Jirinden (23) To keep the sword sheathed and undrawn. This is called Garyū.
To be kept at ready but in the end unused, this is what is called Garyū」（Heishū Jirinden, Vol. II, Ōhen Hakkyoku）
・To keep the sword sheathed in the scabbard, undrawn in the end. This is called Garyū.
What is called carrying a sword is to keep the blade well-honed and stored firmly in its scabbard, unused to the end.
That is to say one does not carry the sword to be drawn lightly. The sword is a tool to chastise injustice and should not be used for any other purpose.
To keep the sword sheathed and undrawn, this is called Garyū. Keeping the sword in its scabbard and not drawing it to the end means that while the blade is at rest, the mind is not negligent. Garyū is a dragon lying quietly. For example, even if there is an enemy, if he is not actually attacking, there is no need to engage him.
The posture of Garyū is a posture of having the edge of the blade is lain downward (the edge facing downward in a manner unthreatening to the enemy) with the pommel climbing up to the left side of the chest, touching near the breast. As the enemy approaches, it is likened to a dragon with no in attentiveness from head to tail and its true form remaining hidden. ( Katayama-ryu Gli insegnamenti / Ōhen hakkyoku )
(Presented by Yuji Wada, Costantino Brandozzi, Rennis Buchner)
