Heian Shodan and the Channan kata
Typically the Pinan / Heian kata are believed to have had their core techniques drawn from the more advanced (and more challenging) Kusanku / Kanku Dai and Gojushiho kata (Dai and Sho). In recent years this has been challenged by some authors who argue that the origins of the Pinan / Heian kata can be traced back to two Chinese forms known in Okinawa as Channan Dai and Channan Sho.
After Funakoshi sensei brought karate to mainland Japan he made numerous changes, one of which was the reordering of the first two Pinan / Heian kata, as well as renaming the set of five forms. Heian is said to mean 'peace', thereby signifying that through the study of the kata and the subsequent improvement in one's fighting ability, the practitioner can live a peaceful life free from the fear of physical attack. I would also point out however that the Heian period in Japan (794 - 1185 CE) was famous for the practice of modifying and naturalizing Chinese cultural forms that had earlier arrived in Japan. For example, the hiragana writing system which simplifies Chinese characters finally came into existence early in the Heian period. When Funakoshi changed the name of the set of kata from Pinan to Heian karate itself was also undergoing major changes as it was modified from being a Chinese martial art to be more comparable to Japanese martial arts and therefore more acceptable to the Japanese people.
