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Way of the Sword
By FightingSpirit.Biz
Apr 3, 2006
Way of the sword: one of the sacred treasures of Japan, the sword symbolises a state of mind, a spiritual Way and a manner of life. In fact, so revealing of a warrior's personality, Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 16th century could identify any one of his samurai generals by the blade of their sword. Among the many legends of swordsmanship is that pertaining to Iizasa Morisada, one of the brave samurai who led the 19th century conspiracy. He belonged to one of Japan's most famous ryu, created at the beginning of the 15th century. New combat rules were perfected and the ryu evolved, being handed down from father to son through the generations. Still steeped in tradition and secrecy, the instruction in the Way of the sword lasts several years.
Another great master, born with the 'gift of the sword', was Miyamoto Musashi. Following an incredible number of fights, and a long period of meditation, he created a ryu for instruction in two swords tactics. Again, his teachings passed through the generations, and his tomb remains a place of pilgrimage four centuries on.
With the unification of Japan, sword combat virtually ceased but the samurai continued to practise swordsmanship as a skill for character building and as a means of cultivating discipline and patience. Practising these skills with a sword (kenjutsu) was very dangerous, and it soon became necessary to introduce some form of protection. The upper body and hands were covered with leather or metal guards, and a helmet (kabuto) was designed to protect the head. By the 18th century an 'artificial' sword of bamboo was being used called a 'shinai' and this was gradually developed to form the two-handed wooden sword used today in kendo.
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