Following is a ritual text or creed concerned with Jiki Shinkage-ryū Hōjō swordsmanship, provided for reference based on Jiki Shinkage-ryū Sōhonbu material. This text is typically chanted or recited before performance of the Hōjō kata of Jiki Shinkage-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 specific groups 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- Please consult Japanese language references for additional context and copies of historical documents.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 Kokoro-e sho
Hōjō wa te no buashi bumi no jutsu ni arazu. Kami wa sunawachi shinmei no shitoku ni shite, shimo wa heijō shin no yō nari.
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.
Hō wa daishizen no hōsoku ni shite, jō wa sono michi suji wo sadametaru mono nareba shin tai mizu kara tensoku ari jikishin wo motte hyakuren jitoku subeshi.
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.
Kono michi wo osamuru mono wa shōbu ni kakawari bõman no furumai aru be karazu. A rui wa o no re wo hi ge shi te, ta ni o mo ne ru be ka ra zu. Sono gyō wa chi no kanzuru tokoro ni ōshi, gi no aru tokoro ni shitagau nomi.
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.
Kono michi no shin wo ereba shuma kotogo tokukeni wo osorete, chikaku no hazu, sunawachi, daiwa kuni wo osamuru no ōmichi ni shite, sho wa shu shin sei ka go shin no michi nari.
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.
Hōjō wo manabu mokuteki wa kõrai shūtai no yōkei wo nozoki honrai seimei no kōtai ni fukusuru ni ari.
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.