The Shotokan Tiger Symbol

[Menjo]

Honestly, I don't like the tiger being a symbol of Shotokan. There is hardly any connection between Shotokan and a tiger. They should have chosen a waving pine tree instead. That would make better sense than a tiger.

If im not mistaken, Kahn or in this case kan means king or ruler. so, Shotokan would translate roughly into "the king among the waving pines". if you were to stumble upon such a creature such as a tiger in a forest while meditating on karate, you would so inspired, i know i would, as to adopt its image as your mascot. The King among the Waving Pines and picture a tiger walking among the pine trees under a moonlit sky...the tiger doesnt seem like such a bad idea now does it?

This is a completely different "kan". The "kan" of "ShotoKAN" means "hall" or, basically, "studio". It basically just implies that this is the place where "Shoto"-type karate is practiced.

The "rolled tiger" is a play on words in japanese. The tiger itself was not meant to be a symbol of Shotokan. It was just an interesting piece of artwork chosen for the cover of a book.

yep, agreed with the first part

[NidaninNJ]

Honestly, I don't like the tiger being a symbol of Shotokan. There is hardly any connection between Shotokan and a tiger. They should have chosen a waving pine tree instead. That would make better sense than a tiger.

If im not mistaken, Kahn or in this case kan means king or ruler. so, Shotokan would translate roughly into "the king among the waving pines". if you were to stumble upon such a creature such as a tiger in a forest while meditating on karate, you would so inspired, i know i would, as to adopt its image as your mascot. The King among the Waving Pines and picture a tiger walking among the pine trees under a moonlit sky...the tiger doesnt seem like such a bad idea now does it?

This is a completely different "kan". The "kan" of "ShotoKAN" means "hall" or, basically, "studio". It basically just implies that this is the place where "Shoto"-type karate is practiced.

The "rolled tiger" is a play on words in japanese. The tiger itself was not meant to be a symbol of Shotokan. It was just an interesting piece of artwork chosen for the cover of a book.

yep, agreed with the first part

Menjo- What are these comments supposed to mean? Don't you agree with the comment about the rolled tiger artwork? I've heard that one before and I thought it was true. Isn't it?

[Menjo]

Honestly, I don't like the tiger being a symbol of Shotokan. There is hardly any connection between Shotokan and a tiger. They should have chosen a waving pine tree instead. That would make better sense than a tiger.

If im not mistaken, Kahn or in this case kan means king or ruler. so, Shotokan would translate roughly into "the king among the waving pines". if you were to stumble upon such a creature such as a tiger in a forest while meditating on karate, you would so inspired, i know i would, as to adopt its image as your mascot. The King among the Waving Pines and picture a tiger walking among the pine trees under a moonlit sky...the tiger doesnt seem like such a bad idea now does it?

This is a completely different "kan". The "kan" of "ShotoKAN" means "hall" or, basically, "studio". It basically just implies that this is the place where "Shoto"-type karate is practiced.

The "rolled tiger" is a play on words in japanese. The tiger itself was not meant to be a symbol of Shotokan. It was just an interesting piece of artwork chosen for the cover of a book.

yep, agreed with the first part

Menjo- What are these comments supposed to mean? Don't you agree with the comment about the rolled tiger artwork? I've heard that one before and I thought it was true. Isn't it?

I just didn't agree with the second idea, I dont disagree either.

[jaymac]

I enjoyed the post. I have heard (almost exactly to detail) the first descriptive about Master Funakoshi. I also heard some of the second, but it had been meshed with the first in the presentation that was told to me. I bet the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

[Triskel]

Please take a look at this:

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/ssu-ling.shtml#tiger

It makes sense to me that a Tiger, particularly a White Tiger

[Triskel]

Sorry, I clicked early :P

The last line should say:

It makes sense to me that a Tiger, particularly a White Tiger had been chosen

[todekenkyokai]

Great article, Sai. Well written!

I'd heard of the first possible reason behind the tiger coming to symbolise Shotokan, but not the second. Thanks for sharing.

It was a good article and I have also heard both stories. The first is, I think from Nakayama as he tried to find some da vinci code in shoto's poetry.

The second , Hoan Kosugi and the tora no maki is fact , though, traded for the kata Kushanku I think. Funakoshi later taught Kanku-sho and dai.

" The half Moon ' Is the symbol of the JKA , who ever designed the patch wanted to give a shout out most likely.

Hope some of this helped and really liked your article