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Why do we march in Samurai Armor?

3/20/2017

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As we get ready for second annual march in the Shingenko Matsuri, several newspaper reporters asked me, "Why do you march in Samurai Armor?"

it it is a really good question, and it led me to a really good response.

although to Japanese people Samurai Armor invokes images of the Sengoku Jidai, or Civil Wars Period, in which various clans warred with each other in an effort to unify the country under their own domain, for us it has a number of additional meanings which may not be apparent to Japanese observers.

Of course we are also interested in the historic reenactment, the recognition and celebration of certain elements of Samurai culture. However, the reason we march is not to fight or to conquer territory. We March to spread
Under the banner of 風林火山 (Furin Kazan), "Swift as the Wind, Calm as the Foest, Penetrating as Fire, Immovable as the Mountain.", so that we can spread the idea of 文武両道 (Bunbu Ryodo), Mastery of Sword and Letters, the ideal of the Renaissance Samurai. It is significant that we march from the International College of Liberal Arts in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, former home to the Takeda Clan. 

Martial Arts and Liberal Arts are not only compatible, they enhance each other. This is why they are an integral part of our curriculum at iCLA. And this is why we will engage in regular excursions or marches throughout the year, both inside and outside Yamanashi Prefecture. We are growing in ranks, and already getting support for our Mission from outside partners.

Stay posted here in our progress.
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    Picture
    Picture

    A poem is born, or reborn?

    A piece of calligraphy comes to life. Short version.

    May 1987?
    My teacher Morioka Koshu paints a Tehon for our monthly Shodo magazine in the Sogeikai in the 1980s, and of course I have kept them all as a treasure.

    Feb 2017
    30 years later I meet Rogier Uitenboogaart in the mountains of Kochi at Yusuhara, where he himself has been making Japanese Washi paper by hand for 30 years!

    April 2017
    Almost exactly 30 years after I first saw the Tehon shown here, my friend Iwamoto-san at iWeave kindly presents me with the work I painted in February, wonderfully mounted on a scroll, which now hangs in my office.

    Here is my translation of the the Chinese poem:

    Laughing in the Spring breeze
    The dancer swirls in veils of silk.
    This is the time to drink up!
    How can you leave now,
    When we have hardly begun?


    I am not sure who wrote the original Chinese poem, but I have an idea that it was 白居易 Bai_Juyi, a Tang Dynasty poet from about 1200 years ago.

    A poem is born, and reborn across time and many communication platforms.

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bai_Juyi
    ​

    Author

    William Reed is a full time professor at iCLA (International College of Liberal Arts) Yamanashi Gakuin University in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. He is a 7th-dan in Aikido, and a Shihan in both Shodo and Nanba Jutsu. He teaches these arts at iCLA, in addition to a course on Spiritual Dimensions and Traditions in the Japanese Martial Arts. Detailed Profile on the About Page.

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