The Etymology of Yeshua-Do
YESU – (Chinese/Japanese)
YESHUA - YEHOSHUAH, JOSHUA, IESOUS or JESUS (Hebrew/Greek/English)
– means “The Lord is Salvation” or “Yahweh Saves” (Matt.1.21).
Signifies then, “Salvation”, “Victory”, “Healing” or “Deliverance” from distress, oppression, sin, curse, disease, guilt, shame, poverty, condemnation and punishment.
The Holy Name also means – “Peace” given to true followers of Yeshua, Who is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9.6; John 14.27). YEDU / KI-RI-SU-TO - (Chinese/Japanese)
MASSIAH – CHRISTOS / CHRIST (Hebrew/Greek/English) – means The One who has completely cut off all the binding ties to: carnality, sinfulness, rebellion, and all evil (Ephesians 2.1-10; Titus.2.11-13).
The Anointed One of God, Who brought eternal salvation to the whole of mankind and God’s creation (Isaiah 11; 35; 65). DO / TAO - (Japanese/Chinese)
(Way/Path) – means the Way of the Warrior, his/her devotion to disciplined life or martial training, which is expressed by abundance of life’s energy, courage, compassion, love, harmony, and peace. It is also the Path of the Universe, not just a set of ethics for the artist or spiritual person to live by. Therefore, this Path points not only to some martial strategy, philosophy or religious doctrines, but directly to divine footprints of God, Jesus Christ, Who is The Way (John 14.6), the only Divine Master and example to follow (John 8.12; 12.26; 1 Pet.2.21). The “Way” is also synonymous with the “Logos” (Eternal Word/Wisdom) and means to be one with God and embody His character and glory, thus perfection (1 Pet.5.10; 2 Pet.1.3). The expression - TAO/LOGOS, which is found in the Christian Martial Art, means also – The Eternal Christ, the One who existed in eternity before everything was created (John 1.1-3, 14), and the One who created all things (Col.1.15-17; Hbr.1.2-3).
In short then, “YESHUA-DO” can be translated as:
“Jesus’ Way”
then
“The Art of Peace”
or
“The Sacred Path of the Christian Warrior”
Yeshua-Do – Christian Martial Art Association, uses also the Seal created in the Da Zhuan style of 1766-221 B.C. This seal represents prefigurations of the Triadic mystery of God as found in the archaic Chinese pictographs.
Here, the three ancient Chinese names for the Divine Being;
SHANG TI – “Supreme Ruler” (corresponds to the Father/Mind – the Originating Principle of the Godhead),
TAO (DO) – “The Way” (corresponds to the Son/Word/Logos – the Operating Cause of the creation),
SHEN – “Spirit” (corresponds to the Holy Spirit/Breath – Perfecting Cause).
Today in China, followers of Jesus Christ commonly refer to God as Shang Ti, and to the Holy Spirit as Sheng Ling. And also, as we know, they refer to the Word of God as Tao. In this way they remain tied to most primeval and pristine roots of Christianity by embracing the revelation of the incarnated Tao/Logos.
*(The Holy Trinity Seal was officially adopted by Yeshua-Do from a Christian community in Shanghai (1830), in June 2003, Fairfield, Iowa).
The Great Seal
Jesus Christ in the Four Gospels
Jesus Christ in the Four Gospels as:
• Matthew - ( Lion ) The KING
• Mark - ( Ox ) The SERVANT
• Luke - ( Man ) The SON of MAN
Vitold and Fr.James Henderson (Cistercian Monk) during spiritual conversation, New Melleray Abbey (Monastery), September 2002'
Frs.James and Thomas MacMaster sharing interest in Yeshua-Do training with the samurai sword, New Melleray Abbey, April 2003'
