For History Wonks: The Myth of Zen Connection to Samurai, Bushido and Martial Arts

[Tairin]

Thank you for the history lesson.

The article on "Zen & the Art of Archery" was interesting. I read the book quite a while before truly practicing Zen and have from time to time struggled to reconcile the story in the book with my experience on the cushion.

Gassho
Warren
Sat today

[Tom]

tks! Gassho, ST.

[Makkusu]

Hello,

I'll read the article later. Just an anecdote I heard: If you get the 10th Dan in Karate, you also receive a white belt because you "never stop learning". I don't know how accurate this is, but when I heard it, I loved the intention.

Gassho, Max
#sattoday

[Souchi]

Thanks for the pointer, Jundo! That sure is one of the myths that pops up during a lot of discussions.

Gassho,
Stefan

SatToday

[Myosha]

Hello,

I'll read the article later. Just an anecdote I heard: If you get the 10th Dan in Karate, you also receive a white belt because you "never stop learning". I don't know how accurate this is, but when I heard it, I loved the intention.

Gassho, Max
#sattoday

Hello,

NOW this makes sense: historically every student receives, and keeps, the same belt throughout study. It becomes black from usage, perspiration and plain dirt.

At satisfaction of study student/master receives new white (always a beginner) belt.

Thank you.


Gassho
Myosha
sat today

P.S. Found a link for examples of time needed to advance. The belt WOULD be black.^^

http://jka.or.jp/en/karate/dan_rank.html

[Getchi]

Jundo, thankyou very much for this!!!

As said, there is nothing to stop modern practitioners fromm incorporating belief structures into there martial practices. I would wager at least one accredited Jedi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jediism Judoka would be operating somewhere in theworld.

I pursued a particular martial art mainly for spiritual insights, and it was anaeye-opener (mind expander) when Soke declared "this is combat; not spirituality". That taaught me to be brave in the face of change pretty quick.

A valuable and deliciously ironic spiritual lesson for me.



Thanks,
Geoff.

sattoday

[Chikyou]

This is a wonderfully interesting thread! Thanks for clearing up this myth.

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

[Jippou]

Kelly, I’m so glad you dug this article up and commented on it. It is very interesting! My BA is in History and I happened to take a course on Modern Japan starting with rise of
The Tokugawa Shogunate and moving into the Meiji restoration and then the various wars the author mentions here during college. I’m glad I have that background because this made perfect sense.
Gassho,
Jason
SAT


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk