19th-Century Samurai Training Text

[TheCommandTent]

A training text, used by a martial arts school to teach members of the bushi (samurai) class, has been deciphered, revealing the rules samurai were expected to follow and what it took to truly become a master swordsman.

The text is called Bugei no jo, which means "Introduction to Martial Arts" and is dated to the 15th year of Tenpo (1844). Written for samurai students about to learn Takenouchi-ryū, a martial arts system, it would have prepared students for the challenges awaiting them.

"These techniques of the sword, born in the age of the gods, had been handed down through divine transmission. They form a tradition revered by the world, but its magnificence manifests itself only when one's knowledge is ripe," part of the text reads in translation. "When [knowledge] is mature, the mind forgets about the hand, the hand forgets about the sword," a level of skill that few obtain and which requires a calm mind.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/08/29/1th-century-samurai-training-text-deciphered/?intcmp=features#ixzz2dPv9aDes

More at the link.

[LongBlade]

I read that last night.

There was a lot of writing in the article, but I didn't feel like I knew anything more after reading.

I would like to get my hands on the full text.

[Gusington]

Interesting...written only 10 years before the arrival of the Americans in Japan.

[besilarius]

Kind of wonder if some of the samurai writers, like Stephen Turnbull, have already used this in their own books.