True enough, but then, that's the way that it always has been and always will be. The roman legion ruled the world until their method of warfare was surpassed. While it's interesting (and often informative) to examine what they did I don't particularly mourn their passing - time moves on and the world changes.Originally posted by Arman
In any event, I didn't mean to suggest that koryu arts overall are endangered specimens. Only that many small, little known koryu will continue to die off while other, more widely practiced and better preserved koryu, will continue to thrive (if you can call it that when compared to the modern budo). Of course, a koryu can only maintain its classical integrity by limiting, to some extent, the spread of a ryu's knowledge. So, I guess it is a fine balancing act.
The only reason that the koryu remained in (more or less) one form as long as they did is that the Tokugawa did everything they could to freeze Japanese society at a certain point. In fact, that's one of the main reasons that the koryu were little use in standing up to Perry and the black ships. I do enjoy watching those demonstrations by the schools that have preserved the traditional Japanese 16 century firearms, though.
FWIW, I seem to remember Peter Boylan arguing (a couple of years ago) that there was actually very little die off among koryu, based upon current and past traditions listed in the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten, but you'd have to ask him for the details.
Best,
Chris