I’ve had a few inquiries into the general concept of Seienchin Kata as an esoteric tool.
Background: Concepts of Seienchin Kata
There are many euphemisms applied to the kanji of Seienchin Kata. The two I learned when I was “coming up the ranks” were:
- •Calm in the storm/Storm in the calm;
- •Walk Far To Quell and Conquer.
Sometime in the mid-1990’s we had a visiting “in-house” Black Belt training with us. He was an English teacher in Japan and had just recently returned home to the States. With his background, I sought to tap into his knowledge and spent many hours discussing the Kanji for the Kata within the Goshin-Do Karate-Do (DeFelice-Ryu) system. (See Endnote #1)
When it came to the kanji for Seienchin Kata, the task of explanation was a bit daunting for him. Here is the gist.
The Kanji is not readily translatable into the English language. However, the best explanation is that the root-word “Seien,” as written, describes generally a type of “Stellar Nebula” process in the cosmos. That of astronomical bodies, such as stars, that contract their energy to a concentrated point. The concentrated, centralized energy can then burst forth in a spectacular energetic display. The root word “Chin,” as you may have already guessed translates as “Battle” (as in Sanchin, Three Battles).
You can see how this concept of Seienchin as a Stellar Nebula Battle (contracting energy to concentrate and expand) wraps itself around both of the euphemisms above.
In my esoteric research, I stumbled upon a description that applies to the first euphemism. It comes from an ancient text and a subject far away from the martial arts. It describes its subject as, “Fire in the Snow/Snow in the fire.” For reasons way beyond the ken of this article that euphemism perfectly fits the esoteric nature of Seienchin Kata.
So, Seienchin Kata involves opposing forces, calm and storm, fire and snow, and others by extension (eg. Light/dark, good/evil) and a path (walking far) that also involves opposing forces: quelling and conquering.
Issue at hand
With that background, I can now address the interest that was expressed. The inquiry I have received, on a few occasions, enough to warrant this post, generally concerns the manner in which (the path of) Seienchin overcomes the lesser or negative of the two opposing forces.
Using the first euphemism, the nature of each of the opposing forces is contextual. That is to say that neither “calm” nor “storm” is inherently inferior to the other, or even “dark,” or negative compared to the other. Rather, given the context of any situation, internal emotions and the like, or external confrontation, one of the two will be a more appropriate response then the other. Thus, in a situation requiring calm the storm would be deemed negative, harmful or “dark.”
With that in mind, I would like to turn your attention to the bold-faced word in the inquiry – “overcomes.” The inquiry is flawed in that it assumes that one opposing force overcomes that other. Wrong!
Seienchin does not conquer in that sense. Think in terms of the yin and yang symbol. Neither of the opposing black and white consumes the other. First the contrasting dot of the opposing color recognizes that each opposite contains a little bit of its counter part. Similarly, the two counterparts are portrayed as spiraling inwards, thus blending with the other. This is the symbolizes the mechanics of Seienchin Kata. The opposite force is not consumed or destroyed. It is blended but yet remains a separate “entity” or concept. The two will jointly and severally exist.
The whole point of the path of Seienchin is to balance, or harmonize opposites. As contextually either maybe appropriate, they must both remain present. To do so, they must be balanced or harmonized. Then, at the appropriate time, either can manifest from a covert harmonized force to an overt actualized force. Thus the appropriate response, at the appropriate time, to the internal or external stimuli.
It is this harmonizing, or blending of opposing forces (or forces that are potentially opposing) that is timeless and universal. Many ancient cultures stressed this concept again and again. There are references to the “Yataalii” as the Shaman of certain Native American tribes that was responsible for maintaining such balance. In the Dead Sea and Nag Hamadi scrolls there are references to a state of “Eukratoi,” a state of balance and harmony.
Keep this balancing, this Eukratoi, in mind as you perform the esoteric Seienchin Kata (or the Seienchin section of my Sanchin-Dai Kata). I think you will encounter a more fulfilling and enriching Esoteric Kata experience. One last comment. This balancing is of particular import if you are performing the Blood Kata ritual – using Kata as a vehicle for prayer and sacrifice.
May your Esoteric Kata path unfold gently before you – yeah, sounds good, but be ready for the inevitable potholes. Until nest time, I remain,
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