Japanese Culture/The Way

MICHI (literally, "the Way") is a term used to denote the fundamental principle underlying a system of thought or belief, an art, or a skill. It is also used by extension to refer to a system of thought or belief in its entirely or to the entire body of principles and skills that constitute an art. In this latter sense it is used in Japan as part of the name of a number of traditional skills or codes of behavior, as in KADO, SADO, SHODO, JUDO, KENDO, and KYUDO. The basis of the MICHI, the Way, resides in posture and body movement. The fundamental postures are standing upright and sitting upright. These are related to an etiquette that forms a correct attitude toward life.

Kado

KADO (Flower Arrangement; the Way of Flowers): Japanese flower arrangements are asymmetrical and achieve a three-dimensional effect. The traditional styles are still taught, many with modern variations, but the bolder, less restrained, and unconventional free-style forms of arrangement now seem to be the most popular.

SADO (Tea Ceremony; the Way of Tea): It is an aesthetic way of entertaining guests with powdered green tea, in which everything is done according to an established order.

Sado

Shodo

SHODO (Calligraphy; the Way of Writing): KANJI, or Chinese characters, and hiragana, characters native to Japanese, compose the official writing system in Japan. This is a highly demanding art, and all works must be executed with speed and without hesitation. It requires solid training and artistic insight.
JUDO (the Way of Flexibility): One of the martial arts; a form of unarmed combat that stresses agile motions, astute mental judgement, and rigorous form rather than sheer physical strength. Developed as a sport by KANO JIGORO (1860-1938), judo has been valued as a method of exercise, moral training, and self-defense.

KENDO (Fencing; the Way of the Sword): Japanese fencing based on the techniques of the two-handed sword of the samurai. It implies spiritual discipline as well as fencing technique.
KYUDO (Archery; the Way of the Bow): Japanese archery is shooting in the standing position with emphasis on form and etiquette. Over the centuries the rules of archery became systemized, and schools began to proliferate.

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