How many tenugui do you own?

[Halcyon]

Polling all kenshi just for the fun of it: How many tenugui do you own? Do you have a sentimental favorite? If so, why? Do you prefer the style in white or navy with some deep aphorism written in kanji? Or do you favor a colorful/patterned alternative?

[Hotei]

I've got about a pound of them. . . When all the little Japanese ladies at my Temple found out I was starting Kendo they each gave me one. I left with a pile of them. :)


My favorite? Easy - It's a white tenugui with the Heart Sutra written (in kanji) in black.

[Twobitmage]

hotei, did you get your name from that monk in musashi's paintings?

[Hotei]

Yes and no. . . I've been a practicing Zen (Rinzai) Buddhist for about 26 years, and Hotei is one of the most often "prayed-to" Bodhisattvas (Saints) around. I'd hazard to say that, he's the top 2 (not "in", but "the"), with another of his (her) incarnations being the other; Kanon, the Bodhisattva of Boundless Compassion and Universal Mercy.

Keep in mind that the titles that we put on them (Universal Mercy, et cetera) are completely interchangable with one another, and are often listed in temples to the tune of a couple dozen words per plaque. It's much more involved than I'd care to go into here, but I can recommend numerous books on the subject.

The fact that Musashi (another Rinzai Buddhist) happened to enjoy painting Hotei Bodhisattva is just a happy coincidence.

If anyone were to have a tenugui with Hotei on it, I'd be very interested in making you an offer. My wife and I are very attracted to tenugui. . . When a Buddhist starts a collection, you can bet that it's going to be of something simple, beautiful, and useful. Tenugui fit the description nicely. (and you thought it was just a diaper to wear on your head.)

We wrap gifts in them (tsusuru), we use them as gifts, we use them in the kitchen (hey, it's a towel), we even have a couple of our more attractive ones framed.

"Tenugui; it's what's pulling dinner out of the oven. And under your plate. And drying your dishes. And keeping the sweat out of your eyes when you mow the lawn. And what you use to strain tofu. And. . . Oh never mind." :wink:

[Tatsuko]

Let's see... I have:

A crimson one my sensei gave me when I first started in bogu
A deep navy blue one with the saying "Learning love through crossing swords"
A white one from a tournament, that my good friend from Brazil gave me
A violet one with "Kenshin" written on it
And a greenish blue-and-white patterned one with the pig from Peacemaker Kurogane on it. XD

Tatsuko

[kenshi_kr]

wow.. those with 11-20.. are they all different? or some duplicates?
my personal favourite is a dark red one with write writing..
'the heart does not waver'
awesome

[Hotei]

Almost all of mine are different. I do have 2 dupes, though. I suppose I've got about 30 in all, but that fluxuates weekly.

[mystic_kendoka]

i have 5, one is my club tenugui, seishinkan, my favorite is one that says 'toku' on it, i think tht means spirit, the one with zanshin is also, nice...

PS- what is the standard measurements of a tengui? (planning to make my own)

[Eiliries]

I have two tenegui, my favorite is pink. Does anyone know where to get Hello Kitty tenegui?

[emitbrownne]

I like the idea that whatever you put on your tenegui is what inspires you, or helps you focus in your kendo.


I've seen various kanji for heart, mind etc..
I've seen Dojo Tenegui - I suppose to foster team spirit

but the kind that I love the most are the patterned or the ones with pictures on... they give an insight into the mindset of the kendoka.

One of my seniors has a Yoda (from starwars) on one of his tenegui... :) .

[Sithlord]

Anyone know where i can get custom mad tenegui....i know most sites offer in bulk purchases only say 50-100. I just want a couple.

[souljah]

I have 5.

One has a daruma doll on it, which was given to me when I first tried bogu. Another has 'kendo spirit' in big, blue block letters, and another has a kendo team in cartoon figures; these two were given to me by the mother of a kid who I used to drive to practice. One came from kendoshop with my bogu, and the last one was a present from a visiting sensei, which has some unreadable kanji on it.

[Dave Fowler]

I tend to get one from dojo's that I visit. I typically take our club crest and hand it out, and they give me a tenugui in return :-)

[mystic_kendoka]

what do you mean ur club crest? the type u sew into clothes? or a full scale shield?

[Wark 1978]

my favourite one was given to me by my firs sensei. it is very simple. it just has one kanji which is 道 (michi) which means road or way. quite apt.

[Simon Chien]

I bought indigo-print clothes from http://www.indigo-print.com/

and made my own tenugui. They are beautiful and cheap !

[KhawMengLee]

Hey Simon,

I would PM you on this but for some reason my PM feature doesn't work. How's kendo in SHanghai? I'm in Hk right now but go there for business from time to time and would like to train there if possible?

you can e-mail me at khaw_ml@hotmail.com

cheers
Meng


as for tenegui...heheh, lots...tho I use only 2 out of my collection(My first dojo Murdoch Uni and my second Wakaba).

[D'Artagnan]

I have loads of tenugui, the only duplicates are the handful of free 12WKC tenuguis that Nine circles were giving away.

My favorite though is a very simple red tenugui, with white kanji (even my nihongo sensei couldn't read it). It was a gift from my sensei. I only wear it on special days, shiai, gradings etc. I only have one like it, and refuse to buy another...

I also have a 'special' shinai, which i save for 'red tenugui' occasions, (my only true Japanese shinai).

I can't enter taikai or grading without them.

anybody else have any wierd superstitions???