Your browser does not support the PubReader view.
Go to this page to see a list of supporting browsers.
Research in Dance and Physical Activity
[ Article ]
Research in Dance and Physical Activity - Vol. 6, No. 1, pp.1-16
ISSN: 2586-1034 (Online)
Print publication date 30 Apr 2022
Received 28 Feb 2022 Revised 13 Apr 2022 Accepted 21 Apr 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26584/RDPA.2022.04.6.1.1

How did Ethnic Sports Disseminate to the World? : A Case Study on the Localization of Taijiquan in Japan before 1970s

Chang Liu1 ; Kyungwon Jung2, *
1Waseda University, Japan, Assistant Professor
2Waseda University, Japan, Research Fellow

Correspondence to: *Email address: starcreate@naver.com

Abstract

This paper aims to reveal the development of Taijiquan in Japan before 1970s. by analyzing the materials including Yomiuri Shimbun (newspaper published since 1874), Asahi Shimbun (newspaper published since 1879), Taiiku Nihon (magazine published between 1940 and 1944), books related to China, and materials from interview on Japanese martial artists, the following results were found. In 1932 Sakuma Teijiro, a journalist, published a book that introduced 77 with Chinese custom. Among which, Taijiquan’s techniques were mentioned. So far this is the first time Taijiquan has appeared in historical materials in Japan. After late 1930s, Taijiquan began to appear more often in the articles on newspaper and magazine. The articles used karate (“唐手” or “空手”), jujutsu (“柔術”), or gymnastics, which are familiar things to Japanese, to introduced Taijiquan. In 1940, Chu Minyi, then ambassador of Japan, published an article on Taiiku Nihon to introduce Taijiquan in detail. However, Taijiquan was still not popular in Japan during 1940s. After 1949, due to the Cold War and conflicts between East and West countries, only few articles in materials mentioned Taijiquan and the content mainly comes from Hong Kong and Taiwan instead of mainland China. This situation continued until the late 1960s when Taijiquan has been gradually attracting attention as a health method. The Japan Taijiquan Association was formed in April 1968. Then in 1979, after about 10 years of formation of the Japan Taijiquan Association, Taijiquan has already developed into a movement with a certain degree of recognition in Japan.

Keywords:

Chinese martial arts, Wushu, Taijiquan, Ethnic sports, Japan, localization

References

  • All Japan Judo Federation homepage, https://www.judo.or.jp/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/tourokujinkou-suii202012.pdf, access on March 6, 2022.
  • Asahi Shimbun. "Aiya" shouts at the town dojo. Reconstruction of “Guoshu” riding the waves (町道場に「エイヤ」のかけ声 波に乗る「国術」復興) (1938, January 29). p. 4.
  • Asahi Shimbun. (1940). China representative of Toa Martial Arts Tournament visit (東亜武道大会中国代表来社) (1940, May 17). p. 2.
  • Asahi Shimbun. The master of Taijiquan come to Japan (「太極拳」の名手来日). September 14th 1955. p.6.
  • Asahi Shimbun. The spread of the Boxer Rebellion (義和団の蔓延). (1900, May 27). p. 2.
  • Cha, E. J, 2021. Analysis on a Social Phenomenon of Senior Dance based on News Articles, Research in Dance and Physical Education, 5(2), 63-72. [https://doi.org/10.26584/RDPE.2021.08.5.2.63]
  • Chu, M. (1931). Taijicao (『太極操』). Shanghai: Da Dong Shu Ju. p. 60.
  • Chu, M. (1940). The concept of Guoshu (国術の概念). Taiiku Nihon, 18(8), 8-14.
  • Ebe, D, 2018. Dance Management in School Education in Japan: Related Organizations and an Example of Their Activities. Research in Dance and Physical Education, 2(2), 1-10. [https://doi.org/10.26584/RDPE.2018.12.2.2.1]
  • Funakoshi, G. (1922). Ryukyu Kempo Karate (『琉球拳法唐手』). Tokyo: Bukyo-sya. pp. 2-3.
  • Gamo, R. (2019). The Origins of Taijiquan Juan’s Spread in Japan: The Birth and Division of the Japan Taijiquan Juan Association. Yoseigaku kenkyu, 12(1), 17-36.
  • Huang, N. (1986). Ancient Taijiquan: Zhang Sanfeng and his Taijiquan (『古伝太極拳:張三峯と彼の太極拳』) . Tokyo: Baseball magazine.
  • Japan Wushu Taijiquan federation homepage. https://www.jwtf.or.jp/about/about06, access on March 6, 2022
  • Li, T. (1992). The essence of Taijiquan (『太極拳の真髄』). Tokyo: BAB Japan. p. 260.
  • Li, Z. (2006). Study of Historical Interaction of Taijiquan Between Japan and China -Birth of 24 Simplified Form Taijiquan and Backgound to Introduction of Taijiquan in Japan-. Bulletin of Nippon Sport Science University, 35(2), 147-158.
  • Li, Z. (2009). History of Japan-China Taijiquan Exchange (『日中太極拳交流史』). Tokyo: Sobunsya.
  • Liu, C. (2016). The glocalization of Chinese martial arts: a case study of Chinese martial arts disseminates and popularized in Japan. Master thesis, Waseda University.
  • Matsumoto, M. (2009). Sakuma Teijiro’s Maneuvers with Regard to Islam in China and the Reaction of Muslims in Shanghai: An Introductory Discussion on a Pan-Asianist. The Journal of Sophia Asian studies, 27, 115-134.
  • Miki, F., Takada, M. (1930). Kempo Gaisetsu (『拳法概説』). Tokyo Imperial University Karate Kenkyukai. Okinawa: Yoju Shorin. 2002 reprinted.
  • Miura, H. (1972). History of Japanese Taijiquan (日本太極拳のあゆみ). Taikyoku, First issue. pp. 3-4.
  • Motobu, C (1926). Okinawa Kempo Karatejutsu: Kumite part (『沖縄拳法唐手術』). Osaka: Karate Fukyukai. pp. 2-5.
  • Nakajima, T. (2017). Modern Japanese Martial Arts Theory-The Birth of the Sporting Problem of Martial Arts. Tokyo: Kokushokankokai. pp. 100-101.
  • Niu, Y., Liu, Q. (2016). On the Contemporary Tai Chi International Development under the Background of Global Culture Blending Together. Wushu Studies, 2, 8-10.
  • Oda, M. (1941). Correspondent reporter on the issue of east Asia (14) _ The actual situation of the Chinese physical education / To unify physical education administration / Newly launched in the development period (東亜の問題を衝く 特派記者現地報告(14)_中華体育界の実情 / 体育行政の統一へ / 発展期して新発足). Asahi Shimbun. (1941, July 25). p. 2.
  • Sakaue, Y., Takaoka, H. (2009). The Phantom Tokyo Olympics and Their Era: Sports, Cities, and Body during the War. Tokyo: Seikyusya. p. 162.
  • Sakuma, T. (1932). Shina Fuzoku Shunju (『支那風俗春秋』). Tokyo: Ritsumeikan. pp. 262-266.
  • Sakuma, T. (1985). Biography of Yuan Shikai (『袁世凱伝』). Tokyo: Gendaishichosya.
  • Sun, X., Yu, X., & Mei L, Chen, W., Liu, Y.(2008). Taijiquan's international publicity and China's soft power promotion. Journal of Wuhan Institute of Physical Education, 6, 72-75.
  • Wang, Y., Zhao, X., & Song, Q. (2018). The present situation of international spread of Taijiquan and the opportunities and challenges. Contemporary Sports, 12, 164-165.
  • Yang S. (2017). The Communication of Tai Chi in America: An Empirical Study Based on American Mass Media Corpus. China Sport Science, 37(3), 68-78.
  • Yang, L., Guo, Y., & Shi, H. (2018). Contrastive Analysis of the Taijiquan and Health Promotion in China and United States in the Past 20 Years. China Sport Science, 38(4), 73-84.
  • Yomiuri Shimbun. Chinese gymnastics Taijiquan (中国の体操“太極けん”). (1964, August 8). p. 8
  • Yomiuri Shimbun. Great power moves slowly (大きな力はゆっくり動く) (1979, December 13). p. 12.
  • Yomiuri Shimbun. Jang Chaozong’s self-defense Taijiquan that calls for peace (白髯平和を呼ぶ江朝宗護身の太極拳). 1938. 7th January p. 1.
  • Yomiuri Shimbun. The secret techniques of Boxer Rebellion (義和団の拳法秘術). (1900, July 13). p. 4.
  • Yu, C., Wu, X. (2005). Cross-Culture Investigation on the International Popularity of Wushu. Journal of Beijing Sport University, 28(10), 1332-1333, 1400.
  • Yu, G., Li S. (2011). Summary on International Communication of Wushu. Sports Culture Guide, 2, 82-85.
  • Zhang, J., Xu, W. (2013). Qualitative Research of the Cross-cultural Communication of Tai Chi in the United States. Journal of Beijing Sport University, 11, 50-55.