Re: Origin of Sumo?

[Riley@hachi.hi-tech.ac.jp]

Here's a tidbit from the forthcoming FAQ.  This section is on the
history, since someone asked.  BTW, a reminder to all that I don't
plan on actually writing so much (or, as in this case, copying ),
and would REALLY appreciate input for the FAQ from all of you.
Even if it seems like a silly little sidenote, maybe somebody
else will enjoy learning whatever you know about sumo.  So, send
your wisdom on into history in the sumo FAQ!  This FAQ will be
placed on the web also, so people from all areas may be reading
your bit of lore...

Anyhow, on with the show.  Some history courtesy of another who
did all the legwork so I could shamelessly pass a little bit on
to you.  

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Some Sumo History:
------------------
 
This is from Lora Sharnoff's 'Grand Sumo, The Living Sport and Tradition.'
I've made some small changes to shorten the text from time to time, but
nothing which alters the content.
 
 
           The Earliest Matches
 
The earliest written mention of sumo is found in the Kojiki (Record of
Ancient Matters), a book from the year 712, which is the oldest extant 
example of Japanese writing.  The Kojiki relates a legend about how 
possession of the Japanese islands was determined by a sumo match.  
According to the book, about 2,500 years ago, the gods Takemikazuchi
and Takeminakata grappled on the shores of Izumo along the Japan Sea
coast in what is now Shimane-ken, until the latter finally lost.  Thus
control of the archipelago was ceded to the Japanese people led by
Takemikazuchi, who is said to have established the imperial family from
which the present emperor traces his ancestry.
 
Since the Japanese didn't keep any written records until the 8th century,
it is impossible to know, aside from legend, exactly when sumo first 
developed in Japan.  However, ancient wall paintings indicate that its
origins are very old indeed.  In prehistoric times, sumo appears to have 
been performed mainly as an agricultural ritual to pray for a good harvest.
 
It is also impossible to determine whether sumo is a completely indigenous
sport or whether is was influenced by similar forms of grappling from 
other parts of Asia and Eurasia.  Grappling seems to be a rather basic,
instictive sport played mostly by men.
 
Sumo in its early days tended to be violent with no holds barred--often a
veritable fight to the finish.  The Nihon Shoki(Chronicles of Japan), from
720, records the first bout between lowly mortals as taking place in 23 BC.
Emperor Suinin (r.29BC - AD70) is said to have made a special request to
Nomi no Sukune, a potter from Izumo, to fight Taima no Kehaya, a bully and
braggart from what is now Nara-ken.  The two grappled for quite a while
until Sukune finally rendered some devastating kicks to Kehaya's stomach
and solar plexis.  Kehaya was mortally wounded, and Sukune, the victor,
has been immortalized ever since as the 'father of sumo.'
 
               At The Imperial Court
 
There are several other legends about sumo matches held in the imperial
presence before Japan adopted the Chinese writing system in the 7th
century.  The first historically authenticated bout took place in 642,
when Empress Kogyoku (r.642-45) assembled her palace guards to 
perform sumo to entertain envoys from the Paekche court of Korea.  Later 
records mention sumo being performed at the functions of the imperial
court, including at coronation ceremonies.  The custom of 'tenran-zumo'
(sumo in the imperial presence) is still carried out at present, albeit
in different form.
 
During the reign of Emperor Shomu (r.724-49), sumaibito (sumotori) were
recruited from all over the country to perform in the Imperial Palace
garden at a festivity called 'sechie' held each year on the 7th day of
the 7th lunar month (early August by today's calendars).  At the same
time cultured people would gather as well at the palace to display their
skills at writing poetry.  With the establishment of 'sechie-zumo,' sumo
expanded from an agrarian ritual to a large-scale rite to pray for the
nationwide peace and prosperity of Japanese society.
 
In the late 8th century, Emperor Kanmu (r.781-806) made sechie-zumo an
annual event in his court, and the custom continued through the Heian
period (794-1185).  During the reign of Emperor Saga (r.809-23) the
practice of sumo was encouraged as a martial art; rules were established
and techniques refined.
 
             As A Martial Art
 
  After the establishment of the first shogunate in Kamakura from 1185 to
1392, sumo came to be practiced all the more as a martial art by the 
warrior class.  Minamoto no Yoritomo (1148-99), the most famous shogun
of the era, was a sumo fan who watched it along with demonstrations of
other forms of military training at Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine (now a
popular tourist site in Kamakura).
 
  Oda Nobunaga (1534-82), a major feudal lord, was particularly fond of
sumo.  In February 1578, he assembled over 1,500 sumotori from across
the country for a tournament held at his castle.  Until then there had
been no definite boundaries to the arena in which sumo was held; the
space was delineated simply by the people standing around in a circle
watching or waiting for their own turn to fight.  Apparently because 
many bouts were to be held on the same day at Nobunaga's Azuchi Castle,
circular boundaries were drawn on the ground for the first time to speed
up the proceedings.  These boundaries also had the effect of making sumo
safer for its spectators.
 
  The first documented evidence of a ring demarcated by rice straw bales
placed on the ground in a circular pattern can be found in the Empo
era (1673-81).  In the early 18th century, the bales came to be half 
buried in the ground circling the ring, similar to the way they are at
present.  
 
  From the Period of Warring States through the Edo period (1603-1867),
several daimyo began offering their patronage to the strongest sumotori.
Those employed by a daimyo not only received a generous stipend but 
were accorded samurai status as well.  They were also presented 
ceremonial aprons emproidered with the feudal lord's name.  Such
patronage guaranteed a good living, so many promising rikishi vied with
each other in the ring to catch a daimyo's eye.  The ranking sheets
listed the name of the fief they served rather than their actual places
of birth, as is done today in sometimes noting the prefecture of family
registry rather than birthplace.
 
              Professional Sumo
 
The predecessor of modern professional sumo underwent an almost parallel
development throughout the Edo period and was called 'kanjin-zumo,'
implying that it was to be carried out to collect donations toward the
construction or repair of shrines, temples, bridges and other public
works.  But some of the money, of course, was also used to pay the 
rikishi, many of whom at that time were ronin (masterless samurai).  In
due time the money collected came to be used primarily as wages for the
sumotori.
 
During the Edo period a ranking system and ranking sheets were initiated.
In 1761, the name of the sumo organization on the ranking sheets was
changed from kanjin-zumo to 'kanjin-ozumo,' marking the first time the
professional version of the sport was called 'Grand Sumo.'  
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Spelling errors are all mine.  

Mata nee....
 
David
riley@hachi.hi-tech.ac.jp