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History
Kendo - the way of the sword - is a school of mind and body based on ancient Japanese training principles. It is rooted in Japanese kenjutsu, the art of swordsmanship, and as a martial art, it represents the use of an exposed sword on the battlefield. Its origins can be traced back to the Heian period in the 9th century, when the first mounted swordsmen appeared in Japanese history.
The bamboo sword used in modern Kendo, known as a shinai, became standardized in the 18th century, with the predecessors of the headgear and groin protector introduced in the 1740s. Modern Kendo can be said to have been defined in 1906 when the ten most prominent Japanese fencing schools selected seven long sword and three short sword kata from their techniques to form the core of modern Kendo. The competitive rules of Kendo also emerged in the 20th century.
Although the real katana or tachi has now been replaced by the safe bamboo sword, the teachings of great samurai legends like Kagehisa Ittosai, Munenori Yagyu, and Miyamoto Musashi still apply in today's dojo.
Clans
HEIAN -ERA (784-1184) - TIME OF HEIKE AND GENJI CLANS
As early as the beginning of the 9th century, in the Kanto region (modern-day Tokyo area), the first armed horsemen groups emerged, known as mono-no-fu or samurai, far from the political center of Kyoto. Initially, these "uncivilized" groups primarily consisted of members of their leader's own family or clan. However, they formed a very cohesive and tight-knit community. By the 12th century, they began to accept outsiders into their ranks, establishing a layered hierarchical "lord and vassal" system. The Genji and Heike clans were examples of such armed groups.
Bushido, the "Way of the Samurai," a feudal-era code of conduct, originated from this period. Although the mono-no-fu were initially skilled in armed combat, they developed an unwritten moral code relatively early, emphasizing values and virtues such as loyalty, courage, honor, and shame. A samurai was unwaveringly brave on the battlefield, always ready to face their enemy face-to-face with their head held high. They abhorred cowardice, such as turning their back on an enemy or defeating an opponent by unhorsing them. Samurai showed great respect and courtesy towards women and would rather die than accept an insult.
The Heike clan was finally defeated in 1185, when the leader of the victorious Genji (Minamoto) clan established a new military-based governance model, the Shogunate. During this period, the position and power of the samurai became quite significant. What had started as the fighting skills of the mono-no-fu evolved into a wide range of combat abilities combined with a strict moral code and way of life. The result was the "Way of the Samurai." Japan's martial medieval era provided an excellent opportunity for this samurai ethos to develop and refine. In particular, the time of the Muromachi Shogunate was one of Japan's most tumultuous periods, with wars raging almost incessantly.
In the picture, you can see a ceremonial armor known as "oyoroi," which high-ranking samurai wore on the battlefield during the 12th century.
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