Smoke on the Water
Last Tuesday, I greeted Soke at the entrance way to the Tokyo Budokan and he said to me “I dyed my hair purple again”. I humbly responded, yes Soke, I see. Upon which Soke stated, there are no other Bugeisha with purple hair!
I had some previous knowledge of this type of thing before from living in rural Japan for about a year, but never truly understood the significance. I have also noticed that Japanese actors or talent often had very brightly colored hair.
Soke later informed me that evening that that highest ranking person in a Kabuki Troupe wears purple or in Japanese “murasaki” 紫which symbolizes master level achievement in art.
Further research uncovers that the color purple is a sign of royalty in medieval times in Japan and reserved to the higher echelons of society.
Our Soke is truly eccentric!
Bufu Ikkan
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About
My name is Doug Wilson, originally from the US (CA). I have been studying martial arts for almost 30 years, 20+ of those years in the Bujinkan. I have spent 14 of those years in Japan training at the Hombu Dojo. I act as a main interpreter for the Hombu Dojo and have co-translated the above books by Hatsumi Soke, released by Kodansha International. I feel that the time is right to provide my acquired information to the Bujinkan public about training in Japan. I guess I can say from my unique position and close proximity to Soke, I can provide a perspective that most can not. Here, I will post what I have recently learned, translated, experienced, and interpreted as well as been told to say. Some may find the content to be too direct or controversial. It is not meant to be, it is the truth provided in a “zero” way to those people who are interested in hearing it. It is not a place designed to draw fire from those who live online, expending energy arguing about things that mean nothing. I am a student of Hatsumi Soke and this is MY perspective. I hope to provide an insight to the dedicated practitioners of Hatsumi Soke’s Budo and the Bujinkan.
Doug Wilson-15th Dan, Bujinkan Hombu Dojo
*Profile photo by Sheila*
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It was also a sign of power in the west since at least early Roman times where bands of varing widths of purple were worn on togas to denote authority/power. They used a special purple dye made from the gland of a shell fish. The center of production was at Tyre (Tyrian purple) on the Mediterranian.
Knew that fact would come in handy at some point!
Enjoy the posts Doug, keep them coming
Cheers
Gavin
This is great thanks!
wow…who new. All this time i thought soke just needed to fire his hairstylist.
Fantastic. I feel a purple patch coming on:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=purple+patch
Eccentric? Yes, I feel he cultivates that!
Boy, would I love to see that…is there anywhere one can find a picture of soke wearing his purple hair ?
Purple represents a high level of integration. Looking from a esoteric / metaphysical perspective – purple prism is of the seventh ray. Mystics of all ages have glimpsed a “spiritual spectrum” behind the physical spectrum. Radiant colors, more pure and rare than those found on earth, emanate from a brilliant, “inner” divine light. Just as a ray of sunlight passing through a prism refracts into seven colors, spiritual light splits into seven colors, or “rays” – each of which has specific divine qualities. The violet flame comes forth from the violet ray or purple ray, which has the qualities of mercy, forgiveness, freedom and transmutation. I happen to love purple and lavender – my room emanates this empowering color.
Thanks Doug for the tidbits of kuden. Love this aspect of teaching.
Eccentric? Possibly, though I’d suggest he is the most normal person in the Bujinkan.
Wow! That truly is an eye opening fact about the color Purple!
Thanx for the fantastic blogs!
Honestly, I think it’s Hatsumi soke’s way of saying, “Think for yourself!”