Dan (rank)

Dan (rank)

The dan (段 dan?) ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. The word dan (段) literally means "step" （of the stairs） or "stage." As a ranking system, it was originally used at a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.

In the modern Japanese martial arts, holders of dan ranks often wear a black belt, those of higher rank may also wear red-and-white and red belts. Dan ranks are still given in arts such as the strategy board games Go, Renju, the art of flower arrangement (ikebana); and the tea ceremony.

The character of Dan (段, dan?) is used in Japanese to mean step or grade, and is commonly equated with a degree. However, the origin of the Chinese character, spelled duàn in Pinyin, was used to mean "phase". Dan rank is often used along with the lower rank system, Kyū (級, Kyū?) rank. There are other methods of assessing rank in Japanese martial systems; of particular note is the older menkyo system.