Editing Karate (section)

===Okinawa===
{{Main|Okinawan martial arts}}

==== 15th–17th centuries ====
[[File:King Sho Shin.jpg|thumb|alt=King Shō Shin|King Shō Shin]]
The reason for the development of unarmed combat techniques in Ryukyu has conventionally been attributed to a policy of banning weapons, which is said to have been implemented on two occasions. The first was during the reign of King [[Shō Shin]] (1476–1526; r. 1477–1527), when weapons were collected from all over the country and strictly controlled by the royal government. The second time was after the invasion of Ryukyu by the Satsuma Domain in 1609. Through the two policies, the popular belief that Ryukyuan samurai, who were deprived of their weapons, developed karate to compete with Satsuma's samurai has traditionally been referred to as if it were a historical fact.<ref>{{Cite book |last = Funakoshi |first = Gichin |title = 琉球拳法 唐手 |trans-title = Ryūkyū Kenpō Karate |publisher = Bukyōsha |date = 1922 |pages = 21, 22 |language = ja |url = https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/971654/1/22 |access-date = 31 December 2023 |archive-date = 31 December 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231231021552/https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/971654/1/22 |url-status = live }}</ref>

But in recent years many researchers have questioned the causal relationship between the policy of banning weapons and the development of karate.<ref name = "Kinjo2011">{{Cite book |last = Kinjo |first = Hiroshi |title = 唐手から空手へ |trans-title = From Karate to Karate |date = 2011 |publisher = Nippon Budokan |pages = 139, 140 |isbn = 978-4583104294 }}</ref> For example, as the basis for King Shō Shin's policy of banning weapons, an inscription on the parapet of the main hall of Shuri Castle ({{lang|ja|百浦添欄干之銘}}, 1509), which states that "swords, bows and arrows are to be piled up exclusively as weapons of national defense,"<ref>The original text is in Chinese, "専積刀剣弓矢以為護国之利器."</ref> has been conventionally interpreted as meaning "weapons were collected and sealed in a warehouse." However, in recent years, researchers of Okinawan studies have pointed out that the correct interpretation is that "swords, bows and arrows were collected and used as weapons of the state."<ref>{{Cite journal |last = Uezato |first = Takashi |title = 古琉球の軍隊とその歴史的展開 |trans-title = Old Ryukyuan Military and Its Historical Development |journal = Ryukyu Asiatic Studies of Society and Culture |issue = 5 |date = October 2002 |pages = 105–128 |url = https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1520009408326976000 |language = ja |access-date = 31 December 2023 |archive-date = 31 December 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231231005305/https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1520009408326976000 |url-status = live }}</ref>

It is also known that the policy of banning weapons (a 1613 notice to the Ryukyu royal government), which is said to have been implemented by the Satsuma Domain, only prohibited the carrying of swords and other weapons, but not their possession, and was a relatively lax regulation. This notice stated, "(1) The possession of guns is prohibited. (2) The possession of weapons owned privately by princes, three magistrates, and samurai is permitted. (3) Weapons must be repaired in Satsuma through the magistrate's office of Satsuma. (4) Swords must be reported to the magistrate's office of Satsuma for approval."<ref>{{Cite book |editor = Kagoshima Prefecture Restoration History Materials Compilation Office |title = 鹿児島県史料 旧記雑録 後編4 |trans-title = Kagoshima Prefecture Historical Records, Miscellaneous Old Records, Part 2, 4 |publisher = Kagoshima Prefecture |page = 414 |url = https://www.pref.kagoshima.jp/ab23/reimeikan/siroyu/documents/6756_20221202133338-1.pdf |date = 1984 |language = ja |access-date = 31 December 2023 |archive-date = 31 December 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231231015927/https://www.pref.kagoshima.jp/ab23/reimeikan/siroyu/documents/6756_20221202133338-1.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref> It did not prohibit the possession of weapons (except guns) or even their practice. In fact, even after subjugation to the Satsuma Domain, a number of Ryukyuan masters of swordsmanship, spearmanship, archery, and other arts are known. Therefore, some researchers criticize the theory that karate developed due to the policy of banning weapons as "a rumor on the street with no basis at all."<ref>{{Cite book |last1 = Gima |first1 = Shinkin |last2 = Fujiwara |first2 = Ryozo |title = 対談 近代空手道の歴史を語る |trans-title = Dialogue: The History of Modern Karate-do |publisher = Baseball Magazine Sha |date = 1 October 1986 |page = 42 |isbn = 9784583026060 |language = ja }}</ref>

Karate began as a common fighting system known as ''te'' (Okinawan: ''tī'') among the Ryukyuan samurai class. There were few formal styles of ''te,'' but rather many practitioners with their own methods. One surviving example is [[Motobu-ryū|Motobu Udundī]] ({{lit|Motobu Palace Hand|lk=yes}}), which has been handed down to this day in the Motobu family, one of the branches of the former Ryukyu royal family.<ref>{{cite book |last = Bishop |first = Mark |title = Okinawan Karate |year = 1989 |isbn =0-7136-5666-2 |page = 154 |publisher = A & C Black }}</ref> In the 16th century, the Ryukyuan history book "[[Kyūyō]]" ({{lang|ja|球陽}}, established around 1745) mentions that {{ill|lt=Kyō Ahagon Jikki|京阿波根実基|ja|vertical-align=sup}}, a favored retainer of King Shō Shin, used a martial art called "karate" ({{lang|ja|空手}}, {{lit|empty hand|lk=yes}}) to smash both legs of an assassin. This karate is thought to refer to ''te'', not today's karate, and Ankō Asato introduces Kyō Ahagon as a "prominent martial artist."<ref name = "Asato1914" />

==== 18th century ====
However, some believe that Kyō Ahagon's anecdote is a half-legend and that it is unclear whether he was actually a ''te'' master. In the 18th century, the names of Nishinda ''Uēkata'', Gushikawa ''Uēkata'', and Chōken Makabe are known as masters of ''te''.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Motobu |first=Choki |editor-last1=Quast |editor-first1=Andreas |translator-last1=Quast |translator-first1=Andreas |translator-last2=Motobu |translator-first2=Naoki |title=Watashi no Karatejutsu |trans-title=My Art and Skill of Karate|year=2020 |orig-year=1932 |publisher=Independently Published |isbn=9798601364751 |language=en |page=165}}</ref>

Nishinda ''Uēkata'' and Gushikawa ''Uēkata'' were martial artists active during the reign of King [[Shō Kei]] (reigned 1713–1751). Nishinda ''Uēkata'' was good at spear as well as ''te'', and Gushikawa ''Uēkata'' was also good at wooden sword (swordsmanship).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Motobu |first=Choki |editor-last1=Quast |editor-first1=Andreas |translator-last1=Quast |translator-first1=Andreas |translator-last2=Motobu |translator-first2=Naoki |title=Watashi no Karatejutsu |trans-title=My Art and Skill of Karate |year=2020 |orig-year=1932 |publisher=Independently Published |isbn=9798601364751 |language=en |page=153}}</ref>

Chōken Makabe was a man of the late 18th century. His light stature and jumping ability gave him the nickname "Makabe ''Chān-gwā''" ({{lit|little fighting cock|lk=yes}}), as he was like a ''chān'' (fighting cock). The ceiling of his house is said to have been marked by his kicking foot.<ref>{{Cite book |last = Motobu |first = Chōki |title = 私の唐手術 |trans-title = My karate Art |publisher = Tokyo Karate Promotion Association |date = 1932 |page = 83 |language = ja }}</ref>

It is known that in "Ōshima Writing" (1762), written by Yoshihiro Tobe, a Confucian scholar of the [[Tosa Domain]], who interviewed Ryukyuan samurai who had drifted to Tosa (present-day [[Kōchi Prefecture]]), there is a description of a martial art called ''kumiai-jutsu'' ({{lang|ja|組合術}}) performed by [[Kōshōkun]] (Okinawan:Kūsankū). It is believed that Kōshōkun may have been a military officer on a mission from Qing that visited Ryukyu in 1756, and some believe that karate originated with Kōshōkun.

In addition, the will (Part I: 1778, Part II: 1783) of Ryukyuan samurai Aka Pēchin Chokushki (1721–1784) mentions the name of a martial art called ''karamutō'' ({{lang|ja|からむとう}}), along with Japanese [[Jigen-ryū]] swordsmanship and [[jujutsu]], indicating that Ryukyuan samurai practiced these arts in the 18th century.<ref>{{Cite book|last = Higashionna |first = Kanjun |editor = Ryukyu Shimpo |title = 東恩納寛惇全集 |trans-title = The Complete Works of Kanjun Higashionna |volume = 5 |publisher = Daiichi Shobo |date = 1978 |page = 410 |language = ja}}</ref>

In 1609, the Japanese [[Satsuma Domain]] invaded Ryukyu and Ryukyu became its vassal state, but it continued to pay tribute to the Ming and Qing Dynasties in China. At the time, China had implemented a policy of [[sea ban]] and only traded with tributary countries, so the Satsuma Domain wanted Ryukyu to continue its tribute to benefit from it.

The envoys of the tribute mission were chosen from among the samurai class of Ryukyu, and they went to [[Fuzhou]] in Fujian and stayed there for six months to a year and a half. Government-funded and privately funded foreign students were also sent to study in Beijing or Fuzhou for several years. Some of these envoys and students studied Chinese martial arts in China. The styles of Chinese martial arts they studied are not known for certain, but it is assumed that they studied [[Fujian White Crane]] and other styles from Fujian Province.

Sōryo Tsūshin (monk Tsūshin), active during the reign of King Shō Kei, was a monk who went to the Qing Dynasty to study Chinese martial arts and was reportedly one of the best martial artists of his time in Ryukyu.<ref>{{Cite book |last = Motobu |first = Chōki |title = 私の唐手術 |trans-title = My karate Art |publisher = Tokyo Karate Promotion Association |date = 1932 |page = 82 |language = ja }}</ref>

==== 19th and early 20th century ====
It is not known when the name ''tōde'' ({{lang|ja|唐手}}, {{lit|Tang hand|lk=yes}}) first came into use in the Ryukyu Kingdom, but according to Ankō Asato, it was popularized from [[Kanga Sakugawa]] (1786–1867), who was nicknamed "Tōde Sakugawa."<ref name = "Asato1914" /> Sakugawa was a samurai from Shuri who traveled to Qing China to learn Chinese martial arts. The martial arts he mastered were new and different from te. As ''tōde'' was spread by Sakugawa, traditional ''te'' became distinguished as ''Okinawa-te'' ({{lang|ja|沖縄手}}, {{lit|Okinawa hand|lk=yes}}), and gradually faded away as it merged with ''tōde''.

It is generally believed that today's karate is a result of the synthesis of ''te'' (''Okinawa-te'') and ''tōde''. Funakoshi writes, "In the early modern era, when China was highly revered, many martial artists traveled to China to practice Chinese kenpo, and added it to the ancient kenpo, the so-called 'Okinawa-te'. After further study, they discarded the disadvantages of both, adopted their advantages, and added more subtlety, and karate was born."<ref name = "Funakoshi1935" />

Early styles of karate are often generalized as [[Shuri-te]], [[Naha-te]], and [[Tomari-te]], named after the three cities from which they emerged.<ref name="Higaonna 1985 19">{{cite book |last = Higaonna |first = Morio |title = Traditional Karatedo Vol. 1 Fundamental Techniques |year = 1985 |isbn =0-87040-595-0 |page = 19 }}</ref> Each area and its teachers had particular kata, techniques, and principles that distinguished their local version of ''te'' from the others.

[[File:Karate ShuriCastle.jpg|thumb|Karate training in front of [[Shuri Castle]] in [[Naha]] (1938)]]
Around the 1820s, [[Matsumura Sōkon]] (1809–1899) began teaching ''Okinawa-te''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last = Yoshimura |first = Jinsai |title = 自伝武道記 |trans-title = Biography of Martial Arts | magazine = Monthly Bunka Okinawa |volume =  2–8, September |publisher = Gekkan Bunka Okinawa-sha |date = 1941 |page = 22 }}</ref> Matsumura was, according to one theory, a student of Sakugawa. Matsumura's style later became the origin of many [[Shuri-te]] schools.

[[Itosu Ankō]] (1831–1915) studied under Matsumura and Bushi Nagahama of [[Naha-te]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Motobu |first=Choki |editor-last1=Quast |editor-first1=Andreas |translator-last1=Quast |translator-first1=Andreas |translator-last2=Motobu |translator-first2=Naoki |title=Watashi no Karatejutsu |trans-title=My Art and Skill of Karate|year=2020 |orig-year=1932 |publisher=Independently Published |isbn=9798601364751|language=en |page=36}}</ref> He created the ''[[Pinan|Pin'an]]'' forms ("''Heian''" in Japanese) which are simplified kata for beginning students. In 1905, Itosu helped to get karate introduced into Okinawa's public schools. These forms were taught to children at the elementary school level. Itosu's influence in karate is broad. The forms he created are common across nearly all styles of karate. His students became some of the most well-known karate masters, including [[Motobu Chōyū]], [[Motobu Chōki]], [[Yabu Kentsū]], [[Hanashiro Chomo|Hanashiro Chōmo]], [[Gichin Funakoshi]] and [[Kenwa Mabuni]]. Itosu is sometimes referred to as "the Grandfather of Modern Karate."<ref>{{cite web|author=International Ryukyu Karate-jutsu Research Society |url=http://www.koryu-uchinadi.com/index1.html |title=Patrick McCarthy, footnote #4 |date=15 October 2012 |access-date=23 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130023324/http://www.koryu-uchinadi.com/index1.html |archive-date=30 January 2014 }}</ref>

[[File:Karate in Naha before the war.jpg|thumb|Karate in [[Naha]] before the war; (before 1946)]]
In 1881, [[Higaonna Kanryō]] returned from China after years of instruction with [[Ryu Ryu Ko]] and founded what would become [[Naha-te]]. One of his students was the founder of [[Gojū-ryū]], [[Chōjun Miyagi]]. Chōjun Miyagi taught such well-known karateka as [[Seko Higa]] (who also trained with Higaonna), [[Meitoku Yagi]], [[Miyazato Ei'ichi]], and [[Seikichi Toguchi]], and for a very brief time near the end of his life, An'ichi Miyagi (a teacher claimed by [[Morio Higaonna]]).

In addition to the three early ''te'' styles of karate a fourth Okinawan influence is that of [[Kanbun Uechi|Uechi Kanbun]] (1877–1948). At the age of 20 he went to [[Fuzhou]] in Fujian Province, China, to escape Japanese military conscription. While there he studied under Shū Shiwa (Chinese: ''Zhou Zihe'' 周子和 1874–1926).<ref>Fujimoto, Keisuke (2017). ''The Untold Story of Kanbun Uechi''. pp. 19.</ref> He was a leading figure of Chinese [[Nam Pai Chuan|Nanpa Shorin-ken]] style at that time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/009/001/index.html |title=Kanbun Uechi history |date=1 March 2009 |access-date=23 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301203243/http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/009/001/index.html |archive-date=1 March 2009 }}</ref> He later developed his own style of [[Uechi-ryū]] karate based on the [[Sanchin]], [[Seisan]], and Sanseiryu kata that he had studied in China.<ref>{{cite book |last = Hokama |first = Tetsuhiro |title = 100 Masters of Okinawan Karate |year = 2005 | page = 28 | publisher=Ozata Print }}</ref>