A dojo guide; the Dojo Kun

Every karateka around the world, especially the ones who at a certain time had a relationship with the JKA family, is familiar with the Dojo kun, the five precepts or instructions for practitioners of karate. It is found hanging in calligraphic forms in many dojo. Remember pictures from the JKA Honbu in Tokyo with the calligraphy of Dojo kun hanging in the Kamiza. In many dojo karateka are ‘’chanting’’ the Dojo kun, during reiho, at the beginning and end of the training. But, are we sure that we know its meaning, origin and history?

The origin of the Dojo Kun is largely unknown; to my knowledge there is no clear evidence of the origin of the document at all. Many people consider Gichin Funakoshi as the ‘’father’’ of Dojo Kun but probably this is not correct. 

This is based to the fact that Funakoshi was famous for his calligraphy work; calligraphy was a common activity among scholars, as Funakoshi, and warriors as well.  Every caligrafic work was signed by its creator. Funakoshi’s calligraphic work, including his Nijukun, may found in many books but no calligraphic works of the Dojo Kun, signed by Funakoshi, has been found anywhere. Why would a man who created the Dojo Kun not write it down using his favorite activity of putting brush and ink to paper? I think because he did not write it. The Nijukun was his dojo kun but not the one we are talking about.

It is worthy to notethat there is no evidence of Dojo Kun existence before World War II. The Japanese writings of Funakoshi, in four different hard-bound publications about karate, contain absolutely no mention of the Dojo Kun. Even his autobiography does not mention it. Surely, if you had authored the central tenets of karate training as the founder of a style, would you not mention them either in one of your many books or your own life story as you told it?

That brings us to the conclusion that the five point document is a creation of the Japan Karate Association. All copies found are brushed by Nakayama, Okazaki, Enoeda and other JKA senior instructors. None created by instructors of the Shoto-Kai or Funakoshi himself is available. Probably Nakayama and some other coleagues of him created the Dojo kun in order to convince the Allied Occupational Authorities to allow them to continue practicing karate despite the ban on martial arts in Japan. (Editor’s note: I am preparing an article on that case, the Budo ban in Japan 1945-1949) but never took credit for it, so people would just assume it came from somewhere prestigious or ancien. By never commenting on the creation of the Dojo Kun, it "just appeared" and histories seem to have been invented in the information vacuum.

Dojo KunLet’s now have a look in the substance of the Dojo Kun, which is shown on the picture beside. Its Japanese Pronunciation stands for:

HITOTSU! JINKAKU KANSEI NI TSUTOMURU KOTO!

HITOTSU! MAKOTO NO MICHI O MAMORU KOTO!

HITOTSU! DORYOKU NO SEICHIN O YASHINAU KOTO!

HITOTSU! REIGI O OMONZURU KOTO!

HITOTSU! KEKKI NO YU O IMASHIMURU KOTO!

 

A typical English Translation is:

Although this is the common translation, this is a bad one. So allow me to attempt to introduce you to the proper one, by using my poor Japanese language skills.

Firstly some remarks in reading the dokument. Read the words from from right to left and from top down. The most right character says "Kun." Every line begins with a counter hitotsu that means "one." Every line ends with the word koto, which literally means "thing." This is generally interpreted to mean "Here's a rule, here's another rule..."

Following that the best English translation is

If you compare the two translations the difference is evident. Although someone may argue that there is no substantial difference, a closer view proves the opposite. Just a few examples: The common translation asks for loyalty, the literal one mentions honesty. One asks for courtesy, the other for respect. Respect and Courtesy are two different things. Courtesy is mere politeness, respect is something different, in my opinion. Lastly, the common usage directs to avoid violence, the literal one asks you to be careful of poor judgement – quite a difference.

To many all these may seem irrelevant. However to those living budo on a daily basis, in every moment or action, I think a deeper understanding is absolutely necessary. And allow me to express another point. The Dojo kun, in general not referring to this specific one, works as the motto of the dojo, the ‘’unifier’’ of members. This particular ‘’Dojo kun’’ has been spread among Shotokan karateka by JKA; but any dojo may select its own. As an example the dojo kun of my Iaido dojo in Athens is ‘’Vigor and Honor’’ – ‘’Yuki to Meiyo’’. Every dojo-cho may select a kun for his dojo, which will reflect particular dojo values. In addition it enhances the bond among the members of the dojo. If you find it worthy, try the idea.