Читать книгу Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters онлайн

55 страница из 66

Matsumura’s makimono is the oldest document in the annals of Okinawan karate-do. Besides its age, Matsumura’s precepts are of immense value. Masterfully brushed in his own hand, this document is a genuine treasure. It is believed that the scroll was written sometime after Matsumura was seventy years old. Upon scrutinizing the scroll in question, the late Okinawan master calligrapher, Jahana Unseki, was deeply impressed, and used the words “dignified” and “magnificent” to describe the strength and composure of Sokons brush strokes. It read:

Matsumura’s makimono

To: My Wise Young Brother Kuwae (Ryosei)

Through resolve and relentless training one will grasp the true essence of the fighting traditions. Hence, please consider my words deeply. No less interesting is the fundamental similarity between the fighting and literary traditions. By examining the literary phenomenon we discover three separate elements: 1) the study of shisho; 2) the study of kunko; and 3) the study of jukyo.

The study of shisho refers to commanding words and communicative skills. The study of kunko refers to a comparative study in the philosophy of ancient documents and teaching a sense of duty through example. Yet, in spite of their uniqueness, they are incapable of finding the Way. Capturing only a shallow understanding of the literary phenomenon, shisho and kunko cannot, therefore, be considered complete studies.