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Most trainees toward the end of Edo Period (1868) preferred to train solely for the purpose
of winning matches in sport fashion (shiai). This new method with
include
competition was after 1868 known as shin-budo (modern martial ways).(Draeger,Vol-III:57,97)(Dann:27)
In the Meiji Period (1868-1912) the Japanese government made the
striking transition from an isolated feudal society to the social
structure and formal institutions of government, economics and education
were radically changed through the adoption and modification of western
models. The warriors were de-classed but the discontented bushi or
samurai became a distinct threat to the government that resulted in
a number of rebellions that had to be subdued by force of arms. The
samurai had passed into history.(Friday:5)
The budo included Kendo were significantly and dramatically
effected by these developments and the event that stands out as the
turning point for the modern martial ways is the formation of the Dai
Nippon Butokukai in 1895. The Butokukai did not promote the classical
martial ways for the purpose of national defense or technical fighting
ability among its members. Instead it sought to propagate traditional
martial disciplines that would allow individuals to feel or experience
their ‘samurai’ heritage, an education that would improve morals and
prepare the nation’s youth to be loyal and healthy citizens of the
state.(Dann:27,87,89-90) In seeking a new national form of swordsmanship fit for educating
school age youth, the Butokukai unify the styles of swordsmanship from
Kendo, shinai-geiko, gekken and kenjutsu to its appellation of
kendo in
1912. Though this term was not a new invention the mission was a
modernization process of Japan by transforming the classical martial ways (ko-budo 古武道) to the
modern
martial ways (shin-budo 新武道). However, the
modern kendo was hereby born.(Dann:22,37-38,89-90)
In this way the term kendo is used when referring to both classical and
modern forms of swordsmanship. However, certain conceptual and
definitional problems arise since the term kendo already was
recorded in 1673. In addition to this the training methods within kendo or
kenjutsu in mid-Tokugawa Period (c.
1750-1868) were (a) kata (pre-arranged form) with primarily
katana and bokuto and (b) shinai-geiko (training with bamboo sword
and armor). Swordsmanship in the Tokugawa period (1603-1868) was without distinction of form or content.(Friday:8)(Draeger,Vol-II:80)(Draeger,Vol-III:80,97)(Dann:34).
The term gekken
or gekiken
was known in 1873 in connection with demonstration of using shinai to
the general public. The founding of the Dai Nippon Butokukai in 1895 and after the
building of the Butokuden dojo in 1899 made it possible to
development of shinai-geiko under a harsh style known as gekken
or gekiken
and most importantly worked toward the standardization of this
swordsmanship with the goal of making it acceptable to the Ministry of
Education as a required school subject. The founding of Zen Nippon Kendo
Renmei (All Japan Kendo Federation) in 1928 made possible the
standardization of the modern kendo on a national basis.(Dann:22,86,89)(Draeger,Vol-III:100-101)
References
•
Dann, Jeffrey.
Kendo in Japanese
Martial Culture.
Ph.D. thesis.
University of Washington. 1978.
•
Draeger, Donn F. Classical Budo.
Vol. II. Weatherhill. 1973.
ISBN 978-0-8348-0234-6.
•
Draeger, Donn F. Modern Bujutsu and Budo.
Vol. III. Weatherhill. 1974.
ISBN 0-8348-0351-8.
•
Friday, Karl F. Legacies of the Sword.
University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu. 1997. ISBN
0-8248-1879-2.
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