Oriental weapons: Death or Self-knowledge instruments?

Last Sunday I attended a workshop of naginata, the Japanese halberd, organized by the martial art school YOSHINRYU, as part of the exhibition “L'Ombra del Guerriero” (Turin, San Pietro in Vincoli, May 9th - July 9th 2006).

I have been practicing Taijiquan for two years, so I have already had the opportunity to study weapons in a martial arts context, but during that practical experience I have better understood how deep is the contrast between Western and Eastern culture about the concept of weapons.

While in Western countries weapons are usually just perceived as fight instruments, in China or in Japan they are mainly considered self-knowledge instruments. Being a death instrument is only a minor attribute of a weapon in Eastern cultures.

A good example to explain this concept is the beautiful artwork that Ms Hiraoka, calligraphy master, depicted before the naginata demonstration started.
She drew some bamboos and beside them a sentence attributed to an ancient warrior that says: “Sitting down, I look at my sword”.

The warrior does not long for using his sword; he is just looking at it, in a peaceful context, as the sword is part of the nature surrounding him.
Through many years of difficult physical and mental practice, he learnt how to fight against his hidden monsters and fears; he learned how to live together with them.
Through exhausting exercises he found his gesture precision and his emotional control improved. And in that moment, aware of his new physical and mental capabilities, he ceased from desiring to clash with real enemies, because he learnt how to feel empty inside.

Being empty does not mean to be stupid, without any thoughts. According to Oriental cultures, it means to be completely in harmony with nature forces. It means to be able to be them all at the same time.
So, the use of weapons in a martial art context should not be seen as a practice for violent people, but it has to be felt as a path for people that are ready for anything, in order to learn how to deeply know themselves.

For more information about the exhibition “L'Ombra del Guerriero”and about YOSHINRYU, martial art school, look at websites www.kagemusha.it and www.yoshinryu.com