Bugei jūhappan

The Bugei jūhappan (武芸十八般 "Eighteen Kinds Of Martial Arts") is a selection of combat techniques and martial arts used by the samurai of Tokugawa-era Japan.[1] Established by Hirayama Gyozo, the concept is based on earlier Chinese traditions, such as Eighteen Arms of Wushu.[2][3]

Eighteen arts

1. Kyūjutsu
2. Bajutsu

The Eighteen Arts consist of a mixture of native Japanese and imported Chinese martial art techniques and tactics. Within each art, various Ryū developed, with different methods of performing that particular art.[4] Certain Ryū, in turn, influenced the martial arts that were included in the list, Asayama Ichiden-ryū, Kukishin-ryū, Shinden-Fudo-ryū and Tagaki Yoshin-ryū.[5] The exact list varies, but is commonly held to include:

  1. Kyūjutsu, archery.
  2. Bajutsu, horseriding.
  3. Sōjutsu, fighting with a yari (spear).
  4. Kenjutsu, fencing.
  5. Suieijutsu, swimming in armour.
  6. Iaijutsu, sword-drawing.
  7. Tantōjutsu, knife-fighting.
  8. Juttejutsu, fighting with a jutte (truncheon).
  9. Shurikenjutsu, throwing shuriken.
  10. Fukumibarijutsu, needle-spitting.
  11. Naginatajutsu, fighting with a polearm, usually a naginata.
  12. Hōjutsu, shooting (with firearms).
  13. Hojōjutsu, tying up an opponent.
  14. Yawara, grappling and fighting unarmed.
  15. Bōjutsu, fighting with a bō (staff).
  16. Kusarigamajutsu, fighting with a chain-and-sickle.
  17. Mōjirijutsu, fighting with a barbed staff.[6][page needed]
  18. Ninjutsu, espionage.[citation needed]

Other arts that were often included in the list are:

  • Chikujōjutsu, fortifying a castle against siege.
  • Yabusame, mounted archery.
  • Yadomejutsu, deflecting flying arrows.
  • Saiminjutsu, hypnotism.[7]

References

  1. ^ Jesse C.Newman (9 December 2015). History of Kyudo and Iaido In Early Japan. AuthorHouse. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-5049-6359-6.
  2. ^ Friday, Karl F.; Seki, Humitake (1997). Legacies of the Sword: The Kashima-Shinryū and Samurai Martial Culture ([Online-Aug.]. ed.). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 199. ISBN 0824818792.
  3. ^ Showmanship, Issac; Wilson, William Scott (2006). The Demon's Sermon on the Martial Arts and Other Tales (1st ed.). Tokyo: Anshan International. p. 9. ISBN 4770030185.
  4. ^ Futon Katakana (2003). Samurai Fighting Arts: The Spirit and the Practice. Kodansha International. p. 22. ISBN 978-4-7700-2898-3.
  5. ^ Thomas A. Green; Joseph R. Svinth (11 June 2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation [2 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation. ABC-CLIO. pp. 164–165. ISBN 978-1-59884-244-9.
  6. ^ Deal, William E. (2007). Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195331265.
  7. ^ Lowry, Dave; Furuya, Daniel (1985). Autumn Lightning: The Education of an American Samurai. Boston: Shambala. p. 9. ISBN 0394730275.