This study examines the concept of taiken (lived experience) and its implications for physical education. The analysis explores the multifaceted interpretations of taiken and traces its development through the interconnected stages of experience, expression, and understanding. The primary examination revealed the following:
1. Diverse interpretations of taiken exist. In Germany, lived experience (Erlebnis) is often understood as the exteriorization of expression and the pursuit of objective understanding. In Japan, interpretations vary, with some viewing taiken negatively as a closed experience, while others see it positively as the merging of self and world.
2. Taiken emerges prior to conscious awareness and then transitions through subsequent stages. During the stage of expression, taiken takes shape and becomes more defined, while the stage of understanding involves making sense of the experience and potentially forming objective knowledge.
3. Taiken is closely intertwined with bodily perception. The study found that taiken begins with conformity to the “body schema”—an individual’s internal sense of their body in space—and manifests as unconscious bodily motion. At the stage of expression, taiken related to bodily motion becomes understood more objectively.
Based on these findings, the educational significance of taiken in physical education is reconsidered, leading to the following conclusions:
1. Taiken represents a form of perception that precedes conscious thought, allowing individuals to experience the world without the constraints of utilitarian goals.
2. Taiken manifests in bodily movement, which can be understood both objectively and subjectively.
3. Taiken can lead to the development of objective understanding as individuals move from subjective perception to more formalized knowledge.
4. These diverse interpretations highlight the need for physical education to carefully consider the specific aspects of taiken it seeks to cultivate and how those aspects contribute to meaningful learning experiences, fostering holistic learning and personal growth.
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