What does Bugei mean?

Bugei translates as Martial art, Military arts, or Arts of war. Bu 武 means warrior or military. Gei 芸 means art, craft or technique. It is pretty obvious when we put them together that we get the meaning for martial arts. Most people are familiar with the word geisha 芸者. Geisha are people skilled in arts such as poetry, music, and dance. The second word sha 者 means a person or someone.

If we put sha 者 at the end of bugei 武芸 we get a martial artist, bugeisha 武芸者.

ラジカスキー真照

館長

Saneteru Radzikowski is the head sword instructor of Shinkan-ryū Kenpō. He lives and teaches Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu from Nara, Japan.

Óli Þór April 22, 2019 at 11:26 pmLog in to Reply

Had been wondering about the word bugeisha. Thank you sensei :)
Michael April 23, 2019 at 11:06 amLog in to Reply

Thanks for the lesson sensei
- Liz April 14, 2020 at 2:41 amLog in to Reply
  
  Understood!
Alex August 31, 2019 at 8:20 pmLog in to Reply

Thank you sensei.
Reid Monteith October 11, 2019 at 10:43 amLog in to Reply

Somewhat on the line of ologist Sensei
- Patrick March 3, 2020 at 8:18 amLog in to Reply
  
  Thank you Sensei.
Ana December 8, 2019 at 8:19 amLog in to Reply

Thank you sensei.
Melvin January 30, 2020 at 2:20 amLog in to Reply

Thank you, Saneteru-sensei.
Jennifer Popkin April 3, 2020 at 4:09 amLog in to Reply

Thank you, Saneteru-sensei.
Chris April 4, 2020 at 10:12 pmLog in to Reply

That’s really cool! Thank you Sensei!
Peter May 5, 2020 at 5:28 amLog in to Reply

Thank you for the definition, Sensei.
Jim May 25, 2020 at 3:22 pmLog in to Reply

Thank you much for explaining the terms, Saneteru-sensei.
Andrew (Norinobu) July 2, 2020 at 9:49 amLog in to Reply

Thank you for this breakdown of “bugei,” Saneteru-sensei.