<\/p>\n
Early in 2020, when the Covid-19 virus started to spread in Europe, the French government ordered a lockdown of the country, including the closing of all \u201cnonessential\u201d activities, including businesses, sport venues and d\u014dj\u014d<\/em>. It is clear to me\u2013having practiced and trained in Aikido for fifty years\u2013that the d\u014dj\u014d<\/em> is an essential part of my life; without it, my life would not be what it is.<\/p>\n The term \u201cd\u014dj\u014d\u201d<\/em> is familiar to people who train in martial arts. Originally, it derives from the Sanskrit term bodhimanda<\/em>, which according to Haribhadra, a Buddhist philosopher, is \u201ca place used as a seat, where the essence of enlightenment is present\u201d. Bodhimanda<\/em> refers to the place under a tree where Buddha Sakyamuni experienced his awakening (bodhi<\/em>). In Chinese, bodhimanda<\/em> is written as \u9053\u5834 and reads d\u00e0och\u01ceng<\/em> in pinyin transcription, d\u014dj\u014d<\/em> in Japanese. Therefore, the d\u014dj\u014d\u2013<\/em>the manda\u2013<\/em>is the seat of enlightenment.<\/p>\n However, in Japan, until the end of the Edo era, martial arts training places were called bud\u014dj\u014d <\/em>(\u6b66\u9053\u5834) or keikoba<\/em> (\u7a3d\u53e4\u5834), and the word d\u014dj\u014d<\/em> apparently only became of general use from the end of the 19th<\/sup> century, after the Restoration of Meiji.<\/p>\n The Restoration of Meiji marked the end of the Samurai class ruling of Japan, and with that, the end of the rule of the sword. With the transition from a feudal system and the liquidation of the four traditional social divisions [bushi<\/em> (warriors), n\u014dmin<\/em> (farmers), k\u014dgy\u014d<\/em> (craftsmen) and sh\u014dnin<\/em> (merchants)], the country entered a phase of uncertainty and disarray. The sh\u014dnin<\/em> class soon climbed to the top of the social ladder, while the bushi<\/em> began to quickly disappear with the abolition of their privileges.<\/p>\n Japan then witnessed the appearance of a multitude of sects (of Shinto<\/em> allegiance) in which people hoped to find answers to their social anguish. And with the fading of teaching and training in sword mastery, Japan also witnessed the emergence of new empty-handed Martial Arts. In 1882, Jigor\u014d Kan\u014d opened his K\u014dd\u014dkan\u00a0(\u8b1b\u9053\u9928,\u00a0literally \u201cschool for the study of the way\u201d), a d\u014dj\u014d<\/em> dedicated to Jud\u014d training, and Ueshiba Morihei\u2019s Aikido Kobukan opened in 1933. Some weapon studies even resurfaced and in 1885, Negishi Shingor\u014d founded the Yushinkan where Nakayama Hakudo studied Shind\u014d Munen-Ry\u016b and the Kendo Noma D\u014dj\u014d was created in 1925.<\/p>\n The d\u014dj\u014d<\/em> reproduced the social organization the Japanese people knew before the Meiji Restauration. The master acting as the clan leader and the d\u014dj\u014d<\/em> members recreating the hierarchical system of sempai<\/em> (senior) and k\u014dhai <\/em>(junior). The master and his family lived on the dojo premises and took care of his or her disciples or uchideshi<\/em> (live-in students) and, in turn, were fully devoted to the master. After the Second World War, this system all but disappeared except in the world of Sumo where the heya<\/em> still operate in a similar way, even to this day.<\/p>\n The Japanese spiritual life is based on both Buddhism and Shintoism. The d\u014dj\u014d<\/em>, as a place where body, mind and spirit are trained as one originally borrowed from the Buddhism philosophy but true to its Japanese roots, the d\u014dj\u014d<\/em> became consecrated by the Shinto rituals and inhabited by a kamiza<\/em> (literally, \u201cdeity seat\u201d) hosting the shin kyo<\/em> or sacred objects (kagami<\/em> (mirror)[1]<\/a>, ken<\/em> (sword)[2]<\/a> and hoseki<\/em> (jewel)), and a kamidana<\/em> (house of the deities) where Takemikazuchi-no-<\/em>kami<\/em><\/a>,<\/strong> the warrior and thunder god sometimes resides, in a house decorated with a shimenawa<\/em> (hanging rope) and gohei<\/em> (jagged strips of white paper)[3]<\/a>. Daily offerings of rice, salt and water[4]<\/a> can also be found in the kamiza<\/em> as well as evergreen sprigs (sakaki<\/em>)[5]<\/a> or flowers. All of these were symbols of a religion that the Meiji government strove to revive in a nation confused by revolutionary changes.<\/p>\n Yet most of these symbols are not always familiar to Westerners, let alone understood, even by those studying martial arts. In most Aikido d\u014dj\u014d<\/em> in Western countries, the kamiza<\/em> decorations have been stripped to a simple Aikido calligraphy kakejiku<\/em> (hanging scroll) and a photograph of O-Sensei, the founder of the art. Sometimes, a picture of Kisshomaru Ueshiba, O-Sensei\u2019s son and second d\u014dshu<\/em> (keeper of the way), who revived Aikido after World War II, also graces the kamiza<\/em>.<\/p>\n Whether in full regalia or in its simplest form, the kamiza<\/em> should be seen as an expression of gratitude by those who study Aikido toward those who created, and help developed it.<\/p>\n The viral pandemic that hit the world in 2020 and continued through 2021 has shown us how fragile and uncertain our way of living and even our lives can be. And consequently, the significance of the d\u014dj\u014d<\/em> has then been fully revealed, its existence and survival more essential than ever.<\/p>\n But if the d\u014dj\u014d<\/em> is the place where one might find enlightenment through study and practice, its materiality is irrelevant. A line of the Vimalakirti sutra that reads: Jikishin kore d\u014dj\u014d <\/em>(\u76f4\u5fc3\u662f\u9053\u5834), can be translated as \u201cWhen the mind is straight, there is the d\u014dj\u014d<\/em>\u201d. In other words, no matter the conditions or the surroundings, only training and practice are relevant.<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> The significance of Kagami (mirror) is very important. Its first reference may be found in the Nihon Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters). The main point for us to understand is that the mirror reflects \u2018everything as it is\u2019. It cuts through all thoughts and labels that have been placed upon us, by us and others, to show us as how we truly are. Equally, if not more importantly, it represents the \u2018pure heart and mind of that which we call God\u2019. In essence “you may fool yourself, but you cannot fool God”. (Spiros G. Drossoulakis, (Martial Arts Instructor in Athens, Greece)<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Either a sword, a sacred gift from the Kami, or a spear, with which Izanagi O\u2019Mikoto stirred the waters below the Floating Bridge of Heaven (the Milky Way), the droplets from which formed the islands of Japan. Or in some cases a bow (Floating Bridge) and a humming arrow (dispelling negative energies). (Spiros G. Drossoulakis, (Martial Arts Instructor in Athens, Greece)<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> The Gohei, originally made of white silk, mark or show the entrances to sacred places or objects and may be found either placed on the Sakaki or on the straw rope (Shimenawa<\/em>) marking the entrance to a shrine (Jinja<\/em>). (Spiros G. Drossoulakis, (Martial Arts Instructor in Athens, Greece)<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Salt is a natural purifier and should retain its natural energy, thus the kind of typical daily table salt is not used. Rice is the largest, naturally grown, food product in Japan, carrying people through the Autumn, Winter and Spring months. Rice represents strength and forms the central part of the Kanji for Ki. In many cases, rice was given as payment for work or service. A Samurai for example, received measurements called Koku depending upon his status, at the ending of each year. Water, a natural, powerful element is used not only to preserve life, but to purify it. Many Shinto ceremonies involve purification in cold water, called Misogi. Other foods and fruits are also offered seasonally. (Spiros G. Drossoulakis, (Martial Arts Instructor in Athens, Greece)<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> The presence of greenery in the form of evergreen sprigs, called Sakaki, is common in the Kamiza. The Sakaki coming from nature reminds us that life is an ongoing process, always evolving, ever new. Pine is another acceptable form of green. The Sakaki is placed on the shelf, in bottles, below the main part of the altar which houses the Shin Kyo. Sakaki is sold in prepared bunches in Japan. Only the best is chosen, and any dead leaves or parts are removed. (Spiros G. Drossoulakis, (Martial Arts Instructor in Athens, Greece)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" D\u014dj\u014d and kamiza Early in 2020, when the Covid-19 virus started to spread in Europe, the French government ordered a lockdown of the country, including the closing of all \u201cnonessential\u201d activities, including businesses, sport venues and d\u014dj\u014d. It is clear to me\u2013having practiced and trained in Aikido for fifty years\u2013that the d\u014dj\u014d is an … Continue reading Dojo and Kamiza<\/span> ![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aikidodidierboyet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Arbre-Mahabodhi-a-Bodh-Gaya.jpg?resize=700%2C525&ssl=1\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aikidodidierboyet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Brooklyn-AIkikai_001.jpg?resize=700%2C466&ssl=1\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aikidodidierboyet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Kamiza-Hombu.jpg?resize=485%2C344&ssl=1\")