参考

Resources

For more information on Kashima-shinden Jiki Shinkage-ryū in English, please see:

This is a collected set of works that stems from martial arts essays centered around Shinkage-ryū, which were first hosted online at Inner Dharma. They have been edited and expanded with discussions of historical writings on Jiki Shinkage-ryū, the technical composiiton of its kata, and how Taoist and Buddhist practices permeate the art.

Some excerpts on Jikishinkage-ryū history from Truth of the Calm Spirit (TOCS) can be found here.

Summary

The Truth of the Calm Spirit presents an analysis of Jiki Shinkage-ryū, one of the oldest surviving forms of Japanese swordsmanship (kenjutsu). The work examines the practice of Jiki Shinkage-ryū Heihō as Taoist Internal Alchemy.

Key Concepts and Influences

  • Taoist Internal Alchemy: The document explores the influence of Taoist practices, especially in the art's early, formative years, suggesting echoes of Xíngyì Quán are found in Jiki Shinkage-ryū postures and movements. The art contains concepts drawn from Taoism (likely the Complete Reality School), Zen, and esoteric schools of Buddhism.
  • Chinese Influence: Chinese influence on Japanese martial arts is noted during two primary periods: pre or early Tokugawa and post-Meiji. The founder of Shin (True) Shinkage Heihō, Ogasawara Genshinsai Minamoto no Nagaharu, is reputed to have both taught martial method and been exposed to contemporary Chinese teachings during a pilgrimage to China.
  • Internal Martial Arts: Jiki Shinkage-ryū physical practice embodies hallmarks of internal martial arts training, including: careful stepping, erect posture with a bowed back, soft 'reverse' breathing, and an emphasis on perception, sensitivity, and the ability to generate immense levels of power.
  • Kiai and Breathing: The characteristic breathing style, a-un kokyū (阿吽呼吸; om breathing), is named in homage to the Niō guardians, symbolizing life and death, yin and yang, initiation and completion. Combative vocalizations (kiai) such as ya (ヤ), ei (エ), mu (ム), and to (卜) are associated with different energetic centers of the body and the Taoist five elements.

Curriculum and Structure

  • Organization: The art is organized around Shunkashūtō (春夏秋冬; Four Seasons) and Taoist five-element theory.
  • Hōjō (法定; Foundational Practice): This foundational set, which is believed to have originally contained five kata, now has four forms that Ogasawara Genshinsai revised. Hōjō is considered the element of earth and encompasses all seasons. Unpō (運法) are ritualized walking methods utilized between kata in the set.

Lineage and Documentation

  • Historical Document: The analysis is based on a mokuroku (catalogue of teachings) titled Jikishinkage-ryū Hyōhō Mokuroku Shidai issued in 1768.
  • Lineage: The author's line of instruction continues through the Odani-ha of Sakakibara Kenkichi, Yamada Jirokichi, Kawashima Takashi, Ōnishi Hidetaka, Namiki Yasushi, and Itō Masayuki to his teacher.

Excerpts

Introduction

Jiki Shinkage-ryū is one of the strongest surviving forms of medieval Japanese swordsmanship. One should ask why – and this work is an effort to provide an answer to that question. Key in that discourse will be an examination of its overall organization, structure of teachings, and what philosophical and religious concepts are used to describe its innermost organizing principles. To do so, we must examine first the influence religion and philosophy has had on Japanese martial culture, especially in terms of Zen, esoteric Buddhism, Taoism, and Shamanism...

Textual Analysis

We describe basic features of Jiki Shinkage-ryū practice including its characteristic methods of breathing, combative vocalization, posture, and its organization around Taoist five element theory as applied to the calendar seasons. We then analyse its kata curriculum, using recorded material from Waseda University in the form of a mokuroku (catalogue) license issued in 1768. We contextualize technical material with teaching poems from this document and explain, as best we are able, how they might relate...

On Kiai

The loud kiai and ibuki style breathing found in the main lines of Jiki Shinkage-ryū today may actually be a later invention, one that became out of balance over time in a desire to instill proper fighting spirit to a very large audience...

The Gokui

The Gokui of Jiki Shinkage-ryū includes both Buddhist and Taoist concepts. In contemporary writings on Jiki Shinkage-ryū, Rinzai Zen influence is emphasized, especially due to the popularization of Hōjō in the west... I hope this work will do a small measure to restore the balance of analysis to call attention to and recognize the Taoist and esoteric Buddhist influences on Shinkage-ryū...