Jigen no Sai

慈元の釵

Jigen no Sai (or 慈元の釵 in Japanese) is a Ryukyu Kobujutsu Sai Kata. This kata was developed by Shinken Taira (1897 – 1970). As the Manji Sai was Sensei Shinken Taira’s favorite weapon (which was also created by himself), this kata is usually performed with this set of Sai. The Manji Sai has a half reversed tang looking much like a Swastika ( 卍 ; also pronounced ‘manji’ in Japanese), and it has a pointed pommel end. It denoted Sensei Taira’s preference to a stabbing motion instead of the smashing techniques dominant with the regular Sai, referred to as the Tsujo Sai. The meaning of Jigen (or 慈元 in Japanese) refers to the Buddhist interpretation of the Manji symbol while in its Omote (or outward) positioning. The Buddhist term Jigen mean ‘Infinite Mercy’. This term is the combination of Ji (or 慈 in Japanese), meaning ‘mercy’, ‘compassion’, ‘gentle’, ‘merciful’, ‘kind’, or ‘humane’, and Gen (or 元 in Japanese), meaning ‘origin’, ‘source’, ‘foundation’, or ‘cause’. In the video embedded below (recorded on 11 December 2023), budoka Johan Oldenkamp, a former national champion from the Netherlands, performs this ‘Infinite Mercy Kata’ with Tsujo Sai.