Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2004 00:42:58 -0000
From: "Clive Sinclaire" <
CSinclaire@...>
Subject: Re: Re: swords (was ...Eras)
Ladies and Gentlemen
I have thought long and hard about commenting on this threat as it appears
that misunderstanding and ridicule may be the only rewards. However, I trust
that the following might be relevant.
Sir:
Your name rings a distinct bell, and I find myself wondering if you were
over in northern California a couple of years back teaching at a European
Martial Arts Symposium.
But be that as it may: more to the point in this context: aside from the
potential misunderstanding and ridicule, there's the satisfaction of
speaking up on a subject that matters to one... and likewise, the shame of
sitting silently by while someone speaks ill of an article of one's faith.
As a student of Japanese swords for many years and having handled and
closely studied thousands in this time, this is what I think.
In the Shinto religion, many things are credited with having a spirit and
the sword is not an exception. However, this was then and now is now. When
one picks up a sword of great antiquity and of historical importance, a
sensitive and sympathetic person cannot help but be greatly impressed. The
sugata, texture of the steel and the activities in the hamon will convey the
beauty and grace of the sword if the viewer has the necessary expertise to
understand and appreciate it. It is possible in some cases to see and begin
to understand the spirit the maker has imbued in the sword and maybe his
character also. For instance, a sword from the often flamboyant Osaka Shinto
school quite obviously reflects the somewhat brash nature of that city at
the time. However, I think in many ways this is similar to seeing the
tortured emotions of Van Gogh in one of his paintings. But to attribute this
to a mystical force is probably ill-advised in this day and age.
Now simple honesty requires me (in such a context) to state that my own
personal theology has a great deal in common with Shinto - so much so that
it came as a great delight for me to discover that rich tradition of faith a
couple of decades back - and as such it only seems reasonable, to me at
least, for us still to recognise the spirit in certain objects not currently
widely regarded as possessing the same. I envy you the experience of
handling those fine old swords. I've only handled two blades older than a
century or so, myself, so I can't say much on that score. To attribute any
such thing to a "mystical force" could definitely be regarded as
ill-advised, as subsequent evidence has indeed indicated. But to shrink
from a truth simply because it's unpopular could be regarded as worse - as
cowardice - and I'd far rather be ill-advised than cowardly.
It
surprises me that martial arts people feel that a "sword is talking to them"
when this does not seem to be the case with those more familiar with swords
unless being able to learn when, and where it was made and maybe its
historical context by close scrutiny, may be considered as communication
with the sword.
I must ask you if it seems to you that "those more familiar with swords"
possess the same variety and intensity of familiarity as those who live with
them and work with them daily. My own thought is that these are two very
different species of familiarity; and that those who study the blades may
not always be as "sensitive and sympathetic" to the nature of swords as
those who handle them constantly. Teaching a variety of international sword
styles provides me with my livelihood, and while I admit that I've only been
teaching for thirty-odd years, and practising on a more-or-less daily basis
for a mere forty years or so, still I can't help feeling that in that time
I've developed just a little bit of familiarity with swords myself. I
freely acknowledge the practitioner's bias against the academic here, and I
hope that my caution in stating all this does not come across as sarcasm.
I have always considered that in Japanese sword study, kendo
(or Iai-do) is the practical side of the academic study of Japanese swords,
but that it is all kendo in the final analysis and both are equally
important and need to be undertaken together. In other words, kendo people
are missing a great deal by having no understanding of the Japanese sword
and the reverse also applies.
Hear, hear. Indeed, it is my own experience that kendo does not accurately
represent the martial swordplay of Japan, any more than fencing represents
European rapier or small-sword combat, with the result that (even though our
full-speed sparring is carried out with shinai) I term mine a kenjutsu
style - including iai-jutsu, cutting practise, regarding the entire body as
target, attempting to block blows with the ridge when possible, and concerns
over the breaking of a sword due to abuse or carelessness in combat.
We are taught to view swords calmly and in a relaxed and unexcited manner
whether we are looking at a National Treasure or a kazu-uichi-mono. In this
way we will see everything that the sword has to offer. It may not talk to
us, but the educated and informed viewer will know the sword intimately.
I hope I've not bored you to death with the above and that it at least makes
a modicum of sense.
Not a bit of it, and a great deal: in that order. And may I say that I
both respect and greatly envy your formal education in these matters. I
think you've made some important points, whether or not I find myself in
entire agreement.
Regards
Clive Sinclaire
In honour,
Gereg Jones Muller