Dojo
The dojo (in Japanese: 道 場, dōjō , with two O long) is the place devoted to the practice of the Budo or to the Buddhist meditation Zen. Literally in Japanese, C signife the way (it is the same character as CAT Chinese , cf Taoisme ), dōjō : the place where one studies/seeks the way.
Historically the dojo was the room of the religious temple. These big rooms were also used thereafter for the teaching of martial arts. In the case of the dōjō where one in the case of studies martial arts like the dojos being used as Buddhist center of meditation, of the strict rules are instituted. The dōjō is a place where one progresses. This progression is obligatorily supervised and controlled by a Master.
Orientation
Traditionally, the dōjō obeys rules concerning its orientation. The side honorary, known as kamiza - 上座 (the high side) is located vis-a-vis the South. The kamiza is generally decorated with a penmanship, sabers, of a portrait or any other symbolic system object of the taught discipline. The teacher assied back with the kamiza . It is as on this side as a distinguished guest is placed. The wall of opposite is the shimoza - 下座 (low side), where sat the pupils. Those are arranged according to a usual order, which often mixes the rank and the seniority in practice of the discipline or in the dōjō . The oldest pupils are with the left of the teacher (in the East, therefore), the beginners in the West. It is also in the West that are placed the possible visitors, while the assistants of the teacher sit down back at the east coast of the room.
This orientation has a significance symbolic system. Sat vis-a-vis the South, the teacher receives into full the sunlight, which is knowledge that it must transmit. The pupils, them, can see this light only through the reflection that the teacher offers some, who must thus be the most faithful possible mirror. The old practitioners are side of the rising sun: from their seniority, they start to include/understand the essential principles of their discipline, whereas the beginners are still in the shade.
The placement of the guests on the side of the beginners is also a historical heritage. When there were many concurrent schools, to put the guests on the side of the beginners and far from the old ones made difficult to the possible spies sent by the other schools to see the techniques particular to this dōjō (all techniques being then considered secret).
Today, in Japan as in France, it is above all the practical considerations which regulate the orientation of the dōjō (configuration of the building), and the traditional rules of placement of the pupils are unequally applied according to the disciplines and the teachers. Thus, certain teachers consider that the hierarchical placement reinforces the pride (L ego ) and must be avoided; of other consider that it practitioner must know his right place in the dojo and thus respect the placement.
See too
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