Monday, April 5, 2010

Shaho-Kun: Principles of Shooting

'Shaho-Kun - Principles of Shooting: The way is not with the bow, but with the bone, which is of the greatest importance in shooting.

Placing Spirit (Kokoro) in the center of the whole body, with two-thirds of the Yunde (left arm) push the string, and with one-third of the Mete (right arm) pull the bow.

Spirit settled, this becomes harmonious unity. From the center line of the chest, divide the left and right equally into release. It is written, that the collision of iron and stone will release sudden sparks; and thus there is the golden body, shining white, and the half moon positioned in the west'.

The Shaho-Kun was written by Yoshimi Junsei, a Shingon Buddhist Priest, founded the Kishu Clan and Kishu-Chikurin-Ha Kyudo.

3 comments:

  1. The Shaho-Kun was written by Yoshimi Junsei, a Shingon Buddhist Priest, founded the Kishu Clan and Kishu-Chikurin-Ha Kyudo.

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  2. This was the time during which the great Archery competitions were held in the temple of Sanjusangendo in Kyoto. The temple is 120 meters long, and this competition measured how many arrows could be shot within a 24-hour period that could travel the full length of the temple and strike the target at the temple's opposite end. (Ancient arrows from these competitions can still be seen in some of the temple's structural members.)

    The current modern record is held by Wasa Daihachiro with 8,133 hits out of 13,053 arrows shot; this feat required the archer to shoot an average of one arrow every six seconds over the entire twenty-four-hour period.

    Wasa Daihachiro was a direct student of Master Yoshimi Junsei.

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  3. Master Yoshimi Junsei, being the founder of Kishu-Chikurin Ha and Clan, and because he was a Shingon Priest, has special meaning for me. Kosaka Sensei is also a Shingon Priest and comes from the Wakayama area that is home to the Kishu-Chikurin Clan; thus Kishu-Chikurin Ha Heki ryu was the first kyudo school he was exposed to.

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