Soogi's Story (2)

Soogi's Story (2) School and Sword Fighting Lessons

Samurai boys go to the official clan school and study everyday.
They also practice sword fighting. These young boys of Satsuma must abide by the following rules.

• Practice the way of Bushido (chivalry).
• Discipline your spirit and body.
• Do not lie.
• Do not lose.
• Do not bully.
• Practice austerity and fortitude.
• Contact with or even talking about women is not permitted.
• The concept of monetary gain is reviled and rejected.

Soogi no Monogatari (2) Gakko to Ken no Keiko

Samurai no kodomo wa mainichi hanko e itte benkyo shimasu.
Ken no keiko mo shimasu.
Satsuma no samurai no kodomo niwa okite ga arimasu.

スギのものがたり(2) 学校と剣の稽古

さむらいのこどもは、毎日藩校へ行って勉強します。
剣の稽古もします。
薩摩のさむらいの子供には掟があります。

• 武士道の義を実践せよ
• 心身を鍛錬せよ
• 嘘を言うな
• 負けるな
• 弱いものいじめをするな
• 質実剛健たれ
• たとえ僅かでも女に接することも、これを口上にのぼらせることも一切許さない
• 金銭利欲にかんする観念をもっとも卑しむこと

In Satsuma, the system of boys education was well organized, although not very systematic. After coming back from the official school, boys would go to local study groups. The boys in every district were divided mainly into three groups: child, boy and youth. They got together at someone's house or in a field where they studied, trained in sword fighting and played together. In these groups, the older ones trained and taught the younger ones. It is said, although I do not know if it is true, that this system of education influenced the formation of modern day Boy Scout troops.

(Photo is from Nisshinko, the Hanko of Aizu clan in present Fukushima prefecture.)