Wanted to share this illustration. It is from a colored Bubishi edition.
Wanted to share this illustration. It is from a colored Bubishi edition.
The writing on the illustration says:
青龍出抓手勝 qinglong chu zhuashou sheng
Blue Dragon sends out his claws (lit. grabbing hand) and wins
丹鳳朝陽手敗 danfeng zhaoyangshou bai
Cinnabar (=red) Phoenix [uses the] Sun-Facing Hand (=an upwards going attack) and loses
This martial manual, Bubishi, was created by Ryukyuans who trained in Fuzhou City, Fujian, in the late 19th century. “Blue Dragon sends out his claws” and “Cinnabar Phoenix [uses the] Sun-Facing Hand” are names of techniques. Does anybody know of karate styles which still use these names?
I have this picture in a Goju Bubishi but it is not color.
Is this saying the Goju Bubishi dates back to 19th Century. Dojo tradition is that it is older and probably came to Okinawa via Kumemura and the 36 families who first settled from China beginning in 1392. Not saying our Bubishi dates back to 1392 but it supposed to be older than 19th Century. But dojo history ...... What is more important a true accurate history or a fantastic story that feeds the fighting spirit. LOL
In 1936 though Miyagi Sendai did say: In the meantime, there is the only opinion we can trust. It is as follows: In 1828 (Qing or Ching dynasty in China), our ancestors inherited a kungfu style of Fujian province in China. They continued their studies and formed Goju-Ryu karate. Even today, there still exists an orthodox group which inherited genuine and authentic Goju-Ryu karate."
Ed Boyd
According to the research I conducted with my friend LKY the Bubishi could not have been compiled before the 1860’s.
I agree with you that stories are inspiring, but truth (=history) have its own beauty, and it is empowering too. It makes you independent and free. Without disrespect to dojo traditions, which I myself cherish, truth takes you a step further, it makes you independent and free from relying (solely) on dojo traditions.
Hello,
Do you know who was or is the owner of your colored "Bubishi"? Whom he/she get this "Bubishi" from?
Regards,
Henning Wittwer
Hi Henning
This Bubishi was never mine. It belonged to Furuya Masato, aka Reverend Kensho Furuya (http://www.aikidocenterla.com/memorial/sensei.html ).
It is now the property of Taiwan's Lion Books.
Sincerely
David