Shorinji Kempo was developed in Japan by "Kaiso" (which means establisher) Shike Doshin So in 1947. His essential goal was to combine the teachings of Buddhism with a martial arts form borrowed from China called "Shorin-giwa-mon" in order to counter what he saw as the moral decay present in Post-World-War-II Japan.
This particular style of self-defense was first practised by Chinese Buddhist monks as far back as the fifth century. Kaiso combined Buddhism with this classic form of "Shorin-giwa-mon" to create a completely unique practice, one encouraging Japan's youth to excel spiritually, physically and socially.
This is the Shorinji Kempo manji, or symbol; it is also the Japanese symbol for a Buddhist temple. At first sight, the manji can be easily mistaken for the Nazi swaztika. However, the manji represents the opposites of the world: heaven and earth, good and evil, life and death. This contrasts with the misrepresented use of the manji (in reverse form with the brackets facing the opposite way) by Adolph Hitler during World War II; he inverted the manji's design in an attempt to use its meaning for his own selfish reasons: power and greed.
The World Shorinji Kempo Organization is located in Kagawa Prefecture and has many training centers located around the world. Today, the organization is headed by Kaiso's daughter, also named Shike Doshin So.
Anyone interested in learning the philosophical martial arts should attempt Shorinji Kempo; the experience will be a rewarding one.
Please relay any comments and suggestions to
the FACULTY SUPERVISOR of THE SHIGA PROJECT, 1996 EDITION,
Lee A. Makela ( l.makela@popmail.csuohio.edu).