China since the ancient period has allowed the Japanese to borrow selected
aspects of Chinese culture (including martial knowledge), which they suc-
cessfully assimilated into their own native culture.
In addition to being an island nation, Japan has other geographical
features that have had a strong influence. The geographic layout of the
Japanese island of Honshu, which has always been the central island for
Japanese society, produced a diversity of local subcultures, societies, and
eventually, martial specializations. High mountains covering most of the
island, with relatively few narrow passes crossing them, and many rivers
flowing across open plains are the major reasons for this phenomenon.
Isolated communities developed unique local dialects, cultural variations,
food and craft specialties, and even distinct martial skills. For example,
Takeda warriors in the Kantô area were highly skillful at mounted
archery, while the Kuki family in western Japan was known for their naval
capabilities. However, it is important to note a larger social division, that
between courtiers and professional warriors, who were also separated ge-
ographically—courtiers in the western provinces and warriors in the east-
ern provinces.
Warriors who were located in and around the capital of Kyoto in
western Japan and who served powerful court families acquired refined
manners and courtly behavior. At the same time, warriors of imperial de-
scent who were sent, beginning in the eighth century, to the eastern
provinces to protect court interests there developed over the centuries a
much more distinct warrior culture. They emphasized military prowess
over refined courtly behavior and were much more pragmatic in their mil-
itary training than were warriors in western Japan, eventually setting them-
selves up as a separate social group in the twelfth century with the estab-
lishment of a separate ruling apparatus for warriors commonly known as
the bakufu. From that time on, the dual political ruling structure of court
and bakufu set the direction in which warrior society was to evolve.
Perhaps the most noticeable effect of geographical separation as a
factor in the occurrence of warfare and the development of martial tradi-
tions occurred during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, when local
daimyo (warlords) aspired to create independent domains and were pri-
marily concerned with controlling land. Since domain borders were clearly
marked by a distinct topography and strategic locations were of great im-
portance, mountain ranges, valleys, and rivers were selected as natural
strategic borders. In fact, some of the fiercest battles were fought in these
places. In any case, warriors who founded martial traditions often did so
in the service of one of these daimyo, and therefore were limited to teach-
ing in a certain region.180 Japan