Shorinji Kempo - History

History

Dōshin Sō (born in 1911) spent his younger ages in northern China in order to do something for the Japanese nation and people. He joined the Intelligence Agency of the Japanese Army to collect military information during the war. During his stay, he met master Chen (陳 良) who was an expert of Giwamon-ken. Learning his techniques, Dōshin Sō traveled Manchuria on his mission and duty and learned more about existing Chinese martial arts. Then master Wen (文 太宗) took him to visit Shaolin Temple in Hana Province to inherit Giwamon-ken (義和門拳: Yi He Men Quan) letting Dōshin Sō become the 21st master.

On 9 August in 1945 the Soviet Army invaded Manchuria and he was forced to live under the occupation of the Soviet Army. Finally, he recognized and understood the "nature of the human being". According to his book, this is extremely important since the politics, law and living are all conducted by human beings.

After coming back from China, he thought he would establish a cram school for the young people. He was stationed in the small town called Tadotsu in Shikoku island in Japan to teach Buddhist philosophy. However, he failed to convince people without something new or different. So, he established Shorinji Kempo to take the concept of ken-zen ichinyo by following Bodhidharma and made use of techniques he learned in China. He was confident to provide courage and opportunity to learn the doctrines of Buddha for the young people in order to be a leader of the coming generation. (source: a book "Hiden Shōrinji Kempō" (秘伝少林寺拳法) written by Dōshin Sō, published by Kobun-sha Kappa Books). This promotion and campaign was called as Kongō-zen undō (Kongo-zen campaign) and expanded Shorinji Kempo throughout Japan by his pupils. This campaign and concept was inherited by his daughter Yūki Sō (宗 由貴, Sō Yūki?) after his death in 1980 till present. After his death, Dōshin Sō has been called "Kaiso" or the founder and the grand master.