Sokon 'Bushi' MatsumuraSokon Matsumura (1792-1890) was the forefather of Shorin Ryu.. Matsumura was recruited into the service of the Sho family (Royal family of Okinawa) and eventually became the chief martial arts instructor and bodyguard for the Okinawan King. At some point in his career, approximately 1830, he went to China and studied the Shaolin style of Chinese Kenpo (fist method) and weaponry. It is also known that he travelled to Foochow in Fukien province, China on numerous occasions as an envoy for the Okinawan King. After his return from China he organized and refined the Shorin Ryu system of Okinawan Karate. His main instruction came from Sakugawa. Matsumura is credited with passing on the kata or formal exercises of Shorin Ryu Karate known as Naifanchi I & II, Bassai Dai, Seisan, Chinto, Gojushiho (fifty-four steps of the Black Tiger), Kusanku (the embodiment of Kusanku's teaching as passed on to Tode Sakugawa) and Hakutsuru (white crane). The Hakutsuru kata contains the elements of the white crane system taught within the Shaolin system of Chinese Kenpo. Another set of kata, known as Chanan in Matsumura's time, is said to have been devised by Matsumura himself and was the basis for Pinan I and II. Matsumura's Ryu has endured to the present day and the above mentioned kata are the core of Shorin Ryu Karate today. Matsumura was given the title "Bushi" meaning warrior by the Okinawan King in recognition of his abilities and accomplishments in the martial arts. In fact, Matsumura fought many times but was never defeated. His martial arts endeavours has been the progenitor of many contemporary karate styles, Shorin Ryu, Shotokan Ryu, and Shito Ryu, for example. Ultimately all modern styles of karate that evolved from the Shuri-Te lineage can be traced back to the teachings of Bushi Matsumura. This includes Taekwon-do (Korean Karate).
Matsumura's Makimono (scroll) or Precepts of Matsuura. (or Matsumura's letter about Martial Arts)
To: My Wise Young Brother Kuwae (Ryosei), Through resolve and relentless training one will grasp the true
essence of the fighting traditions. Hence, please consider my words
deeply. No less interesting is the fundamental similarity between the
fighting and literary traditions. By examining the literary phenomenon
we discover three separate elements: 1) the study of shisho; 2)
the study of kunko; 3) the study of jukyo. The study of shisho refers to commanding words and communicative
skills. The study of kunko refers to a comparative study in the
philosophy of ancient documents and teaching a sense of duty through
example. Yet, in spite of their uniqueness, they are incapable of
finding the Way. Capturing only a shallow understanding of the literary
phenomenon, shisho and kunko cannot, therefore, be considered complete
studies. It is in the study of jukyo, or Confucianism, that we can find the
Way. In finding the Way we can;- 1) gain a deeper understanding of things 2) build strength from weakness 3) make our feelings more sincere 4) become
virtuous 5) administer our own affairs more effectively
or better control our emotions This then is a complete study
and it is called jukyo. Scrutinizing the fighting disciplines we also discover three
divisions:- 1) gakushi no bugei, a psychological game of strategy
practiced by scholars and court officials; 2) meimoku no bugei, nominal styles of purely physical form,
which aim only at winning (without virtue, participants are known to be
argumentative, often harm others or even themselves, and occasionally
bring shame to their parents, brothers, and family members); 3) budo no bugei, the genuine methods which are never
practiced without conviction, and through which participants cultivate a
serene wisdom which knows not contention or vice. With virtue,
participants foster loyalty among family, friends, and country, and a
natural decorum encourages a dauntless character. With the fierceness of a tiger and the swiftness of a bird, an
indomitable calmness makes subjugating any adversary effortless. Yet, 'budo
no bugei';- 1) forbids wilful violence (It
prohibits intentional violence) 2) governs the warrior (It
rules the actions of the warrior) 3) fortifies
people (It edifies) 4) fosters virtue (It
promotes virtue) 5) appeases the community (It
promotes peace among the people) 6 & 7) and brings about a
general sense of harmony and prosperity. (It
produces harmony in society & It brings about prosperity) These are called the "Seven Virtues of Bu," and they have been
venerated by the seijin (sagacious person or persons; most
probably Chinese Confucians) in the document titled Godan-sho (an
ancient journal describing the ways of China). Hence, the way of bun bu
(study of philosophy and the fighting traditions, often described as
"the pen [or brush] and the sword") have mutual features. A scholar needs not gakushi or meimoku no bugei, only budo no bugei. This is where you will
find the Way. This indomitable fortitude will profoundly affect your
judgment in recognizing opportunity and reacting accordingly, as the
circumstances always dictate the means. I may appear somewhat unsympathetic, but my conviction lies strongly
in the principles of budo no bugei. If you embrace my words as I have
divulged to you, leaving no secrets and nothing left hiding in my mind,
you will find the Way. Matsumura Bucho, May 13th (c.1882) taken from "Tales of
Okinawa's Great Masters by Shoshin Nagamine" |
Updated: Tuesday, 21 September 2010