The Sword of No Sword

The Sword of No Sword - The Life of Zen Warrior Yamaoka Tesshu
Book Review
Vincent Cooper

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Authored by John Stevens, a practicing aikidoka and a professor of Buddhist Studies at Tohoku Fukushi University, this work tells the story and philosophy of master Zen Warrior Yamaoka Tesshu. Tesshu was a man who lived in Japan's turbulent nineteenth century, the time of the Meiji Isshin, the revolution / restoration that saw the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the re-establishment of the Imperial throne at the head of Japan. The same period saw the modernization of Japan which provided the backdrop for the decline in the relevance of the samurai class and a move to a modern, conscript army. These events are captured in the historical drama The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe, which is loosely based on the rebellion led by Saigo Takamori. As the esteem with which the samurai had previously been held waned and modern weapons made the katana redundant the martial arts of the warrior class found themselves anachronistic. In response the battlefield arts reinvented themselves to promote a way of life through the study of a combative discipline. Kenjutsu became kendo, the way of the sword. Other arts would follow, most notably in the twentieth century when ju jutsu became judo, Okinawan te became karate do and aikijutsu became aikido. At the forefront of the initial shift was Yamaoka Tesshu, the Miyamoto Musashi of his time, a master swordsman, Zen master, expert calligrapher and a man whose wisdom and philosophy transcends time.

Ono Tetsutaro, the child who would later become famous as Yamaoka Tesshu, was born on June 10, 1836. At this time the Tokugawa Shogunate was still in power and Tesshu's father was a retainer of good standing. He began to study the Way of the Samurai in the holistic sense when he was 10, becoming immersed in martial arts and classical learning. His father also pushed him to practice Zen to fortify his mind. Although versed in Confucianism, the young Tesshu found Buddhism more appealing and practiced zazen (seated meditation) and made daily offerings to Kannon, the Goddess of Compassion.

While still a teenager both his parents died and Tesshu grew up quickly, heading his large family and caring for everyone. Despite his heavy responsibilities Tesshu never neglected his martial practices and enrolled in the sojutsu (spear fighting) school of the legendary Yamaoka Seizan. This master trained like no other and had his spiritual realization in his early twenties while fighting opponent after opponent for 24 straight hours. This ascetic training had a very big impact on Tesshu and would be a key point in his teaching of the pursuit of the sword of no sword. As well as being a fearsome fighter Yamaoka Seizan also preached a useful philosophy. Once he said "If you want to attain true victory, broaden your understanding of virtue. No enemy can defeat a man of superior virtue. Attempting to win through exclusive reliance on technique will lead you nowhere." This kind of idealism had a big impact on the young Tesshu and won his respect. After his teacher's death Tesshu would tend his grave. These actions, at least in part, impressed Seizan's sister and she insisted on marrying Tesshu and thus he was married in 1855, taking the family name Yamaoka. Around this time he also became involved in politics and joined the Shogunate in 1856 as a minor official.

The Sword of No Sword paints Tesshu as being highly competitive and not one to back down from a challenge. These anecdotes, sprinkled liberally through the book, make for great reading and expose, at times, a less-than-Saintly side to the demon swordsman. His recklessness didn't stop him from advancing though and in 1867 he joined the personal guard of Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu. Following the Meiji isshin in 1868, Tesshu joined the new government in 1869. After different postings he returned to the capital in 1872 and became the Emperor Meiji's close confidante and aide. Despite this busy lifestyle Tesshu now began his pursuit of the sword of no sword with true diligence.

Tesshu first trained in the Shinkage Ryu style of swordsmanship at age nine (this was prior to him beginning his general study of the samurai ways a year later). He then studied Ono Itto Ryu. When he returned from his various postings to the capital Edo (Tokyo) he began touring the various training halls seeking to test his skills. During this period he became known as 'Demon Tetsu' owing to his harsh, physical, untiring approach to training. Again, The Sword of No Sword excels in coloring this period of Tesshu's life with anecdotes.

After fighting thousands of matches the confident Tesshu finally met his match in Asari Gimei, a master swordsman of the Nakanishi-ha Itto Ryu. For several hours the two faced each other with every attack of Tesshu's turned aside. Finally the two men clinched and Tesshu, an imposing six footer, was able to throw his master opponent to the ground. Tesshu was pleased with his win...until he noticed marks on his breastplate indicating that Asari had struck him cleanly for the win moments before the throw.

Tesshu became Asari's student and he got his first lesson him humility. Crossing wooden swords once more Asari launched a blistering series of attacks that drove Tesshu back across the training hall and out of the door...which was promptly slammed in his face!

Tesshu became haunted by Asari. He turned to Zen master Ganno for help was given the koan (a Zen riddle): Originally not once thing exists.

It took Tesshu ten years to solve this, but still Asari was in his dreams. He received a new koan:

When two flashing swords meet there is no place to escape;
Move on coolly, like a lotus flower blooming in the midst of a roaring fire,
And forcefully pierce the Heavens!

It took another three years of minute-by-minute introspection for Tesshu to solve this koan. Finally, at the age of 45 he realized liberation (you can read his own poem on his realization in The Sword of No Sword. Immediately Tesshu raced to the training hall to face Asari. As soon as the swords crossed Asari withdrew and never taught Tesshu again, saying only 'You have arrived.' Later he named Tesshu the inheritor of his school.

Tesshu however used a different name: Muto Ryu. 'Mu' means, in the Buddhist sense, nothing, while 'to' means sword. Thus the school of no sword was born.

Later still Tesshu inherited the Headmastership of the Ono Itto Ryu and changed the name of his school once more to Itto Shoden Muto Ryu.

Next Tesshu established his own dojo, the Shumpukan and spiritual forging began in earnest. Students were taught to attack, attack, attack. No hesitation was to be shown and they were never to retreat. Technique would come later; the basic lesson was to endure. This continued for three years and The Sword of No Sword explains why Tesshu thought this period was so crucial.

After this more advanced students progressed through three seigan, or vows to conquer death. The first was to practice for 1,000 days consecutively then face 200 opponents in succession over a day. The second was to face 600 opponents over three days and the final challenge was 1,400 opponents over a full week (200 matches a day). The idea here was to create single-minded determination. The Sword of No Sword highlights two cases of completed seigan, which make for very interesting reading. Only two students though completed the seven-day seigan, but no records of their success remain.

Tesshu managed to attract some truly bizarre students and The Sword of No Sword again excels in its storytelling aspect by detailing the sometimes hilarious antics of these men. Tesshu's two top students were Kominami Yasutomo and Kagawa Zenjiro. Kagawa was a key figure - arguably the key figure - in the development of modern kendo. He was the head instructor of the National Police Academy and traveled throughout Japan teaching a new generation of kendoka (still today policemen in Japan select training in kendo or judo as part of their duties as policemen). In turn, Kagawa's top student Ishikawa Ryuzo went on to train many of the top masters in the twentieth century, thereby cementing a link back to Tesshu.

As well as the misfits, The Sword of No Sword also tells us that government officials trained with Tesshu. Another character was Asaemon the Headsman, a man who (in an official capacity) executed over 2,000 people.

The details of several challenge matches are retold in The Sword of No Sword but the one that impressed me the most was Tesshu's match with Sakakibara Kenkichi, the fourteenth Headmaster of the Jikishinkage ryu. After bowing the match commences and both masters held their swords ready to strike. Both deepened their breathing and there they stood, rooted to the ground. Forty minutes passed with no movement from either one until suddenly they both sheathed their swords and bowed once more, the match over. Neither could detect the slightest opening in the other.

Tesshu taught unyielding determination to move the aspirant towards enlightenment. Tesshu was not so concerned with technical ability, more the fighting spirit of his students. Spirit was all. Tesshu proved this a week before his death. Announcing that his end was near an remarking on how weak his body had become (he died of stomach cancer) Tesshu commanded that his disciples attack him with all their might. One after the other he sent them flying. 'This,' he said 'is the sword of no sword.'