Kenjutsu

Kenjutsu (剣術) or "the art of the sword" is a blanket term referring to all Ko-budō schools of Japanese swordsmanship. The term is similar to the modern term Kendo, "the way of the sword" however the two forms are very different with Kenjutsu focusing on use of bokken without armour and Kendo using Shinai and bogu armour.

Kenjutsu was developed by the samurai class likely in the Heian period, however, most prominent schools were established in the Muromachi period. Although the sword itself was never the most useful battlefield weapon, it became the symbol of the samurai and during the Edo period, swordsmanship flourished into hundreds of schools. Today, Kenjutsu techniques are still practised, but in the curriculum of other types of sword-based martial arts such as Kendo and Iaido.

History[]

Early History[]

For most of early Japanese history, swords were based off of designs from mainland China. These were simply referred to as chokutō ("straight swords") and were paired with shields. According to legend, around the year 700 CE, the swordsmith Amakuni drew ire from the fact that warriors would return from battle with his swords broken so he locked himself away in his house for seven days and seven nights praying to the Shinto gods. When he emerged he began forging a curved single-edged blade with possible use of folded steel to improve the metal's hardness. What he forged is considered the first Tachi.

Chokutō - Image 1- — *Chokutō* ("straight sword")

During the later Heian period, swords were not the main weapon of the Japanese military in favour of the bow or naginata. However, they did become culturally significant, being seen as symbolic of the emerging samurai class and their power through military might. During the later Muromachi period (1336 - 1573) three great schools emerged:

Kage-ryū (陰流), founded by Aisu Iko
Chujō-ryū (中条流), founded by Chujō Nagahide
Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū (天真正伝香取神道流), founded by Iizasa Ienao

Edo Period[]

The Edo period is considered the height of the "sword school" with over 500 emerging across Japan. The earlier Sengoku period had seen the Yari and arquebus take over as the primary battlefield weapon, with the sword confined to sidearm status. However, the relative peace of the Edo period meant that the vast majority of engagements were urban in nature, with the Katana and Wakizashi being favoured over the larger Tachi due to the ease of use in confined spaces. The popularity of figures such as Miyamoto Musashi is also a possible reason for the perception of the Katana being the "soul" of the samurai.

In the later 19th century, the shinai and bogu were developed due to the growing popularity of sparring. In contrast, older schools focused on Kata (型, "form") which were practised sets of moves performed either in pairs or with just one participant. These Kata made use of bokken (木剣, "wooden sword") or "live" blades.

Decline and Revival[]

The Meiji Restoration saw the dissolution of the samurai class and as the westernisation and modernisation of the country was the focus of the new Imperial Government, reminders of Japan's feudal past were discouraged. Thus like many other Ko-ryū, Kenjutsu fell into decline; seen as inferior to western styles of warfare. However, in the late 1880s, a revival movement was started, mostly due to renewed confidence in the Japanese military.

In 1886, Japanese Police gathered together a number of Kata from a variety of different Kenjutsu schools into a standardised set, used for training purposes. This popularity would continue through police and the military until in 1895, the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (大日本武徳会, "Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society") was established, serving as a governing body for martial arts. Finally, in 1912, the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai released an edict dictating that to unify the disparate Kenjutsu schools, a set of ten Kata had been decided upon, forming the foundation for Kendo.

World War-II saw a great focus on the sword in Japan as militarism rose and focus upon the Sengoku period increased. Indeed, captured Japanese soldiers had their swords (then called Gendaitō or "Modern Sword") confiscated as a symbolic gesture. As those who confiscated these swords were mostly American, the US saw an influx of Japanese swords in the years post-war. Indeed, more swords would be brought back as soldiers returned from occupied Japan. As a result, the US was exposed to Japanese Kenjutsu and popularity in the martial art increased dramatically. This would set the stage for western countries becoming enamoured with Japanese martial arts, which today are just as popular across the west as within Japan.

Nitōjutsu[]

Nitōjutsu (二刀術, "two sword methods") is a distinguishing practise amongst certain Kenjutsu schools. Those that practise it are referred to as nitōryū (二刀流, "two sword school") whilst those that don't are referred to as ittō-ryū (一刀流, "one sword school"). The practise of Nitōjutsu focused on the use of pairing two daitō ("long sword" such as a Katana or Tachi) or paired shotō ("short sword" such as Wakizashi or Tantō).

Perhaps the most prominent practitioner of Nitōjutsu was Miyamoto Musashi, founder of the Niten Ichi-ryū (二天一流) school.

Terms of Quality[]

In Kenjutsu, the average practitioner is referred to as Kenshi (剣士) simply meaning "swordsman". Those who attain a high level of skill and are considered experts in a particular school are referred to as Kengo (剣豪) or "sword master". Finally, a more honorary title of Kensei (剣聖) or "sword saint" is reserved for individuals who have attained an almost legendary skill in swordsmanship. Kensei is not an official title, unlike Kengo and is attained more so from reputation than mastery of specific schools.

Examples of Kengo[]

Iizasa Chōisai Ienao (飯篠長威斉家直, c.1387 – May 26, 1488), founder of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū (天真正伝香取神道流)
Mikogami Tenzen (神子上典膳), founder of the Ono-ha Ittō-ryū (小野派一刀流), disciple of Itō Ittōsai Kagehisa (伊藤一刀斎景久, fl. 1560–1653)
Yagyū Munenori (柳生宗矩, 1571 – May 11, 1646), follower of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū (柳生新陰流) and later an advisor to Tokugawa Iemitsu
Sasaki Kojirō (佐々木小次郎, c. 1575 – April 13, 1612), defeated by Miyamoto Musashi
Kondō Isami (近藤勇, November 9, 1834 – May 17, 1868), fourth generation master of Tennen Rishin-ryū (天然理心流) and commander of the Shinsengumi

Examples of Kensei[]

Tsukahara Bokuden (塚原卜伝, 1489 – March 6, 1571), founder of Kashima Shintō-ryū (鹿島新当流), served as an instructor to Ashikaga Yoshiteru and Kitabatake Tomonori
Itō Ittōsai Kagehisa (伊藤一刀斎景久, fl. 1560–1653), founder of Ittō-ryū (一刀流), undefeated in 33 duels
Miyamoto Musashi (宮本武蔵, 12 March 1584 – 13 June 1645), founder of Niten Ichi-ryū (二天一流), author of the Book of Five Rings and Dokkōdō, undefeated in 61 duels
Chiba Shūsaku Taira no Narimasa (千葉周作成政, 1792 - January 17, 1855), founder of Hokushin Ittō-ryū Hyōhō (北辰一刀流兵法) and considered one of the last Kensei.