A Study on the characteristics of martial arts in Middle Ages based on the review of literature Heiho Hidensyo and KoyoGunkan in Koshu-ryu Heiho series

• Published in: Research Journal of Physical Arts Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 9 - 23
• Main Author: TAI, Kentaro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Society for the Studies of Physical Arts 31.12.2010
• ISSN: 1340-4393; 2436-8032
• DOI: 10.51078/physicalarts.2010.002

This study identifies the characteristics of the combat techniques used in martial arts practiced in the Middle Ages; it also clarifies the relationship between the ethics of martial arts and those of Bushi warriors that practiced martial arts.The documentation of martial arts is confined to textbooks on martial arts practiced in the Edo era, and there are few descriptions of martial arts practiced in the Middle Ages. Books on “Heiho" not only serve as textbooks describing strategies and tactics but also details personal combat techniques. Therefore, this study referenced books on “Koshu-ryu Heiho, " including Heiho Hidensyo on combat techniques and Koyo Gunkan to gain an insight into the ethics of warfare.The following results were obtained by this study:1. In Heiho Hidensyo, the word heiho refers to combat techniques for the purpose of killing or simply inflicting injury. Martial arts practiced in the Middle Ages (heiho) had three characteristics: (1) “total compatibility," ensuring that the various arms work in unity; (2) “situational flexibility, " to innumerable circumstances the enemy could create and the situations on the battleground that could be diverse; and (3) “technical flexibility, " to the various rather than a fixed approach for combat in terms of employing arms or physical techniques.2.In Koyo Gunkan, the word yumiya refers to combat techniques to kill or inflict injury, and the word bu-gei refers to combat arts with special ability. Such words that refer to combat ability have ethical implications. These preliminary signs indicate that combat techniques were employed in keeping with the mentality of the Bushi class.