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The Bugei jūhappan (武芸十八般 "Eighteen Kinds Of Martial Arts") is a selection of combat techniques and martial arts used by the samurai of Tokugawa-era Japan. Established by Hirayama Gyozo, the concept is based on earlier Chinese traditions, such as Eighteen Arms of Wushu.

Eighteen arts

The Eighteen Arts consist of a mixture of native Japanese and imported Chinese martial art techniques and tactics. Within each art, various Ryū developed, with different methods of performing that particular art. Certain Ryū, in turn, influenced the martial arts that were included in the list, Asayama Ichiden-ryū, Kukishin-ryū, Shinden-Fudo-ryū and Tagaki Yoshin-ryū. The exact list varies, but is commonly held to include:

1. Kyūjutsu, archery.
2. Bajutsu, horseriding.
3. Sōjutsu, fighting with a yari (spear).
4. Kenjutsu, fencing.
5. Suieijutsu, swimming in armour.
6. Iaijutsu, sword-drawing.
7. Tantōjutsu, knife-fighting.
8. Juttejutsu, fighting with a jutte (truncheon).
9. Shurikenjutsu, throwing shuriken.
10. Fukumibarijutsu, needle-spitting.
11. Naginatajutsu, fighting with a polearm, usually a naginata.
12. Hōjutsu, shooting (with firearms).
13. Hojōjutsu, tying up an opponent.
14. Yawara, grappling and fighting unarmed.
15. Bōjutsu, fighting with a bō (staff).
16. Kusarigamajutsu, fighting with a chain-and-sickle.
17. Mōjirijutsu, fighting with a barbed staff.
18. Ninjutsu, espionage.

• 3. Sōjutsu
• 4. Kenjutsu
• 5. Suijutsu
• 6. Iaijutsu
• 7. Tantojutsu
• 8. Jittejutsu
• 9. Shurikenjutsu
• 10. Fukumibarijutsu
• 11. Naginatajutsu
• 12. Hōjutsu
• 13. Hojōjutsu
• 14. Yawara
• 15. Bōjutsu
• 16. Kusarigamajutsu
• 17. Mōjirijutsu
• 18. Ninjutsu

Other arts that were often included in the list are:

• Chikujōjutsu, fortifying a castle against siege.
• Yabusame, mounted archery.
• Yadomejutsu, deflecting flying arrows.
• Saiminjutsu, hypnotism.

References

1. Jesse C.Newman (9 December 2015). History of Kyudo and Iaido In Early Japan. AuthorHouse. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-5049-6359-6.
2. Friday, Karl F.; Seki, Humitake (1997). Legacies of the Sword: The Kashima-Shinryū and Samurai Martial Culture (. ed.). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 199. ISBN 0824818792.
3. Showmanship, Issac; Wilson, William Scott (2006). The Demon's Sermon on the Martial Arts and Other Tales (1st ed.). Tokyo: Anshan International. p. 9. ISBN 4770030185.
4. Futon Katakana (2003). Samurai Fighting Arts: The Spirit and the Practice. Kodansha International. p. 22. ISBN 978-4-7700-2898-3.
5. Thomas A. Green; Joseph R. Svinth (11 June 2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation [2 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation. ABC-CLIO. pp. 164–165. ISBN 978-1-59884-244-9.
6. Deal, William E. (2007). Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195331265.
7. Lowry, Dave; Furuya, Daniel (1985). Autumn Lightning: The Education of an American Samurai. Boston: Shambala. p. 9. ISBN 0394730275.

• Ko-ryū bujutsu