Barn Swallows

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Bing® had a photo of Barn Swallows as background on Sunday 11/4.

Here’s the photo:

Well barn swallows struck my eye for two reasons.  One is that the photo is reminiscent of a staff of music.  Would any of you musicians out there try to play this please and report on how it sounds?  It seems like it would have to be an instrument that can play chords or at least two tones simultaneously.

Barn swallows grabbed me for another reason.

In the martial art style that I am studying (Sokken Go Kai Do Ryu) we have a kata called Wansu.  The translation that we are given for it is Barn Swallow.  Now I’m sure that it is not named for barn swallows who are static perching on a wire.  However, it seems to me as though people long ago had a more lyrical and evocative way of looking at the world.  Maybe just in the naming of things.  I can’t say that watching people perform this kata  I am minded of barn swallows, either static or active.  Maybe I’m too literal.  I would not have thought of myself that way and can even give examples.  That there are some movements in the kata that might be interpreted as evoking a bird is undeniable.  Sufficient to identify the entire kata by that name, I’m less sure.

Am I not tuned in enough to barn swallows?

Am I missing some aspect of this bird that informs the movements contained in the kata?

It is very likely that I and, dare I say, others may be missing something.  Having opened this can of worms, the question is begged:  What other kata named for specific things might have deeper significance?

I may not be the best person to puzzle this out.  The absence or presence of my too literal mind notwithstanding, my kata tradition is entirely in a different direction.  But perhaps that is a discussion for another time.

What is your take on the barn swallows conundrum?  Are you a martial artist?  From what system?  What is your take on kata (or forms)?

What did you musicians find out?

As always, please Like, Share, Comment, Re-Post!

Still awaiting suggestions for threads from you my gentle readers.

What do barn swallows mean to you?