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Historical Weapons: Kendo Study Guide

Historical Weapons: Kendo Study Guide

05/15/04 Page 1of 11

Historical Weapons: Kendo Study Guide

Historical Background

When studying the history of Kendo, one way to see how the sport has evolvedfrom a fighting style on the battlefield to the national sport of Japan is to trace itsroutes through the actual history of Japan itself. The time periods which have hada part to play in the creation of Kendo as we know it today are as follows:

➢

The Heian Era

➢

The Kamakura Era

➢

The Muromachi Era

➢

The Edo Era

➢

The Meiji Era

➢

The Taisho Era

➢

The Modern Era

Heian Era (794-1185 AD)

The Japanese sword that emerged in the middle of the 11

th

Century (middle of the

Heian

Era 794-1185 AD ) had a slightly arched blade with raised ridges (called

Shinogi

).

Kamakura Era (1200 – 1299 AD)

The original model of sword was presumably handled by a tribe that specializedin cavalry battles in northern Japan during the 9

th

century. Since then, this swordwas used by the

Samurai

and production technology advanced rapidly during theperiod of early

Samurai

-government reign (end of the

Kamakura

Era in the 13

th

Century).

Muromachi Era (1392 – 1573 AD)

After the

Onin

War occurred in the latter half of the

Muromachi

Era (1392-1573),Japan experienced anarchy for a hundred years. During this time, many schools of

Kenjutsu

were established. The Japanese sword was made using the

Tatarafuki

casting method with high quality iron sand obtained from the riverbedHowever, it did not take long before large quantities of firearms were madesuccessfully using this high quality iron sand and the same casting method toproduce swords. As a result, the heavy-armored battling style that prevailed up tothen changed dramatically to a lighter hand-to-hand battling style.Actual battling experiences resulted in advanced development and specializationof sword-smithing as well as the establishment of more refined sword-handlingtechniques and skills that have been handed down to the present through thevarious schools such as the

Shinkage-ryu

and

Itto-ryu

.05/15/04 Page 2of 11

Historical Weapons: Kendo Study Guide

Edo Era (1603 – 1867 AD)

Japan began to experience a relatively peaceful period from the beginning of the

Edo

Era (1603-1867). During this time, techniques of the

Ken

(the Japanesesword) were converted from techniques of killing people to one of developing theperson through concepts such as the

Katsunin-ken

which included not onlytheories on strong swordsmanship, but also concepts of a disciplinary life-style of the

Samurai

.

Written Teachings

These ideas were compiled in books elaborating on the art of warfare in the early

Edo

Era. Examples of these include:

➢

“

Heiho Kadensho

(The Life-giving Sword)” by

Yagyu Munenori

➢

“

Fudochi Shinmyoroku

(The Unfettered Mind )” by Priest

Takuan

➢

“

Ken to Zen

(Sword and

Zen)”

written for

Tokugawa Iemitsu

➢

“

Gorin-no-sho

(The Book of Five Rings)” by

Miyamoto Musashi

What these publications tried to convey to the

Samurai

was how to live beyonddeath. These teachings were to be used for everyday life. The

Samurai

studiedthese books and teachings daily, lived an austere life, cultivated their minds, anddevoted themselves to the refinement of

Bujutsu

, learned to differentiate betweengood and evil, and learned that in times of emergency they were ready to sacrificetheir lives for their

Han

(clan) and feudal lord. In present day terms, they workedas bureaucrats and soldiers.The

Bushido

spirit that evolved during this time, developed during a peaceful 246years of the

Tokugawa

period. Even after the collapse of the feudal system, this

Bushido

spirit lives on in the minds of the Japanese.

Shotoku Era (1711 – 1715 AD)

As peaceful times continued, while

Kenjutsu

developed new graceful techniquesof the

Ken

created from actual sword battling skills,

NaganumaShirozaemon- Kunisato

of the

Jiki-shinkage-ryu

school developed a new foundation intechniques of the

Ken

. During the

Shotoku

Era (1711-1715)

Naganuma

developedthe

Kendo-gu

(protective equipment) and established a training method using the

Shinai

(bamboo-sword). This is the direct origin of present day Kendo discipline.

Horeki Era (1751 – 1764 AD)

Thereafter, during the

Horeki

Era (1751-1764),

NakanishiChuzo-kotake

of

Itto-ryu

started a new training method using an iron

Men

(headgear) and

Kendo-gu

made of bamboo, which became prevalent among many schools in a short periodof time.05/15/04 Page 3of 11

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