BUBISHI, BIBLE of KARATE-DO
The Bubishi was a Chinese secret book about Kenpo, that,
coming from Fuzhou (China), resurged in Okinawa.
Describing the complexities of the Shaolin Temple "The Boxing of the Monk's Fist",
and the principles of the Gong Fu (Kung Fu) of "White Crane" of Fujian, the
Bubishi is historically an important document whose secrets had been closely
kept by Masters of Karate Do in Okinawa.
The most important Masters of Karate Do (Chojun Miyagi, Funakoshi Gichin, Kenwa
Mabuni and Choki Motobu), they taught this document to their most advanced
students, and this way (going by generations from Masters toward students) - the
Bubishi is the most important document about Karate Do, that until today is
known.
The Bubishi is a book about philosophy, strategy, technique and herbal medicine,
that for hundreds of years passed from Masters toward students; first in China
and later in Okinawa.
The diagram (kanji) " BU " is translated as " army ". The diagram " BI " it
means "to provide, or to prepare". And the diagram " SHI " it means "
registration ". Together, the three kanji mean "Manual of military instruction."
At the moment, are known two Bubishi, both of China (Fuzhou). One is a colossal
treaty of the art of the war, published during the dynasty Ming (1366-1644),
well-known as "Mao Yuanyi's Bubishi."
It is thought that the other one was produced during the dynasty Qing
(1644-1911). This is the one that arose in Okinawa, and then is known as the "Okinawa's
Bubishi".
Their original kanji is read in Chinese Mandarin as "Wu Bei Zhi", and it is an
anthology of the Chinese Gong Fu (Kung Fu), its history, its philosophy and its
application.
OKINAWA's BUBISHI AND
GOJU RYU STYLE
Chojun Miyagi selected the name Goju Ryu from this book, inspired by the third
of the eight precepts of Quan Fa. This precept says: "To inhale represents
the softness, while to exhale characterizes the hardness."
Many people believe that Kanryo Higaonna is the most probable source, in order
that the Bubishi appeared first in Okinawa.
The query about if Higaonna would have obtained a copy of the Bubishi from one
of his Masters in Fuzhou, it is object of many discussions, becoming one of the
most popular theories, mainly among the sympathetic of Goju Ryu.
About what there is not any doubt, it is that Higaonna - after living several
years in Fuzhou and of being related with the School of Quan Fa of Naha -
learned the central elements of several lines of Chinese Gong Fu (Kung Fu)
Chinese, after living several years in Fuzhou, and of being related with the
Naha's School of Quan Fa.
There are four styles of the Boxing of the Crane, and each one uses its own Saam
Chien quan (Sanchin Kata), and one of them also uses Sanseiryu, and Niseishi (Nijushiho).
The Boxing of the Dragon, besides others quan (katas), uses Seisan, Peichurrin (Suparinpei),
Saam Chien (Sanchin), and a quan (kata) called Eighteen Fists (mentioned in the
Bubishi), that several Masters sustain it was the base of the kata Seipai (Ju
hachi te).
The Boxing of the Tiger also uses Saam Chien (Sanchin); Sanseiryu, and
Peichurrin (Suparinpei), among others quan (katas).
The Boxing of the Dog (maybe better known as the Boxing of the Earth), also uses
Saam (Sanchin) and Sanseiryu, among others quan (katas).
The Boxing of Arhat (also known as Fist of the Monk), uses Saam Chien (Sanchin);
Seisan; Seipai; Useishi (Gojushiho), and Peichurrin, among others forms.
The Boxing of the León uses Saam Chien (Sanchin), and Seisan, among others katas
(quan).
Because of Kanryo Higaonna taught all these katas, it is logical to think that
he studied, and practiced, those mentioned four styles of Chinese Boxing, and
that he ended up knowing the Bubishi through the Masters of these styles.
The Bubishi reveals the original applications (bunkai) of the orthodox katas,
and the moral commands that should govern the behavior of those that know, and
dominate, these secrets.
It is known that Suparinpei; Seisan, and Sanchin, had been transmitted in
Kuninda, a lot of time before Higaonna went to China. A Seisho Aragaki's student
(of Kuninda) called Tomura Pechin, showed Peichurrin (Suparinpei) on March 24th,
1867, in a celebration ceremony.
As Seisan and Peichurrin were not practiced in the education system Ryuryu Ko,
it would seem that Higaonna learned these katas from Seisho Aragaki.
Others katas not taught by the system of Master Ryuryu Ko (Ryuuru Ko), were
Sanseiryu; Saifuwa (Saifa); Kururunfa, and Seipai. Then, it is thought that
Kanryo Higaonna would have learned these katas from one of the members of the
Kojo family (maybe "Wai Sinsian", or perhaps " Iwah ".
However, Kanryo Higaonna never used the name of the style " Whooping Crane " (Screechy
Crane) or "Kojo-ryu", that distinguished the family Kojo.
Kojo-ryu was a style created and practiced by the Kojo family, and Kanryo
HIganoona also trained in one of Kojo's dojos. At the moment it is not known
what quan (katas) were trained in these dojos.
What it is known, it is that Master Ryuryu Ko taught five quan (katas):
" Happoren " (Baiburen in Mandarin, and Paipuren in
Japanese); " Nepai " (Nipaipo in Japanese); " Doonquan " (also
called Chukyo); " Roujin " and " Qijing " (Shichikei).
Obviously, Master Ryuryu Ko knew many others quan (katas), and he was who taught
the kata Kururunfa to Kanryo Higaonna.
Something interesting of knowing, is the fact that the Shaolin School of the
South established that the vital points of the human body were 108, and that the
Shaolin Monks used special names, in order of describing each one of the
techniques that they executed in the quan (katas).
One of the theories that would explain why the katas arose, is that the monks
created fixed and continuous routines with different postures (and techniques of
defense and attack), in order of maintaining good health, and to memorize the
defensive procedures, and the corresponding vital points. They gave to these
routines, names such as": Seisan te" (Thirteen), " Seipai " - or " Ju hachi te "
- (Eighteen), " Niseishi " - or " Nijushiho " - (Twenty-four), " Sanseiryu " -
or " Sansei roku te " (Thirty six), and " Peichurrin " - or " Suparinpei " - or
Hyaku hachi te " - (One hundred and eight).
Some of these routines were good for the creation of styles that were developed
in Fujian, among them the one today known as "Goju Ryu."
The creator of this style - Chojun Miyagi - mentioning the Bubishi, said that
this book was The Bible of Karate-Do, and that all serious karatecas
should read, and should study, this book in depth.
FERNANDO PRIETO -
7th. DAN
Representative of JKF Goju Kai (Osaka - Japan)
Representative of Traditional Ryukyu Okinawa-te and Kobudo Federation (Naha - Okinawa)
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