Iaijutsu
Encyclopedia
, the art of drawing the Japanese sword. One of Japanese martial disciplines in education of the classical warrior (bushi
).
period (before 1603) but it is unclear exactly when the term "iaijutsu" first came into use, or when exactly drawing the katana
from its scabbard first became practiced as a martial art. Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (c.1546–c.1621), the founder of the Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū
and Musō Shinden-ryū
schools, is generally credited with the invention of iaijutsu, but this is contrary to the account of Iizasa Chōisai Ienao (c.1387–c.1488), who devised a system of drawing the sword and founded the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
100 years earlier.
(Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon Shoki
(History of Japan), both of which were compiled in the eighth century A.D., are but two outstanding examples in which iron
swords and swordsmanship are dated back to the Japanese mythological age of the gods (kami
).
Archaeological excavations dated the oldest sword in Japan
form at least as early as second century B.C.
The development of Japanese swordsmanship as a component system of classical bujutsu (classical martial arts) created by and for professional warriors (bushi
), begins only with the invention and widespread use of the Japanese sword, the curved, single-cutting-edged long sword.
In its curved form, the sword is know to the Japanese as 'tachi' in the eighth century. It evolved from and gained ascendancy over its straight-bladed prototype because years of battlefield experience proved that the curved form of sword was better suited to the needs of the Japanese warriors (bushi
) than the straight-bladed kind. Around the curved long sword the bushi
built a mystique of fantastic dimensions, one that still influences Japanese culture today.
The nature of the bushi
's combative deployment, mounted as he was on horseback, required the classical warrior to reach out for his enemy, who might either be similarly mounted or otherwise ground-deployed.
During the Kamakura
period (1185-1333) the Japanese sword smiths achieved the highest level of technical excellence and because the war between two influential families, the Minamoto and the Taira, made it possible to test and evaluate swords under the severest of conditions.
By the end of this period the long sword (tachi) was superseded by a shorter weapon in a new form, called katana
.
It was with the general widespread use of the curved sword mounted and worn as a katana
that classical Japanese swordsmanship for infantry applications really begins. It is not until the fifteenth century that there are evidence in reliable documentary form to prove that the bushi
practiced swordsmanship in a systematic manner. In this connection it is belief that kenjutsu
, which deals with the art of swordsmanship as it is performed with a wooden sword (bokken
) that has already been brought into unsheathed position, is the senior form to iaijutsu.
Iaijutsu is extant today but there exist also a modern form for drawing the Japanese sword, called iaido
. Iaido, the way of drawing the sword, appeared as a term in 1932 and was popularized by Nakayama Hakudō
(1869-1958). More about the history of iaido can be read in the article Iaido
.
The seated posture, Tate-hiza, is not used in iaijutsu because this posture does not permit all-around mobility. The posture seiza, the formal kneeling-sitting posture, is either used because this posture is a 'dead' posture where regarded by the warrior as less combatively efficient. It would be difficult for the swordsman using either of these two later postures to go quickly into action in an emergency.
Bushi
Bushi and similar can refer to:*Bushi, a term for samurai seen in the term Bushidō*Bushi , a genre of Japanese folk music*Bushi , a region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo*Bushi language, a language of Madagascar and Mayotte...
).
Etymology
"Iaijutsu" was known before the TokugawaTokugawa
Tokugawa may refer to:*Tokugawa clan, a powerful family of Japan**Tokugawa Ieyasu, the most notable member of the Tokugawa clan and founder of its shogunate*Tokugawa shogunate, a feudal regime of Japan...
period (before 1603) but it is unclear exactly when the term "iaijutsu" first came into use, or when exactly drawing the katana
Katana
A Japanese sword, or , is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan. There are several types of Japanese swords, according to size, field of application and method of manufacture.-Description:...
from its scabbard first became practiced as a martial art. Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (c.1546–c.1621), the founder of the Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū
Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu
, is a koryū sword art, and one of the most widely practiced schools of iaijutsu in the world. Often referred to simply as "Eishin-ryū," it claims an unbroken lineage dating back to the sixteenth century....
and Musō Shinden-ryū
Muso Shinden-ryu
is a iaijutsu koryū founded by Nakayama Hakudō , last sōke of the Shimomura branch of Hasegawa Eishin-ryū. The term "iaidō" appeared in 1932 and was popularized by Nakayama Hakudō .-Particularities:...
schools, is generally credited with the invention of iaijutsu, but this is contrary to the account of Iizasa Chōisai Ienao (c.1387–c.1488), who devised a system of drawing the sword and founded the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu
is one of the oldest extant Japanese martial arts, and an exemplar of koryū bujutsu. The Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū was founded by Iizasa Ienao, born 1387 in Iizasa village , who was living near Katori Shrine at the time...
100 years earlier.
The purpose of iaijutsu
Iaijutsu is a combative sword-drawing art but not necessarily an aggressive art because iaijutsu is also a counterattack-oriented art. Iaijutsu technique may be used aggressively to wage a premeditated surprise attack against an unsuspecting enemy. The formulation of iaijutsu as a component system of classical bujutsu was made less for the dynamic situations of the battlefield than for the relatively static applications of the warrior's daily life off the field of battle.History of iaijutsu
The KojikiKojiki
is the oldest extant chronicle in Japan, dating from the early 8th century and composed by Ō no Yasumaro at the request of Empress Gemmei. The Kojiki is a collection of myths concerning the origin of the four home islands of Japan, and the Kami...
(Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon Shoki
Nihon Shoki
The , sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate and detailed than the Kojiki, the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and archaeologists as it includes the most complete extant historical...
(History of Japan), both of which were compiled in the eighth century A.D., are but two outstanding examples in which iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
swords and swordsmanship are dated back to the Japanese mythological age of the gods (kami
Kami
is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity", some Shinto scholars argue that such a translation can cause a misunderstanding of the term...
).
Archaeological excavations dated the oldest sword in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
form at least as early as second century B.C.
The development of Japanese swordsmanship as a component system of classical bujutsu (classical martial arts) created by and for professional warriors (bushi
Bushi
Bushi and similar can refer to:*Bushi, a term for samurai seen in the term Bushidō*Bushi , a genre of Japanese folk music*Bushi , a region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo*Bushi language, a language of Madagascar and Mayotte...
), begins only with the invention and widespread use of the Japanese sword, the curved, single-cutting-edged long sword.
In its curved form, the sword is know to the Japanese as 'tachi' in the eighth century. It evolved from and gained ascendancy over its straight-bladed prototype because years of battlefield experience proved that the curved form of sword was better suited to the needs of the Japanese warriors (bushi
Bushi
Bushi and similar can refer to:*Bushi, a term for samurai seen in the term Bushidō*Bushi , a genre of Japanese folk music*Bushi , a region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo*Bushi language, a language of Madagascar and Mayotte...
) than the straight-bladed kind. Around the curved long sword the bushi
Bushi
Bushi and similar can refer to:*Bushi, a term for samurai seen in the term Bushidō*Bushi , a genre of Japanese folk music*Bushi , a region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo*Bushi language, a language of Madagascar and Mayotte...
built a mystique of fantastic dimensions, one that still influences Japanese culture today.
The nature of the bushi
Bushi
Bushi and similar can refer to:*Bushi, a term for samurai seen in the term Bushidō*Bushi , a genre of Japanese folk music*Bushi , a region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo*Bushi language, a language of Madagascar and Mayotte...
's combative deployment, mounted as he was on horseback, required the classical warrior to reach out for his enemy, who might either be similarly mounted or otherwise ground-deployed.
During the Kamakura
Kamakura
Kamakura can refer to:*Japanese name*Kamakura, Kanagawa, a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan*Kamakura shogunate*Kamakura period, a history of Japan*Kamakura , a fictional character in the G.I...
period (1185-1333) the Japanese sword smiths achieved the highest level of technical excellence and because the war between two influential families, the Minamoto and the Taira, made it possible to test and evaluate swords under the severest of conditions.
By the end of this period the long sword (tachi) was superseded by a shorter weapon in a new form, called katana
Katana
A Japanese sword, or , is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan. There are several types of Japanese swords, according to size, field of application and method of manufacture.-Description:...
.
It was with the general widespread use of the curved sword mounted and worn as a katana
Katana
A Japanese sword, or , is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan. There are several types of Japanese swords, according to size, field of application and method of manufacture.-Description:...
that classical Japanese swordsmanship for infantry applications really begins. It is not until the fifteenth century that there are evidence in reliable documentary form to prove that the bushi
Bushi
Bushi and similar can refer to:*Bushi, a term for samurai seen in the term Bushidō*Bushi , a genre of Japanese folk music*Bushi , a region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo*Bushi language, a language of Madagascar and Mayotte...
practiced swordsmanship in a systematic manner. In this connection it is belief that kenjutsu
Kenjutsu
, meaning "the method, or technique, of the sword." This is opposed to kendo, which means the way of the sword. Kenjutsu is the umbrella term for all traditional schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration...
, which deals with the art of swordsmanship as it is performed with a wooden sword (bokken
Bokken
A bokken , "wood", and ken, "sword") , is a Japanese wooden sword used for training. It is usually the size and shape of a katana, but is sometimes shaped like other swords, such as the wakizashi and tantō...
) that has already been brought into unsheathed position, is the senior form to iaijutsu.
Iaijutsu is extant today but there exist also a modern form for drawing the Japanese sword, called iaido
Iaido
is a modern Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard...
. Iaido, the way of drawing the sword, appeared as a term in 1932 and was popularized by Nakayama Hakudō
Nakayama Hakudo
, also known as Nakayama Hiromichi, was a Japanese martial artist and founder of the iaidō style Musō Shinden-ryū. He is the only person to have received both jūdan and hanshi ranks in kendō, iaidō, and jōdō from the All Japan Kendo Federation...
(1869-1958). More about the history of iaido can be read in the article Iaido
Iaido
is a modern Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard...
.
Postures in iaijutsu
According to Donn.F. Draeger, iaijutsu is a combative art and therefore the warrior considered only two starting positions in the execution of sword-drawing technique. The first of these sword-drawing technique is from the low crouching posture, named iai-goshi. The other posture is the standing posture, named tachi-ai.The seated posture, Tate-hiza, is not used in iaijutsu because this posture does not permit all-around mobility. The posture seiza, the formal kneeling-sitting posture, is either used because this posture is a 'dead' posture where regarded by the warrior as less combatively efficient. It would be difficult for the swordsman using either of these two later postures to go quickly into action in an emergency.
Ryū
Following ryū are still existing and include iaijutsu in their curriculum.- Katori-ryū
- Shin Musō Hayashizaki-ryū (sometimes Musō-ryū)
- Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
- etc.