Aikido and the Structure of the Universe - Ichirei Shikon Sangen Hachiriki
New blog post - "Aikido and the Structure of the Universe - Ichirei Shikon Sangen Hachiriki / 一霊四魂三元八力". Enjoy!
http://www.aikidosangenkai.org/blog/...f-the-universe Best, Chris |
Re: Aikido and the Structure of the Universe - Ichirei Shikon Sangen Hachiriki
Hello Chris
Is there a connection between Omoto and the eight trigrams found around the Chinese yin-yang symbol? Regards Carl |
Re: Aikido and the Structure of the Universe - Ichirei Shikon Sangen Hachiriki
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It's tempting to say that Omoto is, then, the source of Ueshiba's ideas and/or martial power, but I tend not to think so, since the cosmology is common throughout Japanese culture and martial training (including, for example, Daito-ryu). Best, Chris |
Re: Aikido and the Structure of the Universe - Ichirei Shikon Sangen Hachiriki
As I understand it, the hachiriki are not common in other forms of Shinto. If the hachiriki of Omoto do correspond to Chinese trigrams then I wonder if new light might be shed on Osensei's trips to Manchuria with Deguchi. I also wonder if the hachiriki crop up in any of Takeda's training.
Regards Carl |
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Interesting stuff. FWIW, the "ichi-rei etc." formulation is found in some Shinto lines other than Oomoto (sorry, no references at hand -- later). For my money, what was original about Deguchi's presentation was the particular mix and dramatic presentation of a wide range of elements gathered from earlier traditions, rather than any particular innovation specific to Oomoto. The comparison of the drawings near the close is particularly suggestive. I don't want to quibble, and perhaps my eyes aren't as reliable as they once were, but that single Katakana character in the center looks to me as if it is "Su" and not "Yu." But I'm not sure this possible variance has much effect on the totality of your presentation. Best, Fred |
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Best, Chris |
Re: Aikido and the Structure of the Universe - Ichirei Shikon Sangen Hachiriki
One doesn't have to go to Mongolia - which was certainly not a study trip anyway - to find such elements in neo-Shinto. For example, the Misogi-kai exercises were mostly derived from Chinese qigong exercises. Pretty much all the common Taoist doctrines were available in Japan: through Kampo (Chinese medicine), through Taoist texts in Buddhist doctrine, through Taoist elements in neo-Confucianism, through martial arts texts. Wondering where Deguchi might have found doctrine like Hachiriki is like wondering how the heck Americans ever heard of Shakespeare, given that the guy lived all the way in England.
OTOH - the question if similar language/doctrine was used in Daito-ryu is interesting. Old wine in new bottles? Or a direct transfer of the wine-cellar? Ellis Amdur |
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Thanks Fred! Best, Chris |
Re: Aikido and the Structure of the Universe - Ichirei Shikon Sangen Hachiriki
Chris,
I don't know if you've discussed this, or are going to discuss this, but this quote - 八力は、対照力「動、静、解、凝、引、弛、合、分、」「9-1、8-2、7-3、6-4」をいいます。 - shows further connection to Chinese cosmology. The numbers, when paired in that way, are expressing opposite relationships across the magic square that is at the heart of many aspects of Chinese cosmology: Josh |
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Isn't it interesting how all of these things fit together consistently? Best, Chris |
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Thanks for your research and comments so far Carl |
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Anyway, it's easy to see that these concepts would have been well known in Japan, especially to Morihei Ueshiba, who was educated in a Shingon temple and grew up reading classical texts. Interestingly, Soemon Takeda was also a student of Onmyodo. No need even to go to Omoto-kyo for a source. It may well be, however, that the confluence of Daito-ryu In-Yo methods with Omoto-kyo beliefs had an influence on Ueshiba's conceptualization of Aikido. Best, Chris |
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Thanks again for your comments and the book reference in particular. Carl |
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Onmyodo in Japan is basically the Chinese Yin/Yang cosmology, usually as in divination (ala the I Ching). There's also a lot of weird mythology in modern Japanese pop culture surrounding it. Anyway, it's all tied together with Yin/Yang, Five Elements, and the Eight Trigrams. Those things are also tied in with the Chinese martial training methodology, so the references have existed commonly in Japan for a long time (6th century, I think). Best, Chris |
Re: Aikido and the Structure of the Universe - Ichirei Shikon Sangen Hachiriki
In the dissertation of Margaret Greenhalgh: "Aikido and Spirituality: Japanese Religious Influences in a Martial Art" she states a direct connection Daoism and moto kyo because of Ushitora no Konjin being of daoist origin.
(I can't give the page from here. It's in at the beginning of the chapter about the daoist influences on aikid.) I can't value this. But the parts of this work, which I can judge seem to be build on profound research. |
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Best, Chris |
Re: Aikido and the Structure of the Universe - Ichirei Shikon Sangen Hachiriki
Arrrrgh, just looked it up:
"Nor may many pracitioners be aware, that Ushitora-no-Konjin, the folk deity who inspiredt the foundress of moto and whom Ueshib revered daily at a small shrine in Iwama, was of Daoist origin." But for this statement she gives no source, just states it. She then compares the daoist internal alchemy and also cosmology to Ueshibas understanding of aikid. I haven't read it yet. It's on my list ... It seems to me she walks the same direction like you do in your blogposts. But while you pick up one piece of the puzzle at a time and look at it in detail, she tries to give an overview. Quote:
Sunadomari Kanemoto: Aikid kaiso, Tokyo 1969 Ueshiba Kisshomaru: Aikid kaiso, Tokyo 1999 Ueshiba Morihei: Takemusu aiki, ed. Takahashi Hideo, Tokyo1986 There are two or three more among the secondary sources, but most is English or French. And most of them you will know, I think. And Aiki News or Aikido Journal is cited a lot ... |
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Best, Chris |
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I have mixed feelings about Margaret Greenhalgh’s book. The way she cites some Japanese works, both in the text and in the bibliography, is sometimes very odd and offers evidence that she has not used the Japanese originals. For example, on p. 9 we find this statement: “A more comprehensive presentation [sc. of Morihei Ueshiba’s thought] is given in the four lectures published in 1986 as Takemusu Aiki and in The Secret Teachings of Aikido.” She gives a footnote with the Japanese details of Takemusu Aiki, but should then be aware that this book contains much more than ‘four lectures’. There is no mention at all of Aiki Shinzui, of which The Secret Teachings is a translation. The fact that she seems to be relying on translations that are plausibly quite dubious suggests that she has not considered this possibility--that much of what has come down as Morihei Ueshiba's thought has not been presented accurately. Best wishes, PAG |
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Considering translations of second hand materials of things likely not really meant to be written down and used as reference materials ... folly? |
Re: Aikido and the Structure of the Universe - Ichirei Shikon Sangen Hachiriki
"Aikido and the Structure of the Universe" is now available in Romanian, courtesy of Aikido Jurnal:
The original English version is available here. Best, Chris |
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