A historical Perspective During the Reign of

CHUI #2

Shi to Bushi

(Gentlemen and the Samurai)

(Sono ichi)
On Okinawa there were the Shi or refined gentlemen. Or it could be a Bushi or a refined gentlemen or a refined warrior. On Okinawa there were many descendants of the ancient Samurai clans or families. Today these descendants are of a different stock. The Samurai spirit is still there and very much alive. Even in today’s modern world the Samurai spirit still beats. Now let’s look at the Bugeisha. Bushi is more often recognized that the term Shi or gentlemen. Next is Bugei no Bushi a martial arts warrior whose life is dedicated to the preservation of peace and enforcing principles of morality. It is at times ones moral duty to standup for what is right no matter the consequences. In today’s world the common law of other nations supercedes this morality standard that a Samurai or Bushi lives by. Along with this there are groups who still believe in the samurai spirit. There are those who still endeavor to keep the spirit of Bushido alive and well. The ancients gave man the ideas to keep alive and that ideology lives on in facets of the martial arena all over the world.
In old texts they talk of the last will and testament of a Satusma clan member Samurai Uke Uokso Akajikishiku Akachi Yokushiki no Yuigensho. His was the way of the Shigen-Ryu (Jigenri-yu) or the divine way sword style.
This man and his clan lived an austere life of the samurai for quite some time even after the Meiji, Taisho and Showa eras. The Bugei no Bushi is still alive. From this idea came the Bugeisha, then the Bushi then the term Shi or gentlemen. To be born into such a house was a privilege. By keeping this alive most people kept up their guard.

They kept within their families the secrets martial arts and only passing them down to only family and very close associates who had impeccable credentials.

There were many young men during Taisho and Showa eras and one man in particular from the old families was a one Shoshinji who at the age of 23 at the prime of his life was a true martial gentlemen. He was head of his family and was a descendant of the Chokujojuse Samurai family. Another man was a one Saion Kyujo who was also a true gentleman whose lineage came form the peasant class. He was always loyal to his lord and family. His spirit was great and he yearned to be a Kobushi-Ho patriot. His code of ethics was all based on Bushido. He wanted to ensure that his family and others always retained the aspects of Bushido. From this framework the Samurai were always training in the remote villages. These peasants learned much from the Samurai in later eras about the unarmed martial arts. The moral standards were still the same for all peasants. Not just anyone was taught they had to be of the best character and spirit. These types of people had much influence in the villages. They were the ones who upheld the law when there was no police force around. So when the police forces were formed, these people trained them to enable themselves to uphold the law. Unarmed policeman did much of this enforcement. But their efforts were rewarded after peace was brought about by the new constitutional bylaws. The police force gradually built itself up and had fought many battles. Some were lost some were won. Most of their time was spend trying to stop looting or plundering of its citizens and their residences. After a while the laws concerning martial arms were rescinded. This helped the average citizen. Many who did take the chance to travel to China learned much about the armed and unarmed arts. Of those who did learn, and when their skill was proved to be a benefit to the Shogunate gave them special dispensation and choice assignments either in the military or with the local government enforcement arm. Through the years there were those who amassed much martial power both physical and mental. These were chosen as stated above for government assignments. During the 16^th century the martial arts were at their zenith and played a key role for the Samurai in supporting his or her lord.

During the Muromachi era, the Japanese as well the Ming Chinese made a variety of weapons i.e., swords for sale or trade. One of the major traders of that era was a man named Hakuta who was by profession a trader in foreign goods. He had made a deal on swords and had them shipped to Okinawa. This also was a way of providing tribute to a specific government at no cost to be able to further business in the future. This was an accepted practice between the Asian nations. Furthermore, an excess of gold and silver had accumulated by the Japanese, a portion of that money was to go to make a compliment of sacred swords to be given as tribute bearing gifts which was a part of the trade agreements entered into by these nations.

On Okinawa in Shuri village there was a man named Mayo Awakonzoku whose name was uncovered on an old grave marker. He was a part of this trade agreement to provide these sacred swords. The king of Okinawa at one time had presented these sacred swords to him and others for their peerless efforts as Samurai. These swords were always carried on their person. They always took extras care of these fine weapons. Many of the swords after their deaths were lost many times but they were always recovered. These swords were thought of as spiritual icons. The person who found these relics then was offered hefty rewards for their return. Other people then sought out these same types of missions and were uncovering not only lost artifacts i.e., swords but other famous personages through these hunts.
The artifacts and the corpse remains were thought to have a special spiritual significance and when found and re-joined with their descendants. This is on record in the Okinawan prefectural archives. Some of these artifacts were being kept by Shinto priests as relics and accorded special significance during Shinto ceremonies. Expert sword makers made these swords. They were not only ancient relics but they also were crafted as weapons. Many sought these as was mentioned before because of their special spiritual significance.
Many farmers came across these weapons and hid them for later use. It was also against the law for farmers or peasants to have these types of sharp weapons. According to military records these types of incidents were common back then. Many of the lords of these fiefs often had house-to-house searches searching for these illegal but rare weapons.

Many of the lower classes had made replicas of these weapons ranging from two to three feet in length. During the uprisings not only on Okinawa but in other areas of Japan there was a resurgence of these types of incidents of the lower class people carrying concealed weapons such as these short swords. Many of them fetched a high price. The government even offered rewards for anyone turning these types of weapons in to military or police authorities.

Many of the good blades that did stay hidden by the peasants or farmers were handed down from one family member to another. The then Shogun had his own people out looking for these weapons and again offering big rewards for their return especially the more famous ones that had spiritual significance to them. This was especially a big problem after the Ojin no Senso or the Ojin wars where tens of thousands of troops lay dead with their swords gleaming in the sunlight. There were all kinds of unsavory kinds back then collecting these artifacts and selling them or melting them down into ingots to sell to the highest bidder or to buy other goods or services for themselves. Many famous generations of Samurai lost their artifacts in this manner. There were many people as stated before who went into business for themselves making swords.

--- Shi to Bushi ---

(The gentlemen and Martial Gentlemen)
In 1816 the English government sent two of their warships named (Romanized English using Katakana) Arusesuto and Rairai to Okinawa for a visit and cultural port call. The Captain of these two ships was noted as a famous translator of the Japanese language. His name was in Romanized katakana Chienbaren who had an uncle who was also a famous navigator and a Colonel named Beshiru Horu. His father a also g a foreign immigrant named Naboreon or Tai-Naboreon.
They came also to share military weapons technology. They came in absolute peace. When they arrived they were greeted and given special treatment according to their rank and served a meal and were entertained by Okinawan dancers. There was a special poem that was written to commemorate this special occasion. An attempt at a translation follows:
The following poem is presented as mentioned on the previous page:

• 
  An island that floats on the sea amidst civil war and strife a tempest
  

The wind blows like the breath of a dragon

• 
  From this coast many enemies have come to invade from far away to take away what?
  

• 
  There are many far away nations with much resolve yet we float along like spirits
  

• 
  During this islands reign sciences, politics, wealth and technology has been held by this island nation
  

• 
  Therefore this island nation also has pride and ambition but is unable to manifest this into a gift for others. One must be pure of spirit to know the pleasures that lie herein
  

• 
  The rice fields are plenty and the harvests abundant. These fields are always a spectacular view and held in awe by all who gaze on them
  

• 
  Friendship in the future is long and arduous path too follow for some but if the Spirit and heart are pure we will embrace you
  

• 
  The Captain of this Warship has the heart and spirit of peace in mind for all the islanders and his blessings for all are plentiful
  

• 
  Even though they fight with sword or spear their intent is not to take form us
  

• 
  We have much to offer as do they in science and military tactics. There is much
  

Peace and wealth that each can benefit from

The captain of this warship had a certain love for the purity of Okinawa. He alone could only appreciate the islander’s inner beauty from his visits, which now stretched half a decade. He also knew of the spirit of the Japanese swords and what it meant to the Bushi. After his appearance science, fame and wealth was there for all. He took away with him one true treasure a new meaning for] the word inner peace. The sun shone brightly on both the English and Okinawa military forces during this period. It was also said of the old days that the word had spread of the art of empty hand fighting as was demonstrated to the English. This ancient art as explained to the English came from China and was passed on by the Okinawans. It was believed that a man named Safu Fu Shi set up this system. The Manchu’s trained him. At that time the Chinese armies trained in every system as part of the military training.

During the 12^th year of Honryaku (1762) a man named Kosogun shiyanku-Spelled out in Katakana) visited the large island of Okinawa to see observe this art in action. While he was there he experienced the term Sente as it applied to

Karate. Also during this time a proviso was set down on the ban on armaments. That freedom then led to the development of a national defense system. They Japanese were working out the details of when and how they would use this new system. This term Sente could also be used in the military as a move toward a national goal.
Into the 18^th & 19^th centuries the Japanese were thinking of what types of new military armament could they employ and under what conditions for their new army which would be used to maintain peace and harmony. Science also played an important role during this era. However, most of the western sciences during this era were prohibited. The Japanese relied mostly on information on sciences from other Asian nations. Even in today’s world most forms of Asian medicine or science are relied on more established practices which date back to ancient times. Most often groped for is the true meaning of the spirit and how to attain enlightenment and most Asian nations have a good grasp of this area and not on science for example the Genshi Bakudan or the H-Bomb as the Americans have vast knowledge of this area and not the aforementioned. Now most believe that before man had a good grasp and control of the human spirit, but these days the idea of capturing the spirit is still elusive.
Okinawa Past and Present from the