A Study of the etiquette of Kendo (Japanese fencing)

-Especially about Sonkyo (crouching)-

Abstract

Sonkyo is one of the traditional postures in Japan that are executed in the etiquettes of Shinto as well as of Sumo (wrestling) and Kendo etc. But the Sonkyo in Budo (military arts) is very different in kind from the one in Shinto.
In the modern schools of Kendo fencers must be sure to assume Sonkyo (a crou ching posture) both before and after the fencing match, while in the old schools etiquette was divided on this point and there were many old schools that did not execute Sonkyo. It was in fact in the late Meiji era that the form was established like this. So far in Kendo fencers have been taught to assume Sonkyo with dignity, but there are now some people who think light of Sonkyo as a mere formality.
In this study, I brought out the meaning of Sonkyo, the traditional posture in Japan, and considered the subject of Sonkyo in Kendo from the viewpoint of a history of Japanese Budo manners and customs.