Tempu Nakamura
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese martial artist
and founder of Japanese yoga. He was the first to bring yoga
to Japan
and founded his own art called Shin Shin Tōitsu-dō
, the Way of Mind and Body Unification.
, Japan
, his original name was Saburō . He was the son of Nakamura Sukeoki (中村祐興 1829-1909) of Fukuoka Prefecture
and Nakamura Teu (中村テウ 1858-1928) of Tokyo, known as Edo
at the time. His father introduced the use of paper money in Japan when he served as the bureau director of the Japanese Ministry of Finance
. Tempu Nakamura later moved to Fukuoka
(福岡市, Fukuoka City
), Fukuoka Prefecture
(福岡県) to live with a relative. Once there, he took private lessons from an Englishman and enrolled in the Shuyukan ' onMouseout='HidePop("40451")' href="/topics/Sawara-ku,_Fukuoka">Sawara-ku
) school where English was the medium of instruction
and where he became proficient in his family's style of judo
(随変流) and also trained in kenjutsu
and iaijutsu
. During judo practice, he totally defeated an opponent from Kumamoto
who then tried to kill Nakamura in revenge. In the violent encounter, Nakamura stabbed and killed his assailant, which was ruled legitimate self-defence. He left the school and joined Gen'yōsha
ultra-nationalist secret society, forming a friendship with Tōyama Mitsuru
.
At the age of 16, he joined the Imperial Japanese Army
and served as a covert agent in Northern China
, which was then the puppet state
Manchukuo
. He was one of only nine out of 113 military affairs investigators to return to Japan alive from the Russo-Japanese War
, after which he suffered a severe attack of tuberculosis
at the age of 30.
, and traveled to England
, Germany
, Belgium
and France
. For a period of time he lived with the family of Sarah Bernhardt
. In 1911, on his way back to Japan, he met a philosopher in Egypt
named Kaliapa (a.k.a. Cariapa and Kariappa), who took him to Kangchenjunga
, the third-highest mountain in the world, located between Nepal
and India
. He remained there for two and a half years of yoga
study and practice, which incidentally cured his illness. He practised unique versions of Raja Yoga
and Karma Yoga
with Kaliapa, with an emphasis on Raja Yoga.
, who later founded Shinshintouitsu Aikidō
.
In Japan, Tempu was a prolific writer on philosophy and entrepreneur
ship.
Japanese martial arts
Japanese martial arts refers to the enormous variety of martial arts native to Japan. At least three Japanese terms are often used interchangeably with the English phrase "Japanese martial arts": , literally meaning "martial way", , which has no perfect translation but means something like science,...
and founder of Japanese yoga. He was the first to bring yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
to 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...
and founded his own art called Shin Shin Tōitsu-dō
Shin Shin Tōitsu-dō
Shin Shin Tōitsu-dō was founded by Nakamura Tempu and is also known as Japanese Yoga...
, the Way of Mind and Body Unification.
Early life and family background
Born in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, 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...
, his original name was Saburō . He was the son of Nakamura Sukeoki (中村祐興 1829-1909) of Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
and Nakamura Teu (中村テウ 1858-1928) of Tokyo, known as Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
at the time. His father introduced the use of paper money in Japan when he served as the bureau director of the Japanese Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance (Japan)
The ' is one of cabinet-level ministries of the Japanese government. The ministry was once named Ōkura-shō . The Ministry is headed by the Minister of Finance , who is a member of the Cabinet and is typically chosen from members of the Diet by the Prime Minister.The Ministry's origin was back in...
. Tempu Nakamura later moved to Fukuoka
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
(福岡市, Fukuoka City
Cities of Japan
||A is a local administrative unit in Japan. Cities are ranked on the same level as and , with the difference that they are not a component of...
), Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
(福岡県) to live with a relative. Once there, he took private lessons from an Englishman and enrolled in the Shuyukan ' onMouseout='HidePop("40451")' href="/topics/Sawara-ku,_Fukuoka">Sawara-ku
Sawara-ku, Fukuoka
is one of the seven wards of Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.-Data:*Population: 211,851 people *Area: 95.88 square kilometers -Profile:...
) school where English was the medium of instruction
Medium of instruction
Medium of instruction is a language used in teaching. It may or may not be the official language of the country or territory. Where the first language of students is different from the official language, it may be used as the medium of instruction for part or all of schooling. Bilingual or...
and where he became proficient in his family's style of judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
(随変流) and also trained in 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...
and iaijutsu
Iaijutsu
, the art of drawing the Japanese sword. One of Japanese martial disciplines in education of the classical warrior .-Etymology:"Iaijutsu" was known before the Tokugawa period but it is unclear exactly when the term "iaijutsu" first came into use, or when exactly drawing the katana from its...
. During judo practice, he totally defeated an opponent from Kumamoto
Kumamoto, Kumamoto
is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Greater Kumamoto has a population of 1,460,000, as of the 2000 census...
who then tried to kill Nakamura in revenge. In the violent encounter, Nakamura stabbed and killed his assailant, which was ruled legitimate self-defence. He left the school and joined Gen'yōsha
Genyosha
The ' was an influential ultranationalist group and secret society active in the Empire of Japan.-Foundation as the Koyōsha:Originally founded as the Koyōsha by Hiraoka Kotarō , a wealthy ex-samurai and mine-owner, with mining interests in Manchuria, Toyama Mitsuru, and other former samurai of the...
ultra-nationalist secret society, forming a friendship with Tōyama Mitsuru
Toyama Mitsuru
was a right-wing political leader in early 20th century Japan and founder of the Genyosha nationalist secret society.-Early life:Tōyama was born to a poor samurai family in Fukuoka City in Kyūshū...
.
In the Imperial Japanese military
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
and served as a covert agent in Northern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, which was then the puppet state
Puppet state
A puppet state is a nominal sovereign of a state who is de facto controlled by a foreign power. The term refers to a government controlled by the government of another country like a puppeteer controls the strings of a marionette...
Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
. He was one of only nine out of 113 military affairs investigators to return to Japan alive from the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
, after which he suffered a severe attack of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
at the age of 30.
Seeking a cure for his illness
Seeking a cure for the illness, he studied the autonomic nerves at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and traveled to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. For a period of time he lived with the family of Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
. In 1911, on his way back to Japan, he met a philosopher in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
named Kaliapa (a.k.a. Cariapa and Kariappa), who took him to Kangchenjunga
Kangchenjunga
Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain of the world with an elevation of and located along the India-Nepal border in the Himalayas.Kangchenjunga is also the name of the section of the Himalayas and means "The Five Treasures of Snows", as it contains five peaks, four of them over...
, the third-highest mountain in the world, located between Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He remained there for two and a half years of yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
study and practice, which incidentally cured his illness. He practised unique versions of Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga
Rāja Yoga is concerned principally with the cultivation of the mind using meditation to further one's acquaintance with reality and finally achieve liberation.Raja yoga was first described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and is part of the Samkhya tradition.In the context of Hindu...
and Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga
Karma yoga , or the "discipline of action" is a form of yoga based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Sanskrit scripture of Hinduism. Of the four paths to realization, karma yoga is the science of achieving perfection in action...
with Kaliapa, with an emphasis on Raja Yoga.
Return to Japan
After finally returning to Japan, he served as president of Tokyo Industrial Bank, among other business activities. He established his own medical and philosophical organization, renaming it Tempukai in 1940. He taught Shin Shin Tōitsu-dō to Tōhei KōichiKoichi Tohei
was a 10th Dan aikidoka and founder of the Ki Society and its style of aikido, officially Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido , but commonly known as Ki-Aikido.-Koichi Tohei and aikido:...
, who later founded Shinshintouitsu Aikidō
Ki-Aikido
is the style of aikido developed by Koichi Tohei.- Koichi Tohei :Ki is a Japanese word meaning Life Force, which is conceptually related to the Chinese Qi and is of great importance to the way in which Koichi Tohei's style of aikido is taught...
.
In Japan, Tempu was a prolific writer on philosophy and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
ship.
Published works
Published works by Tempu Nakamura include these Japanese titles:- ISBN 4-930838-55-X 成功の実現 (The Realisation of Success)
- ISBN 4-930838-59-2 盛大な人生 (A Prosperous Life)
- ISBN 4-930838-80-0 心に成功の炎を (Setting Fire to the Heart for Success)
- ISBN 4-06-263739-1 運命を拓く (Altering Fate)
- ISBN 4-06-208263-2 叡智のひびき-天風哲人箴言註釈 (Resounding Wisdom - the Annotated Maxims of Philosopher Tempu)
- ISBN 4-06-207695-0 真理のひびき-天風哲人新箴言註釈 (Resounding Truth - the Annotated Maxims of Philosopher Tempu)
- ISBN 4-930838-97-5 いつまでも若々しく生きる (Living Youthfully)
- ISBN 4-89101-020-7 君に成功を贈る (Building Your Success)
People who studied under Tempu
- Uno ChiyoChiyo UnoChiyo Uno was a female Japanese author who wrote several notable works and had a significant influence on Japanese culture. She was born in a section of Iwakuni known as Kawanishi, "west of the river." Following an initial literary success and winning of a short story prize, Uno left her first...
author - Tōgō HeihachirōTogo HeihachiroFleet Admiral Marquis was a Fleet Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and one of Japan's greatest naval heroes. He was termed by Western journalists as "the Nelson of the East".-Early life:...
the 'Admiral Nelson of the East' - Hara TakashiHara Takashiwas a Japanese politician and the 19th Prime Minister of Japan from 29 September 1918 to 4 November 1921. He was also called Hara Kei informally. He was the first commoner appointed to the office of prime minister of Japan...
the 19th Prime Minister of JapanPrime Minister of JapanThe is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office... - Matsushita KōnosukeKonosuke Matsushitawas a Japanese industrialist, the founder of Panasonic, a company based in the suburb of Kadoma , Osaka in Japan. For many Japanese, he is known as "the god of management"...
the founder of Matsushita Electric - Tōhei KōichiKoichi Toheiwas a 10th Dan aikidoka and founder of the Ki Society and its style of aikido, officially Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido , but commonly known as Ki-Aikido.-Koichi Tohei and aikido:...
founder of Ki-AikidoKi-Aikidois the style of aikido developed by Koichi Tohei.- Koichi Tohei :Ki is a Japanese word meaning Life Force, which is conceptually related to the Chinese Qi and is of great importance to the way in which Koichi Tohei's style of aikido is taught... - Tada HiroshiHiroshi TadaHiroshi Tada is a Japanese aikido teacher holding the rank of 9th dan in the Aikikai....
Aikikai AikidoAikikaiThe Aikikai is the original school of Aikido. It is centered on the Aikikai Foundation in Japan, and its figurehead is the Doshu . It is represented globally through the International Aikido Federation.... - Ozaki YukioYukio Ozakiwas a liberal Japanese politician, born in modern-day Sagamihara, Kanagawa. Ozaki served in the House of Representatives of the Japanese Diet for 63 years, from 1890-1953...
politician - Inamori KazuoKazuo InamoriKazuo Inamori is a philanthropist, Japanese entrepreneur and the founder of Kyocera Corporation and KDDI Corporation.- Biography :...
founder of Kyocera CorporationKyocerais a multinational manufacturer based in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded as in 1959 by Kazuo Inamori and renamed in 1982. The company has diversified its founding technology in ceramic materials through internal development as well as strategic mergers and acquisitions... - Hirooka TatsurōTatsuro HirookaTatsuro Hirooka is a retired Japanese professional baseball player and manager. He was awarded Central League rookie of the year award in 1954.-References:...
baseball player
External links
Seitai Kyokai translation- The Life of Nakamura Tempu article
- Nakamura Tempu and the Origins of Japanese Yoga by H. E. Davey
- The Nakamura Tempū Story part I and II