Heigaku [兵学]

Research Projects

[ glossary · topic map · methodology · references ]

Koryū

Analysis of the history and texts of several koryū — especially Shinkage-ryū and Kashima-area traditions — including close readings of their densho.

Kin-gendai

Kin-gendai (近現代; "modern and contemporary") refers to post-Tokugawa periods of Japanese history (i.e., Meiji, Taishō, Shōwa and onward). Changing social mores, nationalist politics, competitive and sportive aspects and how some of these arts flourished in modernity.

Shugendō

Mountain Shugendō and Japanese esoteric Buddhism. Their influence on classical martial traditions.

The Kōbusho

The late-Tokugawa shogunal martial academy (1856–1867), where instructors of Jikishinkage-ryū, Shingyōtō-ryū, Tamiya-ryū and other schools taught swordsmanship, spear and jūjutsu side by side — with biographical sketches of its kenshi, the schools they came from, and the bakumatsu corps they later founded or joined.

Neijia [內家]

Chinese internal martial arts — Tàijíquán, Bāguàzhǎng and Xíngyìquán — their classics, training, and Taoist/neigong foundations.