Hōjō ken Kororo-e sho

法定劔心得書

Following is a ritual text or creed concerned with Jikishinkage-ryū Hōjō swordsmanship, provided for reference based on Jikishinkage-ryū Sōhonbu and Hōbyōkan material. This text is typically chanted or recited before performance of the Hōjō kata of Jikishinkage-ryū:

• Phonetics are provided to aid in chanting at the beginning of practice, akin to Shintō norito (祝詞).
• English translations are based on Google Translate, as other English translations are private to groups such as the Hōbyōkan and others, and not reproduced here.
• Please consult Japanese language references for additional context and copies of historical documents.

Hōjō is a foundational practice and encodes Taoist five element theory as manifested by the pace, rhythm, breathing, and combative postures adopted during its four major sections representing Wood, Fire, Metal, and Water elements and its connecting sequences representing the element of Earth.

Hōjō ken Kororo-e sho

一、 法定ハ手舞足踏ノ術ニ非ズ上ハ 則チ 神明ノ至徳ニシテ下 ハ 平常心ノ要ナリ

Hō jō wa te no bu a shi bu mi no ju tsu ni a ra zu. Ka mi wa su na wa chi shin mei no shi to ku ni shi te, shi mo wa hei jō shin no yō na ri.

Hōjō is not simply a set of combative movements. Universally, it is a manifestation of divine virtue. Personally, it it is necessity of the impartial mind.

二、法ハ 大自然法則 ニシテ 定ハ其ノ道筋 ヲ定メタル モノナレバ進退自ラ 天測アリ 直キ心ヲ以ッテ百鍊 得スペシ

Hō wa dai shi zen no hō so ku ni shi te, jō wa so no mi chi su ji wo sa da me ta ru mo no na re ba shin tai mi zu ka ra ten so ku a ri ji ki shin wo mo te hya ku ren ji to ku su be shi.

Hō is natural law. Jō is its course. If you can predict the course of your actions, you can move forward and backward clearly. With a clear mind, you can achieve anything.

三、此道ヲ修ムル 者ハ勝負に拘り 暴慢ノ振舞有ルベカラズ或八己ヲ卑下シテ他ニ阿ルベカラズ 其ノ行ハ 智ノ感ズル 所 ニ 應シ義ノ在ル所 ニ 從ウノミ

Ko no mi chi wo o sa mu ru mo no wa shō bu ni ka ka wa ri bõ man no fu ru mai a ru be ka ra zu. A rui wa o no re wo hi ge shi te, ta ni o mo ne ru be ka ra zu. So no gyō wa chi no kan zu ru to ko ro ni ō shi, gi no aru to ko ro ni shi ta ga u no mi

Those who practice this path should not be obsessed with winning or behave arrogantly, nor should they belittle themselves or flatter others. Their actions should be in accordance with what wisdom inspires and what righteousness is.

四、此道ノ真ヲ 得レバ衆魔悉ク 劔威ヲ恐レテ 近ク 能ハズ、即チ、 大八 国ヲ 治ムルノ 大道ニシテ 小ハ 修身 齊家 護身ノ道 ナリ

Ko no mi chi no shin wo e re ba shu ma ko to go to ku ken i wo o so re te, chi ka ku nō ha zu, su na wa chi, dai wa ku ni wo o sa mu ru no ō mi chi ni shi te, sho wa shu shin sei ka go shin no mi chi na ri.

If one understands the truth of this path, all demons will fear the power of your sword and will be unable to approach you. In other words, Hōjō is the great path to governing the kingdom, and the small path to self-cultivation and self-preservation.

五、法定ヲ 学ブ 目的ハ 后来習態 ノ 容形ヲ 除キ 本来 清明 ノ 恒体ニ 復スルニ 在リ

Hō jō wo ma na bu mo ku te ki wa kõ rai shū tai no yō kei wo no zo ki hon rai sei mei no kō tai ni fu ku su ru ni a ri.

The purpose of learning Hōjō is to eliminate defilements that have arisen in your life and so return to your original pure and clear nature.