{"id":944,"date":"2021-04-21T14:50:30","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T05:50:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.arches.co.jp\/?page_id=944"},"modified":"2021-08-25T16:40:15","modified_gmt":"2021-08-25T07:40:15","slug":"characteristics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/demo.arches.co.jp\/?page_id=944&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Characteristics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\u9354\u300c\u5929\u5730\u4eba\u8ee2\u300d\"<\/a>
Tsuba “Ten, Chi, Jin and Marobashi”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Characteristics of Yagy\u016b Shinkage Ry\u016b<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a Yagy\u016b tsuba (sword guard) designed by the 5th headmaster Yagy\u016b Renya Toshikane. It is inscribed with four characters, \u201cTen, Chi, Jin and Marobashi\u201d (heaven, earth, person and turning\/changing). These characters represent the spirit of Yagy\u016b Shinkage Ry\u016b, namely sei shizen, shinjitsu no hito and marobashi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sei shizen is the principle of following natural movement. We should use the sword with our whole bodies in a relaxed manner, without attachment to our egos. This is expressed in the phrases “unification of mind and body” and “unification of sword and body.” This comes from the concept that if we were to follow natural movement, we would respond appropriately to everything around us. If we were to find our true selves, everything would be done appropriately. This is Shinmy\u014dken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept of marobashi can be found in the Scroll of Empi written by the founder: “There are four approaches to swordplay. They are attacking, waiting, attacking from the front, and attacking from the back. We should not attach ourselves to only one way. We should turn and change our approach depending on the opponent’s situation and take appropriate measures just as a one reads the wind and sets one\u2019s sails, or spots a rabbit and releases a hawk.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To utilize marobashi we must have mukei-no-kurai, which means having no preconceptions. The mind and body should have no fixed intention in advance and we should face each situation with a neutral mind, so we can perceive the countless changes of an opponent. We prefer to elicit an action from the opponent and then respond in accordance to this action (katsuninken), rather than trying to defeat the opponent by using more power and\/or speed (setsunint\u014d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Shinjitsu no hito” is a phrase written in the license issued to Yagy\u016b Sekish\u016bsai from the founder. Shinjitsu no hito means a sincere person without egotism. The license says, “Only a true person can learn further”. This means that only a true person can receive the secrets of Heih\u014d. Sekish\u016bsai expresses this in one of his 100 tankas (poems) about heih\u014d, stating that if students do not possess the five virtues, they should not be taught the secrets of swordplay. The five virtues are thinking about others deeply (jin), righteousness (gi), courtesy (rei), the wisdom to judge correct from incorrect (chi) and sincerity (shin). This is the stern admonishment Sekish\u016bsai left for the students of this school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Yagy\u016b Family Constitution, Sekish\u016bsai provided guiding principles for those who study this school, writing, \u201cA man with one letter is the teacher of the man with none; do not defeat other ry\u016b. Determine to defeat today the self of yesterday.\u201d This means that we should humbly learn from those who know something we do not, and rather than competing with other schools, we should earnestly strive to improve ourselves day by day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, the Yagy\u016bkai continues its activities of maintaining Yagy\u016b Shinkage Ry\u016b under the supervision of the headmaster at regional Yagy\u016bkai in Nagoya, Tokyo, Kansai, Anjo, US and Hong Kong.<\/h2>\n\n\n
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