Definitions of "Renshi", "Kyoshi", "Hanshi"

[ben]

I have always wondered exactly what these titles mean. Anyone out there a Japanese scholar (or in possession of the Wa-Ei Kendo Jiten)?

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[xvikingx]

renshi: instructor
kyoshi: senior instructor
hanshi: master instuctor

[ben]

renshi: instructor
kyoshi: senior instructor
hanshi: master instuctor

OK, thanks xvikingx that's a start. But does anyone know what kind of 'implications' the titles have in Japanese life? E.g. where else is the title "hanshi" used? Are there any other readings of these titles? What is the etymology of the words?

Dr A., this might be a question for you...

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[xvikingx]

Sorry didnt know you wanted that much detail. Should have been more specific. Kyoushi is used often when referring to a teacher or professor. The kanji "shi"師　（I dont know if that will show up on your computer but thats the kanji) means one's teacher or one's mentor. That is about as far as my Japanese language skills go.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Hanshi means an exemplary person. So a hanshi is supposed to be an example of your goal not only for kendo, but for life in general.

[mingshi]

Shihan and Hanshi --- by Meik Skoss (http://koryu.com/library/mskoss9.html)

[Kent Enfield]

Kyoushi is used often when referring to a teacher or professor. The kanji "shi"師　（I dont know if that will show up on your computer but thats the kanji) means one's teacher or one's mentor. That is about as far as my Japanese language skills go.Actually, the kyoshi that means teacher is written 教師, whereas the kendo shogo is written 教士. The "kyou" character is the same, but the "shi" in the former means teacher, expert, master. The shi in the latter is the same as in bushi and means warrior or samurai. In fact, the "shi" character in all three of renshi, kyoshi, and hanshi is the same. Ren is study, like in renshu. Kyo is teach, like in the other kyoshi. Han is example or model, like in shihan.

As far as I know, the terms arn't used outside of martial arts.

[LNGUYEN]

In Vietnamese, we use the word "Shi" too. I can tell you that it all came from Chinese. "Shi" means some one achieve something and good in his profession. However, it leans toward knowledge, education, and arts like martial art, music, education. Kenshi is from this. "shi" is also means person (usually Men) in the old time: Student (Hoc si), sword man (kiem si), musician (nhac si), samurai (vo si). This is just one side of Asian understanding.

[dorkusxmaximus]

are hanshi titles meant for hachi-dan only? I'm kind of curious because there's a sensei that's a nana-dan that uses hanshi.

[Neil Gendzwill]

are hanshi titles meant for hachi-dan only? I'm kind of curious because there's a sensei that's a nana-dan that uses hanshi.
The minimum requirement for hanshi is 55 years old, and the minimum age for 8th dan is 45. I'm not sure if 8th dan is also a requirement but I've never heard of a hanshi nanadan before. Nor a kyoshi rokudan for that matter.

There's a famous tournament that is demo matches between people of the same rank (Tozai Taikai, I think). If you watch that tournament you'll hear them announce the ranks as they move up: rokudan, nanadan, kyoshi nanadan, kyoshi hachidan, hanshi hachidan. Hanshi nanadan is not one of the ranks they mention.

BTW that's a really cool tournament to watch, my sensei has some of them on tape. Each time they move up a notch the people get older and the match gets subtler. At hanshi hachidan, most of the people are pushing 70.

[dorkusxmaximus]

go here to see what I was talking about: http://www.auskf.info/mainpages/article2.htm

[ben]

Thanks everyone. Very helpful. Hazard sensei's article is very interesting too. However I'm still a bit confused about the "ren" in "renshi". It doesn't seem to make sense as a teaching title.

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[kendomushi]

It might be a bit easier to understand if you think of it in terms of say university professors:

Kyoshi are the main line insturctors, they do the actual day to day teaching in the class room.

Renshi are the tenured professors who still teach but also are expected to spend time outside the classroom advancing their science, art, or subject area through other activities.

Hanshi are the department heads who are considered well above and beyond daily teaching but are well respected for all their accomplishments in their area as well as in general. To actually be taughth by one of these is a real honor.

Make any more sense?

[Neil Gendzwill]

Other way round for kyoshi and renshi - renshi is the first teaching license.

[xvikingx]

Thanks Kent

[ben]

Thanks Kendomushi, that's exactly the kind of explanation I was after. I have often tried to line up the equivalence of dan grades with school/university qualifications, roughly in terms of time or amount of effort required to achieve, seniority and so on

Roughly I'd say: 1st dan = year 11
2nd dan = year 12
3rd dan = bachelors' degree
4th dan = honours
5th dan = masters
6th dan = PhD

Of course this is just for fun.

An aside: in Australia the term "professor" is used much less frequently than in the US (I'm not sure about UK). Generally in the major universities, each faculty has only one professor, the Grand Fromage. The next down would be Associate Professor, then below that the full-time teaching staff are simply known as Lecturers. So in Australia, Renshi would = Lecturer, Kyoshi = Associate Professor, and Hanshi = Professor.

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