Songs of the Seven Animals
By Kaneiki Iwao , Translations by Seth Davis
The Songs of the Seven Animals are short descriptive poems which convey the character and method of application for each of the animal skill sets in the No Shadow Fist (NSF) system. Each animal-method adds a layer of depth and development to the understanding and use the NSF system as a whole.
The Japanese language provided here is derived from what Kaneiki Iwao Sensei was taught by his teacher Zhang Ke Ming, combined with additional research and study of the individual animal systems. The English translations are my own, however I verified my word selection for each word and phrase directly with Kaneiki sensei in order to be certain that my choice of words correctly conveys the essence of each poem.
I have provided this content here in this blog for the benefit of my students, while they patiently wait for me to complete the No Shadow Fist manuals. Detailed explanations, guidelines, and commentary for each song will be provided within the manuals. Thank you for reading.
獣拳歌訣 (じゅうけんかけつ) Songs of the Animal- Fist Methods
馬拳 (ばけん）Ba-Ken (Horse-Fist)
馬は地を蹴って風を切り 欲目も持ったず一直線に走る
うまはじをけってかぜをきり よくめももたずいっちょくせんにはしる
Horse kicks the earth, cuts the wind, and without distraction, runs in one straight line.
虎拳 (こけん）Ko-ken (Tiger-Fist)
虎は空中に向かって昇り風を生じ風を舞いて走る。
とらはくうちゅうにむかってのぼりかぜをしょうじふうをまいてはしる
The tiger invades, seeking empty spaces, climbing the wind, stirring, like a swirling breeze, weaving through the forest as it runs.
猿拳 （さるけん）Saru-ken (Monkey Fist)
風の如く枯葉の如く、 忍の心。
かぜのごとくかれはのごとく、にんのこころ
The monkey is fast like the wind, yet moving naturally centered like falling dead leaves, a spirit of quiet wisdom calmly held inside.
蛇拳 （へびけん）Hebi-ken (Snake-Fist)
枝に蔓が絡みつくが如く、変化で巻きながら、体をなす。
えだにつるがからみつくがごとく、へんかでまきながら、たいをなす。
Adhering like a winding vine to a branch, changing as it wraps, moving towards being fully formed.
酔龍拳 (すいりゅうけん）Suiryuu-ken (Drunken Dragon)
酔うが如く、山の如く。西を打つふりして、東打つ。上がると見せて下を打つ。下と見せて上を打つ。
ようがごとく、やまのごとく。にしをうつふりして、ひがしうつ。あがるとみせてしたをうつ。したとみせてうえをうつ。
As if drunk, as if a mountain. Feinting to the West and hitting the East. Revealing rising and striking below. Revealing going down and hitting high.
燕拳 (つばめけん）Tsubame-Ken (Swallow-Fist)
のびのびと軽快に翻り餌を啄ばむ燕の拳。
のびのびとけいかいにひるがえりえさをついばむつばめのけん。
Free in action, light and agile, swerving to peck and snatch its food is the aspect of the swallow fist.
鶴拳 (つるけん）Tsuru-Ken (Crane-Fist)
沈む肩と腰、体を奮い立たす、手足は同時、血肉は常に交わる。
しずむかたとこし、からだをふるいたたす、てあしはどうじ、ちにくはつねにまじわる。
Sinking the weight of the hips and shoulders, the body quakes expressing energy, arms and legs simultaneous , blood and flesh become one.
Sources:
1. Interviews and translation with Kaneiki Iwao, July, August 2015, Kagawa Japan, regarding the songs, translations and specific meanings and nuances of each animal.
© Seth Davis 2022
Last Update August, 2022
