Post by Please Delete on Dec 21, 2016 10:09:59 GMT -5
Based on a recent Facebook post, I thought it might be good to create a place where we could have a list of sources for period Japanese swordsmanship (or other fighting techniques). First, a quick note:
Living traditions: One of the advantages Japanese Sword Arts (JSA) have over Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) is the number of traditions still being taught, even if these are only a fraction of what once existed. It is good to keep in mind, however, that even the most traditional of Koryu schools that I've seen are still practicing traditions that were and are living arts. This means that each headmaster or menkyo kaiden could (and often do) make changes, even from year to year. This could be as simple as the angle of a cut to adding or removing entire sets of kata. That said, practicing traditional Japanese swordsmanship can be useful in understanding basic movements and being part of a good koryu group can give insight into training--just realize that there is not simply "one" way, as different schools can have quite different traditions. I recommend schools that train regularly with bokuto or metal blades (mogito or shinken). Techniques for modern shinai combat are often modified for the lighter weapons, and while they can provide a great deal of information, be aware that it is similar to comparing smallsword or modern fencing to traditional rapier combat.
Sources (most are written just post-period by those who were active during the 16th century. This is similar to works by those like Giganti, Fabris, etc.):
[li]The Life-Giving Sword: Secret Teachings from the House of the Shogun; YAGYU, Munenori; tr. by William Scott Wilson.[/li]
[li]The Unfettered Mind; TAKUAN; tr. by William Scott Wilson.[/li]
[li]Legacies of the Sword; FRIDAY, Karl.[/li]
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Any other recommendations? I'll keep looking through the library for more.
Living traditions: One of the advantages Japanese Sword Arts (JSA) have over Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) is the number of traditions still being taught, even if these are only a fraction of what once existed. It is good to keep in mind, however, that even the most traditional of Koryu schools that I've seen are still practicing traditions that were and are living arts. This means that each headmaster or menkyo kaiden could (and often do) make changes, even from year to year. This could be as simple as the angle of a cut to adding or removing entire sets of kata. That said, practicing traditional Japanese swordsmanship can be useful in understanding basic movements and being part of a good koryu group can give insight into training--just realize that there is not simply "one" way, as different schools can have quite different traditions. I recommend schools that train regularly with bokuto or metal blades (mogito or shinken). Techniques for modern shinai combat are often modified for the lighter weapons, and while they can provide a great deal of information, be aware that it is similar to comparing smallsword or modern fencing to traditional rapier combat.
Sources (most are written just post-period by those who were active during the 16th century. This is similar to works by those like Giganti, Fabris, etc.):
- Secrets of the Japanese Art of Warfare: From the School of Certain Victory; YAMAMOTO, Kansuke; tr. by Thomas Cleary.
- This is an annotated translation of a portion of a 17th century work that claims to be an excerpt from writings by Yamamoto Kansuke. Kansuke was said to be one of Takeda Shingen's generals, though his life is shrouded in legend, and modern scholars wonder if he ever existed or if he was a composite of several people, along with some fiction thrown in for good measure. Nonetheless, the swordsmanship described seems appropriate to the time and place.
[li]The Life-Giving Sword: Secret Teachings from the House of the Shogun; YAGYU, Munenori; tr. by William Scott Wilson.[/li]
- In Japanese this is actually just "Hyōhō Ka Densho" (「兵法家伝書」), and while the work is good in itself, at the end Wilson has included an illustrated catalog of the Shingkage-Ryu Martial Arts. This scroll was apparently written in 1601 and annotated in 1707 by an accomplished swordsman of Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu.
[li]The Unfettered Mind; TAKUAN; tr. by William Scott Wilson.[/li]
- These are writings from the priest Takuan to Yagyu Munenori, mostly focused on the mental aspects of Swordsmanship, it still gives a glimpse into the thoughts of the period on how to conduct oneself, particularly in a confrontation.
[li]Legacies of the Sword; FRIDAY, Karl.[/li]
- Not a Japanese manual--or really a manual at all--but a good overview of martial arts history, particularly Japanese swordsmanship, by a scholar and practitioner of Kashimashinryu. He is well regarded by historians as well as martial artists. His work helps set a lot of other things in context and attacks some of the myths and popular misconceptions.
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Any other recommendations? I'll keep looking through the library for more.