Dainippon Butokukai

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The Dainippon Butokukai ( Japanese.大 日本 武 徳 会. 1895-1946) is a large Japanese martial arts association to promote the Budo virtues.

Dőjõ des Dainippon Butokukai in Kyoto

It was founded in April 1895 and commissioned by the Imperial Japanese Government to control and standardize the various ryu (style) of Japanese bujutsu . For this purpose, a committee was formed that issued and confirmed the Budō menjō (Bujutsu menjō - rank certificates of the martial arts masters) and the Shihan menjō (teacher licenses). As a result, all ryu who did not join the Butokukai were outside the official framework.

Naming

The term Dainippon refers to "Dainippon Teikoku", which means "Greater Japan Empire", the self-name of Japan during its expansionist era and the official name for Japan since the Meiji Constitution (1889). In April 1936, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an order, which reaffirmed that in the context of international and diplomatic relations only this form of name was to be used as the name of Japan. After the war, this name of Japan was replaced by Nipponkoku or Nihonkoku, as it was burdened by associations with its imperialist era. The same procedure was used with almost all designations that Dainippon had in the name, including "Dainippon Kōrindō-Aikidō ", which consequently became "Nihon Kōrindō-Aikidō".

history

The association "Dainippon Butokukai", headquartered in Kyoto , was founded on April 28, 1895 on the instructions of the then Ministry of Education and with the consent of the emperor of the Meiji period (1868-1912). For training purposes, a large dojo was built in the area of ​​the Heian Shrine (in adoration for Emperor Kanmu 781-806, under whose reign Kyōto was planned and realized as the new capital) and based on the first Butokuden founded under Emperor Kanmu in 794 " Dainippon Butokuden “called.

The purpose of the association was to promote the Budo arts of Japan - and with it the "Japanese spirit" - because many of the traditional martial arts had become sports based on Western models since the beginning of Japan's modernization efforts in the Meiji period (from 1868) changed with competition rules. Western sports had also started to enjoy increasing popularity, to the detriment of the Budo arts. In the years before the Second World War , attempts had therefore been made to push back the western sports and instead to revive the original legacy of the old martial arts.

The stated goals of the Butokukai were: In addition to the aforementioned establishment of a Dōjō ( Butokuden ), the implementation of annual exhibitions on the subject of martial arts and the organization of competitive tournaments; Collection of classic weapons and military equipment as well as establishment of a relevant archive and a Dan system; Publication of a magazine for martial arts. In addition, branches should be established in all prefectures of Japan , with the prefectural governors as their directors. The Butokuden in Kyōto was completed in 1899, then the other Butokuden in the other prefectures followed as planned, in 1905 finally a separate school for trainers in the martial arts, the Budō Senmon Gakkō (College of Martial Arts). The award “seirensho” was created for the participants in the annual tournaments, while the titles “ hanshi ”, “ tasshi ” and “ kyoshi ” were awarded to the teachers from 1902 , supplemented in 1934 by “ renshi ”, with “hanshi” as the highest title.

The required Dan system was also initiated by the Butokukai and a referee committee was created. This was commissioned to lay down the rules for training and competitions in the individual disciplines ( kendō , jūdō , naginata (halberd-like lances) and kyūdō (archery)), to modernize the martial arts and to ensure their increased spread throughout the country. During the Second World War, the association was directly subordinate to the government, but was dissolved by the American occupation after the war.

With the conclusion of the peace treaty between the USA and Japan in 1952 and the regaining of national sovereignty, the way was clear for the re-establishment of Butokukai. Initially, the "dai" (large), which expresses its claim to great power, was dispensed with and the new foundation was simply called "Nippon Butokukai". At present the Butokukai operates under the abbreviation DNBK, which stands for "Dai Nippon Butoku Kai"; the “dai” has thus found acceptance again. While the DNBK presents itself today as a politically completely independent organization, negating any connection with the old Butokukai and formally appearing in a new guise, similar structures and objectives can nonetheless be recognized. The president is a relative of the imperial family, the annual tournaments have been held over the years on the birthday of the Showa emperor, April 29, and the multiple prime minister and leading member of the ruling LDP party, Miyazawa Kiichi , was a member of the until his death in 2007 Advisory Board.

The association's website reads: "The DNBK is committed to the promotion of education and service with the help of martial arts, as well as the restoration of the legacy of the virtues of Bushido ."

In 1985, a branch of the DNBK was founded in Virginia, USA, which also houses the headquarters of the International Department of the DNBK, which was established in 1992. In the former "Dainippon Butokukai" a number of other styles were represented in addition to Jūdō, Kendō and Kyūdō, each with its own specialization and in separate sections. The experts in these different styles only trained in the skills specific to their schools, with the result that they did not have a comprehensive system of fighting techniques that were suitable for the various situations that might arise in times of war. So the task was to create an "integrated" Budo that, instead of specializing, guaranteed comprehensive training in all branches of Budo - or "heiho", as Hirai preferred to call it. For this, Hirai's concept of the “ yawara ” offered the suitable basis and prerequisite. For the purpose of setting up such a section in the “Butokukai”, which should be devoted to this task, a commission was set up. Hirai Minoru , already Jūdō-Tasshi, was appointed head of this new section in 1942 and his integrated Budo system was designated for teaching purposes. After lengthy discussions in the commission, it was finally agreed on Hirai's proposal to choose the name Aikidō for his Budō, which he also liked to consider as Matrix Budō. With this a new and definitive name was found for Hirai's system.

After the Second World War, the "Dainippon Butokukai" was completely dissolved when the victorious powers banned the martial arts. In 1952 the official successor organization was founded with the IMAF-Kokusai Budoin . However, the DNBK was brought back to life a short time later and has existed since that time. The board in Kyoto / Japan is His Excellency, Prince Higashi Fushimi Jiko. The representative of the international department is Hanshi HT Hamada. The DNBK now has representatives in many countries around the world who serve as contacts in their countries.

swell

  • Werner Lind : The dictionary of martial arts . Edition BSK, Sportverlag, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-328-00898-5 , pp. 97-98.
  • Interview with Minoru Hirai, in: Aikido Journal 1994, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 10-15.
  • Narita Shinjuro: Kōrindō-Aikidō. The Budo system of Hirai Minoru , translated and edited by Gerhard Hackner, Norderstedt 2007. ISBN 3833490861 .

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