Before you approach Menkyo or Menkyo Kaiden, there is a foundational stage in the traditional licensing system: the Mokuroku (目録).
Often misunderstood as “a rank,” Mokuroku is actually a record — a carefully curated list that outlines your journey into the deeper curriculum of a koryū school.
Understanding Mokuroku helps you see how historical transmission was organised and why classical arts place such emphasis on order, lineage, and clarity.
What Does Mokuroku Mean?
The term 目録 (mokuroku) is composed of:
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目 (moku) — item; entry; list; eye
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録 (roku) — record; register; documentation
Together, they literally mean:
“A catalogue or recorded list.”
In a martial arts context, it refers to a written list of techniques or teachings the student has been entrusted with.
What Was the Purpose of a Mokuroku?
1. A Record of Transmission
Mokuroku documented which techniques the student had received.
This wasn’t about grading — it was administrative and historical.
2. A Milestone of Trust
Being given a Mokuroku meant:
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The teacher believed in your character
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You were permitted to learn material beyond the public curriculum
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You were now an inner student (uchi-deshi or close disciple)
3. A Preservation Tool
Koryū schools carefully guarded their teachings.
A Mokuroku helped maintain:
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Accuracy of the curriculum
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Order of instruction
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Record of lineage
This is why many old Mokuroku scrolls survive today in museums and family archives — they were precious.
What Does a Mokuroku Usually Contain?
Content varies by school, but typically includes:
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Lists of kata and waza
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Sections of the curriculum (omote, ura, okuden, etc.)
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Terms, principles, or secret teachings (gokui)
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Sometimes illustrations or diagrams
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The name of the recipient
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The signature or seal of the headmaster
Some schools had multiple Mokuroku levels — for example:
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Shoden Mokuroku (初伝目録) — initial transmission
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Chūden Mokuroku (中伝目録) — middle transmission
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Okuden Mokuroku (奥伝目録) — inner transmission
Each stage opened the gate to deeper teachings.
How Mokuroku Differs From Modern Rank
| Mokuroku | Dan Grades |
|---|---|
| A written record of what has been taught | A numerical score of ability |
| Based on personal trust and character | Based on standardised exams |
| Historically rare | Extremely common |
| Part of lineage preservation | Part of organisational structure |
| Focus on transmission | Focus on recognition |
Understanding this difference helps us appreciate the seriousness behind traditional transmission.
Why Mokuroku Still Matters Today
Even in schools that use Dan grades, the spirit of Mokuroku remains:
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Techniques must be preserved accurately
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Students should know why each waza exists
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Lineage is not just a list of names, but a chain of knowledge
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Deeper teachings open only when the student is ready, not when they “pass an exam”
As koryū practitioners, Mokuroku is a reminder to us that Iaijutsu is not merely physical — it is historical, cultural, and personal.
Final Thoughts
Mokuroku (目録) may appear simple on the surface — a list, a document, a scroll — but its meaning runs deep.
It marks the beginning of the inner journey into a martial tradition, built on trust and guided transmission.
For us as Iaijutsu students, recognising the value of Mokuroku encourages a training mindset rooted in:
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respect for lineage
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attention to detail
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sincerity
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and the desire to understand the art beyond technique
One Response
Thank you for your piece on the Mokuroku. Many people do not understand this at all and think only Dan grades are the way forward. Sadly this is very often a path that ends up warped where standards drop and values and facts are lost.
Combination of old and new with correct heart is probably our only chance to keep this all going in the right direction.
Regards
Richard 🙏