituting their martial skills" for financial gain. Furthermore, many of the shows were laced with sensational but hardly practical techniques and sound effects in the name of entertainment, just as one would expect to see at a pro-wrestling event today. This was viewed as detracting from the true spirit of the martial arts. Still, the historical importance of the gekken-kōgyō cannot be denied, and in many ways it is thanks to this chapter in history that we still have kendo today. Keishichō Kendo Many of the highest ranking kendo exponents in Japan have some affiliation with the police. This relationship extends back to the early stages of the Meiji government's police system. After a temporary ban to prevent disgruntled former warriors (shizoku) hatching subversive plots to overthrow the government, gekken meets were eventually reinstated and became a recruitment ground for the newly formed police force. What Japan needed during these volatile times after the Satsuma Rebellion (1) was brought to an end was fighting fit police constables. Traditional kenjutsu was viewed as one way of achieving this. Superintendent of the newly formed Meiji Police Bureau (Keishichō) Kawaji Toshiyoshi, admired the Battōtai division, a police unit armed only with swords that performed magnificently in the battle at Tabaruzaka (1877) and defeated Saigō Takamori’s rebel forces. This well-publicised battle encouraged many to reconsider the true value and potential of traditional bujutsu, in particular kenjutsu. Before making a trip overseas in 1879 to inspect foreign policing systems, Kawaji published his thoughts in an essay titled Kenjutsu Saikō-ron. He asserted that police officers must be in good physical shape for self- defence and also to apprehend criminals. His ideas were assented, and renowned kenjutsu exponents were recruited into the police force to serve as instructors. On January 19, 1880, the Police Academy guidelines were established, and it was stipulated within that all cadets were to be instructed in kenjutsu. The gekken shows became the target not of government inspectors, but of scouts who went in search of likely candidates to teach kenjutsu to the police. The swordsmen ranking at the top of the programs were well aware of the opportunities that awaited, and one by one they found themselves with stable careers teaching kenjutsu. This was a great turn in fortune for some swordsmen, but spelled the end of gekken-kōgyō. Apart from a few companies such as that led by Satake Kanryūsai who travelled the provinces, most other groups disappeared thus signifying the end of the gekken-kōgyō era. Apart from holding competitions, the Keishichō were actively involved in the refinement and unification of kenjutsu by creating kata (set forms), and also a basic ranking system. It is difficult to establish exactly the Keishichō kata were created, but records of a demonstration of various kata at the 1886 Keishichō Bujutsu Taikai (police martial arts tournament) suggest that they were formulated around this time, and named Keishichō-ryū, a tradition that is still practiced by some members of the Japanese police today. Kendo in Education The road to include kendo into the school curriculum was long and complicated. From as early as the 1870s, there were a growing number of government officials, educators and private citizens who voiced their inhibitions about totally “Westernizing” the education system, and at least wanted to retain certain aspects of “Japanese-ness”. This was especially the case with physical education which was centered heavily on Western gymnastics. They raised the question of why it was not possible to incorporate traditional Japanese bujutsu into schools. To investigate the potential benefits and demerits of such a policy, the Ministry of Education instigated a several official investigations. Of particular note was the 1883 survey done by the National Institute of Gymnastics (Taisō Denshūsho), and then the 1896 investigations conducted by the School Health Advisors Board (Gakkō Eisei Komonkai). The 1883 investigation bore the following conclusions; 1. An effective means of enhancing physical development. 2. Develops stamina. 3. Rouses the spirit and boosts morale. 4. Expurgates spinelessness and replaces it with vigour. 5. Arms the exponent with techniques for self-defence in times of danger. The demerits were listed as follows: 1. May cause unbalanced physical development. 2. Always an imminent danger present in training. 3. Difficult to determine the appropriate degree of exercise, especially as physically strong students must train together with weaker individuals. 4. Could encourage violent behaviour due to the rousing of the spirit.

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