Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)
It is funny the translations you get when you try to interpret the characters/ideograms for mizu-gami, i.e., the first translation of the characters/ideograms often used comes out with, “Suijin” instead of “mizu-gami.” Now, megami characters/ideograms translated actually use the English word, “Megami.” Meaning simply, “Goddess.”
It helps when you break down the two characters/ideograms used to represent the terms or words in the native Japanese language (yes, native to Japan since Okinawa speaks, writes and uses Japanese over its true native language, “Uchinaguchi.”
The first character used for mizu-gami means, “Water (esp. cool, fresh water, e.g., drinking water); fluid (esp. in an animal tissue); liquid; flood; floodwaters; water offered to wrestlers just prior to a bout; break granted to wrestlers engaged in a prolonged bout.”
The first character used for megami means, “Woman; girl; daughter; Chinese ‘Girl’ constellation (One of the 28 mansions); female.”
The second character used for mizu-gami and megami both have the same meaning, “God; deity; divinity; spirit; kami.”
So, using just one translation source I get for mizu-gami, “Water God” and for megami, “Woman God.” The translation source used for this article provides for mizu-gami, “A Water God,” while for megami, “Goddess.” In short, if you properly, a guess here too, add Isshinryu to both terms could mean:
Isshinryu no Mizu-gami and Isshinryu no Me-gami: [一心流の水神] and [一心流の女神] respectively. I propose an alternate meaning behind the disparity fought over these last decades between differing tribal like factions of Isshinryu. Both are right and the following is to explain why I feel that way.
First, when the artwork was discovered and thoughts began to manifest themselves as to its possible use to symbolize the new system Tatsuo-san wanted to create and name the artwork was actually representative of the “Water Goddess.”
Now, Tatsuo-san was believed to be a great innovator and that means he was not resistant to change and the synthesis of the old to make way for the new while remaining true to the old’s heritage and ways. So, since he demonstrated changes even when performing kata several times where he would have slight differences in its presentation, all to often espoused by the first gen students as his way, I suggest that as the idea was being bantered about in his mind a certain amount of change occurred so he gave the newly evolved artwork the term “Me-gami” as Goddess because to give Isshinryu the title of Mizu-gami was incorrect because as Mizu-gami it was already associated and symbolic of the water goddess with all its meanings, etc. requiring a change because Isshinryu was something unique and new, the one wholehearted symbolic representation of his new karate as created from analysis of goju, shorin and kobudo into the one heart karate.
To do this properly the Water aspect no longer symbolized Isshinryu and that lead to all the definitions of the me-gami who resides in water but has so much more to symbolize Tatsuo-san’s beliefs and desires for his system or style now and for the future.
Isshinryu is more than merely a system to be represented by just water so megami being defined as a God or deity or spirit (another meaning of shin too), using megami made sense when coupled with Isshinryu for, “Isshinryu no Me-gami.” The Goddess or God of Isshinryu with all the various symbolism’s represented in the artwork above and beyond being a water goddess.
In short, when discovered it was called mizu-gami and as time passed and things were created and associated, synthesized from analysis and hypothesis, the artwork changed, the patch was created (by the way that one as to its origins also would and has changed over time to better symbolize Isshinryu) and the two evolved naturally into its proper name, naming, of Isshinryu-no-megami [一心流の女神]!
This is the thinking that led me to believe that dependent on when one, as first gen students, trained and practiced with Tatsuo-san those practitioners of the earlier years heard the original artworks name of mizu-gami and leaving before the changes and renaming simply assumed the Isshinryu goddess was named mizu-gami. They were not exposed to changes and the growth of Isshinryu to include the symbol. This is seen throughout the Isshinryu communities. I can readily see it when I see those practitioners and their students do kata.
Long Sensei who professes, professed, adamantly that the symbol is and was named mizu-gami is not wrong and is also not right or correct either. He was originally exposed to it and therefore was right and since he was not exposed to the changes as Isshinryu evolved and progressed after his leaving the island he was also wrong.
Add in other variables such as those who came after in the early years and those of those who came after and who were exposed to a great deal more of Tatsuo-san’s inevitable changes were right when me-gami came into being when renamed properly to represent Isshinryu as a Goddess of Isshinryu but those who came after are also wrong to say adamantly that mizu-gami was wrong. Look at Mizu-gami’s use as a novice level teaching and then look at me-gami as the teachings over time due to shifts and changes becomes the final naming of the Isshinryu Goddess.
It makes sense to me because the original artwork may have been perceived in the shop or place it was found as a Water Goddess while in Tatsuo-san’s mind and the mind of his students it was perceived as a possible more than merely a Water Goddess.
I would recommend reading the following site about the Megami and also recommended reading it with a modicum of understanding that the author is adamant about the term vs. mizu-gami that you will discern upon reading. The important aspect is to read the following excerpted from the site because it was the creative genius of this symbology that inspired the change from mizu-gami to me-gami.
- The gold border stands for the vertical fist which is the primary trait of Isshinryu.
- The megami is half woman and half dragon. Her left hand is open, the universal symbol of peace or soft. Her right hand is closed in a Isshinryu fist, symbol of hard and is ready to be used in times of need to defend.
- The dragon ascends from the water into the sky or heaven, and stands for heaven. Tatsu means 'dragon' and our founders name Tatsuo, means 'dragon man'. For the dragon to many followers of Isshinryu is Master Shimabuku, who is the spirit of Isshinryu.
- The tiger in the headdress of the Megami stands for earth. Both dragon and tiger stands for heaven and earth.
- The dark background with the three stars shows it is night. Night symbolizes darkness which is the unknown.
- The three stars stands for all of Shimabuku's teachers who lighten the night bringing knowledge.
- The three stars are in one line (-), the Chinese and Japanese character for one. Sensei Shimabuku told his students on the introduction of Isshinryu that all things starts with one. The one stands for one in Isshinryu, for Isshinryu means 'One heart way'.
- The three stars can also mean: mind, body and spirit or any three things. Tatsuo said that Isshinryu was composed of three elements: Shorinryu, Gojuryu and Kobudo.
- The upper body / woman depicts that karate can be gentle as a woman. Symbolic of soft.
- The lower body / dragon shows that karate can be fierce as a dragon if needed. Symbolic of hard.
- The calm face of the goddess in a storm or in times of crises one must be calm, especially in times of danger.
- The turbulent water and storm or typhoon symbolizes danger which is always present.
by Arcenio J. Advincula, Isshinryu Sensei and a creative influence to the Isshinryu no Megami patch, etc.
In conclusion, both terms are right and both are wrong - in a way. The final proper name to use, in my book, is “Isshinryu no Megami” or “One Heart Way Goddess.”
Bibliography (Click the link)
“In order for any life to matter, we all have to matter.” - Marcus Luttrell, Navy Seal (ret)
 |
| Click image to see large, readable, view. |
No comments:
Post a Comment