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TAIHO-JUTSU
Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai
In Taiho-Jutsu: Law and Order in the Age Of the Samurai, author and judo second-dan Don Cunningham provides a fascinating introduction to the civil society of Edo-period (1603-1867) Japan—particularly the role played by the well-known warrior class, the samurai.
During the enforced peace of this era, many of the samurai were unemployed and had great difficulty earning a living. Some were even forced to join the lower classes—of merchants and chonin (commoners)—to get by. These circumstances redefined the part that the samurai played in Japanese society, and challenged the traditional caste system.
Cunningham shows that the samurai were not, as commonly portrayed, always all-powerful mediators ruling the chonin through the power of their swords. During this period the samurai became a part of the complex system of Japanese law enforcement. Made up of samurai as well as machi-bugyo-sho (town magistrates), yoriki (“assistant” samurai), doshin (samurai patrol officers), komono (assistants), goyokiki (part-time police assistants) and okappiki (informants and spies)—this intricate structure mirrored the Japanese society of the day.
Taiho-Jutsu also offers a detailed look at the weapons these law enforcement officers used—including the jutte (iron truncheon), tessen (iron fan), yori-bo (wooden staff), sodegarami (sleeve entangler), sasumata (spear fork), and torinawa (arresting ropes)—as well as a fascinating illustrated look at the techniques used to apprehend criminals. From kamae (stances) to parrying and striking and throwing techniques, these explanations demonstrate the practical applications of self-defense techniques in Edo-era Japan.
First published in 2004 by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., with editorial offices at 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759 U.S.A.
Copyright © 2004 by Don Cunningham
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Taiho-jutsu: law and order in the age of the samurai / Don Cunningham.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN: 978-1-4629-0331-3 (ebook)
1. Law enforcement—Japan—History—To 1500. 2. Arrest (Police methods—Japan—History—To 1500. 3. Police—Japan—Equipment and supplies—History—To 1500. 4. Hand-to-hand fighting—Japan—History— To 1500. I. Title: law and order in the age of the samurai. II. Title.
HV8257.A2C85 2004
363.2'0952'0903-dc22
Distributed by
| North America, Latin America & Europe Tuttle Publishing Distribution Center Airport Industrial Park 364 Innovation Drive North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436 Tel: (802) 773-8930 Fax: (802) 773-6993 [email protected] | Japan Tuttle Publishing Yaekari Building, 3rd Floor 5-4-12 Osaki Shinagawa-ku Tokyo 141 0032 Tel: (03) 5437-0171 Fax: (03) 5437-0755 [email protected] | Asia Pacific Berkeley Books Pte. Ltd. 61 Tai Seng Avenue #02-12, Singapore 534167 Tel: (65) 6280-1330 Fax: (65) 6280-6290 [email protected] |
First edition
08 07 06 05 04 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America
Design by Don Cunningham
Illustrations by Rich Hashimoto
For Kusunoki Toshi,
my business associate, my sempai, and my friend,
for his help making this book possible
And for Asahi Dai,
my judo teacher and my friend,
for his support and encouragement.
Notes to the readers
Martial arts practice can be dangerous and may involve physical risk. It should be conducted only under the supervision of an expert instructor. The techniques presented in Taiho-Jutsu: Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai are meant to illustrate a unique aspect of Japanese martial arts heritage. To minimize the risk of personal injury, none of the techniques described in Taiho-Jutsu: Law and Order in Feudal Japan should be attempted without expert supervision. In addition, readers should consult a physician before attempting any strenuous physical activity. The publisher is not responsible for injuries that result from readers’ practice of any of the techniques presented in this book.
Regarding the persons mentioned in Taiho-Jutsu: Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai, Japanese names are presented in the traditional Japanese format. The family name appears first, followed by the given name.
Unless otherwise noted, all photographs included in Taiho-Jutsu: Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai are from the author’s personal collection.
Contents
CHAPTER 1 The shgun’s city rises from the marshes
CHAPTER 2 Crime and punishment in Edo
Kirisutegomen (killing and going away)
Fukushu (blood feud) and ada-uchi (legal vendetta)
Kabukimono (street hooligans)
Ky
Criminal organizations
The T