Our Dojo Emblem and its Meaning
Although rapidly thrown together when our club was formed back in
2004, I like to think it was conceived with a little inspiration from
the cosmic consciousness. Either way in its symbolism can be found some very profound meaning.
Basically it has 3 elements:- the outer circle, the comma like “Tomoe”
in anticlockwise rotation and the central kanji...........
The Circle
This represents the universal spirit, the spirit of oneness that O'Sensei said was the true goal of Aikido. It also stands for the circularity of Aikido's techniques and movements. With no beginning and no end the circle also symbolizes intuitive thinking or spontaneous creativity such as in O'Sensei's Takemusu Aiki.
Tomoe
Frequently seen in arrangements of 3 (“Mitsu Tomoe”) on Shinto shrines and Buddhist Temples alike in Japan. Tomoe means spiral or whirlpool. These forms are indicative of the spiral movements of Aikido and also symbolize the coiled snake of Kundalini which is synonymous with Aikido's “Ki” power.
Also sharing this comma like shape are the Magatama prayer beads
used in ancient Shinto. Like the tomoe the Magatama also symbolise the creative principle of the human spirit.
3 Tomoe are shown on our emblem and the symbolism of the number 3 adds yet more depth and profundity.
Aikido is sometimes referred to as the way of Yin and Yang, however, In Shinto thought yin and yang cannot unite until they have a common bond that contains both positive and negative....here is born the mystery of the trinity.
Morihei Ueshiba's Aikido cosmology has many trinities for instance: heaven, earth and mankind; past, present and future ; mind, body and spirit. O'Sensei referred to these as “Sangen” or the 3 Origins a principle which he borrowed from ancient Shinto and expressed most often as “triangle, circle and square” a fundamental principle of Aikido.
In the traditional schools of Japanese “Kobudo” the training of a budoka was said to be a 3 stage process referred to as” Shu-Ha-Ri”.
These translate loosely as: maintain the form, break the form, master formlessness. Our Mitsu tomoe can also therefore be said to symbolise our training path or 'Aikido Shugyo'.
The Kanji
The kanji says “Makoto”, which is honesty or sincerity, the highest virtue of the Samurai warrior.
Truth is reality and to perceive reality is be be enlightened or awakened as O'sensei was. O'sensei's gift to us is Aikido, a pathway to enlightened living through martial training. Aikido has at its core the principle of Makoto – a sincere and respectful approach to life. The Makotokan or “house of sincerity”exists to help in some small way those who choose this arduous path.
|
