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Yes! Yes! Yes!
Mar. 16th, 2008 09:22 amThose who have responded so far to my Samurai Eye shout out have been unanimously confirming permission to use their images for the CostumeCon 26 slide show. It's a little thing, especially since they permitted me to use the photos for the website in the first place. It still pleases me.
One of 'em wrote "You go, sensei." Someday I may take this for granted. For now I do not.
The first time it happened was at the first Estrella that I wore Japanese clothing. In three separate incidents, I was accosted by squeeing women (in European dress) crying "Makiwara-sensei! Makiwara-sensei!" I recall blurting something appalled and humble about, no, no, you don't need to call me that, and how we are all students and we can all learn from each other. This only confirmed in their minds my sensei-like attributes.
Now, those of you familiar with This Table may be going, "Well, that's presumptuous!" Well, no, it's not. Because That Table is inaccurate, at least when it comes to adapting Japanese titles for SCA use. I have no idea on those from other cultures, however, given the fact that the Japanese ones are based on 19th century usages, the others may require further scrutiny.
This article is a lot more accurate. It was written by the man ALL of us Known World Nihonjin call "Sensei." The one with the Ph.D. in this stuff. My Sensei says: "The Laurel Sovereign of Arms has recommended “sensei” (= master/teacher) be used to address peers, but this is too restrictive a usage. In Japanese practice, anyone teaching you anything (stained glass technique, how to make armour, shield work, even how to boil rice) can and should be called sensei." If I wanted to be nitpicky and correct, I could address him as Meijin, but Sensei has stuck.
This article is why so many SCA Nihonjin always address each other by surname+honorific. If someone remembers to use my Western title, it's "Lady Jehanne," never "Lady Wodeford." As a Japanese, though, it's always "Saionji-hime" or the gender neutral "Saionji-dono." To be overly familiar or to omit the honorific is to slight someone. There is a select handful who could address me as "Hanae-hime" - and do not.
THIS is why I hold still for being called "sensei" and why I have no problem calling certain SCA Japanese who do not hold peerages the same thing. It means - to those of us unwilling to settle for the 19th century title collection on the SCA heraldry website - "You share what you know with me."
We're all students. We're all teachers.
One of 'em wrote "You go, sensei." Someday I may take this for granted. For now I do not.
The first time it happened was at the first Estrella that I wore Japanese clothing. In three separate incidents, I was accosted by squeeing women (in European dress) crying "Makiwara-sensei! Makiwara-sensei!" I recall blurting something appalled and humble about, no, no, you don't need to call me that, and how we are all students and we can all learn from each other. This only confirmed in their minds my sensei-like attributes.
Now, those of you familiar with This Table may be going, "Well, that's presumptuous!" Well, no, it's not. Because That Table is inaccurate, at least when it comes to adapting Japanese titles for SCA use. I have no idea on those from other cultures, however, given the fact that the Japanese ones are based on 19th century usages, the others may require further scrutiny.
This article is a lot more accurate. It was written by the man ALL of us Known World Nihonjin call "Sensei." The one with the Ph.D. in this stuff. My Sensei says: "The Laurel Sovereign of Arms has recommended “sensei” (= master/teacher) be used to address peers, but this is too restrictive a usage. In Japanese practice, anyone teaching you anything (stained glass technique, how to make armour, shield work, even how to boil rice) can and should be called sensei." If I wanted to be nitpicky and correct, I could address him as Meijin, but Sensei has stuck.
This article is why so many SCA Nihonjin always address each other by surname+honorific. If someone remembers to use my Western title, it's "Lady Jehanne," never "Lady Wodeford." As a Japanese, though, it's always "Saionji-hime" or the gender neutral "Saionji-dono." To be overly familiar or to omit the honorific is to slight someone. There is a select handful who could address me as "Hanae-hime" - and do not.
THIS is why I hold still for being called "sensei" and why I have no problem calling certain SCA Japanese who do not hold peerages the same thing. It means - to those of us unwilling to settle for the 19th century title collection on the SCA heraldry website - "You share what you know with me."
We're all students. We're all teachers.
