Heijoushin
Meijijingu Annual National Competition
平常心 (heijoushin) is written in Japanese with three kanji. 平 (hei) means flat, uniforme. 常 (jou) means daily, constant. 心 (shin) means hearth, spirit. It’s a very important concept not only in kyudo but in all the martial arts. It concerns the ability to maintain a calm, constant and firm spirit also in the situations that can put in agitation our spirit.
In the past the concept of heijoushin had for samurai a great importance. Independently from the time that a samurai dedicated to the learning of its art, its life was often decided in a fight that was concluded in few moments. In such moments it was vital to maintain the lucidity necessary in order to express the own abilities at best. That that was decided was the life or the dead.
As in every budo art also in the kyudo heijoushin it is important. It’s necessary to succeed to practice kyudo in the important occasions with the same calm and lucidity that we have in the practical daily. It is an aspect of the kyudo that should be learned and that is index of the maturity of a kyudoka.
Tags: budo, Heijoushin
