Dojo

History

The term "dojo" has its roots in Buddhism. These spaces were commonly attached to temples and served as formal training grounds for any Japanese art that ends with "-do," a suffix derived from the Chinese concept of Dao, meaning "way" or "path." In some cases, Zen Buddhist meditation halls used for zazen were also referred to as dojos. The more specific term "zendo" is actually more common, though European Sōtō Zen groups linked to the International Zen Association, following their founder Taisen Deshimaru, favor "dojo" over "zendo" for their meditation spaces. Other Buddhist traditions also held gatherings in private dojos that were not part of a temple.

The Jōdo Shinshū school, for instance, started as a network of dojos where people from all social classes could meet. These were often small buildings or converted private homes used as chapels for chanting the nembutsu and holding monthly services, featuring vertical calligraphy scrolls instead of elaborate altars. In Japan, any facility for physical training—including professional wrestling—can be called a dojo. In the Western world, however, the term is reserved exclusively for Japanese martial arts like aikido, judo, and karate-do.

In martial arts

A proper Japanese martial arts dōjō is considered special and well cared for by its users. Shoes are not worn in a dōjō, in line with the Japanese custom to keep the premises clean and respectable. In many styles it is traditional to conduct a ritual cleaning (sōji) at the beginning or end of each training session. Besides hygienic benefits, regular cleaning reinforces that dōjō are supposed to be supported and managed by the student body or by special students such as uchi-deshi.

In some cases, instructional staff may help students clean as a sign of modesty. In modern times, even when a school has a dōjō to train inside, training may sometimes be conducted outside, often in parks. Many traditional dōjō follow a prescribed pattern with shomen ('front') and various entrances used based on student and instructor rank.

The shomen is a wall, usually in the north of the dōjō and facing the entrance. Students typically enter in the lower-left corner of the dōjō in reference to the shomen, with instructors in the upper right corner. The shomen typically has a shelf attached, traditionally presenting a miniature Shintō shrine with a sculpture, flower arrangement, or other artifacts. Pictures of past masters are generally found aside the shrine, not on it.

The term kamiza means 'place of honor', and kamidana refers to the shrine itself. Other artifacts may be displayed throughout the dōjō, such as kanban (signboards) authorizing the school, taiko drums, or armor. The name of the dōjō and dōjō kun (rules) are often displayed prominently at shomen.

Honbu dōjō

Visitors may have a special place reserved depending on rank. Weapons and training gear normally appear on the back wall. A honbu dōjō is the central training facility and administrative headquarters of a particular martial arts style. Well-known dōjō in Japan include the Kodokan Judo Institute, Aikikai Hombu Dōjō, Noma Dōjō, and Nakazato Karate Weapons Gym.

Similar cultural establishments

In Japan and other countries, additional names for training halls equivalent to dōjō exist. Heya (sumo) means 'room' and is a stable for professional athletes with its own special rules and etiquette; it is often a place where wrestlers live and train. Other equivalents include Akhara (Indian martial arts), Kalari (kalaripayat), Dojang (Korean martial arts), Gelanggang (silat Melayu), Sasaran (pencak silat), and Võ Đường (Việt Võ Đạo). Wuguan (Chinese) has a Confucian-like hierarchy between students and teachers, often resembling a family more than a bureaucracy.

The altar in some wuguan may be dedicated to past masters, deities, or both, unlike in a dōjō where pictures of masters are usually not placed within the shrine itself. Historically, and sometimes still, the wuguan was used as a community center, the opposite of many dōjō today that join an extant community center. The wuguan is a central establishment in many kung fu movies. Dojo/dojang is pronounced in Mandarin as daochang and in Cantonese as dou cheung.

In other fields

The term dōjō is increasingly used for other forms of immersive-learning space. It is sometimes used to describe meditation halls where Zen Buddhists practice zazen seated meditation, though the alternative term zen-do is more specific and widely used. European Sōtō Zen groups affiliated with the International Zen Association prefer dōjō over zendo.

In Japanese new religions, a dōjō can be used for various purposes. Seicho-No-Ie's Tobitakyū Dōjō in Chōfu, Tokyo contains a shinsokan meditation hall, library, bookstore, cafeteria, administrative offices, and dormitories. Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō uses a dōjō as a primary worship center, with three main dōjōs in Tabuse, Tokyo, and Honolulu.

Honmichi's Hanaseyama Training Dōjō in the Kii Peninsula trains selected youth for three years. Ananaikyo's main worship hall in Kakegawa, Shizuoka is known as the Chinkon Dōjō. The term 'Dojo' has also been used for various software, digital learning applications, and by related companies.