Secrets of Hojojutsu
Hojojutsu is one of the martial arts that has contributed significantly to the history of kinbaku. As a part of both military and law enforcement training, the goals of the art were to restrain, transport, and display prisoners, often using decorative patterns that would signify the prisoner’s rank, class, or station in life. Initially a battlefield technique, as Japan became more organized during the Tokugawa Shogunate, the focus on tying shifted from military application to law enforcement.
Like many aspects of budo, hojojutsu evolved differently depending on region, style or school, only a few of which are still taught and practiced today.
This 1930 volume contains 53 two color diagrams of ties for Edo era Japan. From the collection of Machikata Yoriki under the title “Secret View of Hojojutsu,” the book provides illustrations of 26 ties, with commentary, from one particular school of hojojutsu.
From the collection of Zetsu Nawa
