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영어

The author herein discusses the feature of Japanese martial art documents written in the epoch from the second half of 16th to the middle of 19th centuries, through which characteristic martial (fencing) arts of Japan were well developed. Unlike China or Korea, Japan has no martial texts compiled by an official organ or by imperial ordinance. Martial text was always privately written in each school (Ryu-ha 流派) to hand down from teacher to those who had mastered the doctrine and the technique of their school. What can be found in most of the documents published in printed form [refer to the“ Nihon Budo Taikei”（日本武道大系）Vol. 1 to 8 ] describes lists of names of patterns (Kata 形・勢法) to be learned in each school ,and explanations of the significance behind them, leading to martial theories. Little is mentioned about how to do them in detail, because the content is taught only through daily practicing the fencing patterns. For example, “Heiho-kaden-sho” （兵法家伝書） (17th century) attaches importance to the mentality of BUSHI who practices fencing art rather than to technique or tactics. This text considers, as ideal, the mind corresponding to Zen Buddhism. Another text, “Gorin-no-sho”(五輪書), says that every martial art is not out of everyday matters, i.e. man should develop himself through
mental and physical trainings, apply the wisdom of martial art to daily life , and realize the true way of life as BUSHI. In conclusion, the feature of martial art found in Japanese fencing texts is that mentality developed by repeating patterns is considered as the most important, and whether, or not, patterns are useful in battles is a secondary matter .