The Dojo

This is not an attempt to give either a history of Buddhism or Zen-Buddhism’s arrival and impact on Japan, it is only meant to be a very brief outline on the term Dojo and where it derived from, so bearing that in mind I ask any readers to have mercy upon my attempt at such an over intricate subject. However to give some understanding of the term Dojo and its implications to Japanese Martial-Study, a little knowledge of the arrival of Buddhism and Zen-Buddhism to Japan is necessary.

In the mid 500s when the Korean King of Paekche was warring with the King of Silla he sought to ally himself with Japan and sought military support for his campaign, he presented the Emperor of Japan with some sacred Buddhist scriptures, and described Buddhism as the religion of the civilized world. The Mononobe aristocratic Clan Leader who led the Imperial army opposed this, so to did the Nakatomi Clan their united opposition also included importing Buddhism into Japan. As they believed that it would be an affront to Shintoism, also it was the duty of the Nakatomi to perform the Shinto religious rituals at the Emperors court and it was thought by the Nakatomi family that Buddhism would contradict there authority.

The Emperor doubted the wisdom of adopting Buddhism into Japan but allowed the rising in power Soga Clan to practice Buddhism in private on a trail. The Nakatomi and Mononobe had great success in the spreading of hostility against Buddhism and the outbreak of an epidemic was seen as a sign of the anger of the Shinto gods and the Sogo temple at the palace was burnt down, a few more Buddhist monks arrived from Korea adding to a very small Buddhist Community at the capital. After centuries of turmoil and the rising and falling of Clans, murders and intrigue of every possible dimension Buddhism and Shinto learnt to coexist. The Form of Buddhism that would emerge is referred to as “ Pure Land Buddhism “ and there where no shortage of rival schools of thought contending with each other and no shortage of violence from Buddhist

Another Form of Buddhism that developed in Japan was called Zen, Zen originating from China where it was called “Chuan “ Zen was psychological as was the original teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Rather than having a mission in life the adherent was encouraged to live existentially, without anxiety and with self reliance.

The first Zen temple was completed in 1205, at Kamakura by the Japanese Monk Eisai who 15 years previous had been driven from Kyoto, now at Kamakura he had the patronage of the military; Zen was appealing to the Samurai who soon mixed it with there own values in a way that was alien to “Chuan Buddhism “its emphasis on focusing the mind and physical discipline was similar to the discipline used in Martial training.

Clan Lords advocated Zen for their Bushi, Zen monks and monasteries where patronized

The Zen Bushi Viewed Life as an illusion, with no past or future, killing was no worse than any other activity and dying was nothing. These ideals would develop into the fusion of Buddhism, Taoism and Shinto and be known as “The Way of The Warrior “Bushido.

Such was the zeal by the Bugi for Zen that they began to congregate around and attach themselves to Zen temples and conduct martial practice there numbers became troublesome many being itinerant or master less. This being the case Clan Lords who had always had set aside places for their troops to practice (Gakko, Kukku) created or gave permission for specific areas to be used for what was now referred to as “Place of Study and Enlightenment. That study and enlightenment was Martial. “DOJO the term comes from the original Buddhist sancsript “Bodimandala “the Dojo went through a period of changes from rough to polished and from polished to esoteric.

The four sides of a dojo have names and function. The central location is the “Kamiza” implying upper seat; it is the place of honor, opposite the Kamiza is the “Shimoza” or the lower seat, during ceremonies Instructors and students are assembled in rank along this side of the Dojo. When facing the Kamiza the right side of the Dojo is called the “Joseki” or upper side, the left side is the “Shimoseki” or lower side. Students when receiving instruction line up along the Shimoseki and the instructors face them from the Joseki.

Today our Dojo are more likely to be in a sports centre or community hall, and that is also true in the Japan of today, however there still exists in Japan Old and Venerable Dojo whose polished floors have felt the weight of centuries of practitioners, however a true Dojo need not be even a building but it does need to be a place where the Dojo Formula is used and adhered to, the four sides of the Dojo where not just given names for esoteric reasons, for there was no room for the esoteric or the fanciful this was an age where ones life was less than the length of a sword blade. There is no shortage in Japan and indeed the rest of the world of what are called Dojo, the problem is which is a Dojo that meets the Dojo Formula criteria, and which is little more than a money making machine for the gullible, yes the Dojo business is truly into the 21^st Century with every martial system you have heard of and lots you or anyone else will never ever hear of. And the system that has the most permanent Dojo is ….. Yes the ever growing WEKONYOU RYU. When I see some of these syndicated and franchise Dojo the term “ego massage parlor comes to mind” however there are in our country some par excellent professional Dojo and Instructors of the highest caliber, and they must feel swamped by the professional marketing ploys of the “WEKONYOU RYU “If these few words are useless to you that’s fine or if you find not a word of merit that’s also fine. But if you find a couple of words that provoke you to thought ….. Then that also fine. Speaking of the famous WEKONYOU RYU reminds me to do a little more work on my article entitled

SOKES and SMOKIES

Best Wishes

Ronnie Colwell