| Nationality: | Traditional Japanese martial art |
| School: | Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū (無双直伝英信流) |
| Founder: | Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu (林崎甚助源の重信) (1542-1621) |
| Period Founded: | Azuchi-Momoyama period |
| Date Founded: | Early 1600[1] |
| Headmaster: | Several individuals claim leadership (see below) |
| Art1: | Iaidō / Iaijutsu |
| Description1: | Sword-drawing art |
| Art2: | Kenjutsu |
| Description2: | Sword art |
| Ancestors: | None |
| Descendants: | Hasegawa Eishin-ryū (長谷川英信流) |
is a Japanese sword art school and one of the most widely practiced schools of iai in the world. Often referred to simply as "Eishin-ryū," it claims an unbroken lineage dating back from the sixteenth century to the early 20th century. 17th undisputed headmaster, Oe Masaji, awarded at least 16 licenses of full transmission,[2] resulting in the school fracturing into multiple legitimate branches.
The school takes its name from its seventh headmaster, Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Hidenobu (長谷川主税助英信), who had founded Hasegawa Eishin-ryū.[3] ‘Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū’ means ‘peerless, directly transmitted school of Eishin.’ ‘Eishin’ is an alternative pronunciation of ‘Hidenobu.’
The founder of the earlier school Eishin-ryū was Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu (林崎甚助源の重信). Hayashizaki was born in Dewa Province, Ōshū (present-day Yamagata Prefecture).[4] He lived c. 1546–1621[5] in what is present-day Kanagawa Prefecture. Many of the historical details of Hayashizaki's life are suspect, since, like most famous martial artists in Japan, his story has been widely fictionalized. It seems that he grew up during a time of constant warfare in Japan and was exposed to sword-fighting methods from an early age. According to legend, Hayashizaki's father was killed and to take revenge he began training in earnest.[4] He went to the Hayashizaki Meijin shrine to pray for guidance and received divine inspiration for a new technique of drawing the sword and attacking in one movement. Legend says that he eventually defeated his father's killer.
Following this, Hayashizaki continued on his martial arts pilgrimage, training with renowned swordsmen and attracting students of his own (such as Tamiya Heibei, founder of Tamiya-ryū (Tsumaki)).[4] Hayashizaki established his own style of swordsmanship, calling it Shinmei Musō-ryū (神明無双流).
Hayashizaki's art has had many names since it was established, such as Hayashizaki-ryū (林崎流) or Jūshin ryu (重信流).[4] It is considered the foundation for many of the major styles of iai practised today, in particular Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū and Musō Shinden-ryū.
The seventh generation sōke of Hayashizaki's school, Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Hidenobu (Eishin), was one of its most important headmasters. He had a major influence on the school. In particular, he adapted techniques originally developed for the tachi to use the contemporary katana.[4] He devised many new techniques,[3] some of which now form the Tatehiza no Bu (Chūden) set. Hasegawa's influence and adaptation led to the style being named Hasegawa Eishin-ryū.[3] It was also referred to as Hasegawa-ryū or simply Eishin-ryū.
Some regard Hasegawa as the primary founder of Eishin-ryū, which would make him the first generation sōke rather than the seventh,[6] and make Shinmei Musō-ryū a parent school of Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū.
The ninth generation sōke was Hayashi Rokudayū Morimasa. Hayashi introduced a set of techniques executed from the formal seated position seiza. These techniques are thought to have been developed by Hayashi's kenjutsu teacher, the Shinkage-ryū swordsman Ōmori Rokurōzaemon,[3] and are said to be influenced by Ogasawara-ryū etiquette,[4] hence starting from seiza. They were taught alongside Eishin-ryū as Ōmori-ryū. Hayashi was responsible for introducing the school to the Tosa Domain at the behest of the ruling Yamauchi family.[3]
As the school took root in Tosa, it came to be referred to as Tosa Eishin-ryū.[3] Eishin-ryū and Ōmori-ryū were taught to the Yamauchi family, with a few peculiarities (such as exaggerated leg movement to account for long hakama).[7]
After the death of the 11th headmaster, Ōguro Motozaemon, the school split into two branches. They later became known as the Tanimura-ha and Shimomura-ha (after their respective 15th and 14th headmasters, Tanimura Kamenojō Takakatsu and Shimomura Shigeichi).[4]
One of the most important sōke was the seventeenth, Ōe Masaji. Born in Asahi (nakasuka) Tosa in 1852, in his youth Ōe studied Kokuri-ryū and Oishi Shinkage-ryū (大石神影流)kenjutsu, along with Shimomura-ha Eishin-ryū (Musō Shinden Eishin-ryū:無雙神傳英信流).[8] At the age of 15 he took part in the Battle of Toba–Fushimi, following which he studied Tanimura-ha Eishin-ryū under Gotō Magobei.[8] He also studied Eishin-ryū bōjutsu under Itagaki Taisuke.[8] Ōe inherited leadership of the Tanimura-ha, becoming its 17th headmaster.[3] [4] He combined the school's teachings with those of the Shimomura-ha[3] and restructured its curriculum. Ōe reduced the number of waza from around 160,[9] and reorganized them into the Seiza (Shoden), Tachihiza (Chūden), Okuiai (Okuden) and kumitachi waza sets practised today.[10] Although he retained the original techniques, he changed the names of some waza to aid understanding.[11] Ōe named the reorganised school Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū,[11] during the Taishō era (1912-1926).[12] In 1900 he began teaching kendo and Eishin-ryū at the Kōchi branch of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai and at local schools.[8] In 1924 he became the second person (after Nakayama Hakudō) to be awarded hanshi in iaidō by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai.[8] Ōe died at Enokuchi on April 18, 1926. His many students went on to spread Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū iai beyond Tosa and throughout Japan. 60 years after his death a memorial stone was raised to honour him on Mt Godaisan.
Eishin-ryū uses a system of indiscriminate transmission (完全相傳), allowing anyone in possession of full-transmission to award licenses to any number of his students.[13] Therefore, it is possible that there were multiple, unlisted holders of menkyo kaiden, known in Eishin-ryū as Kongen no Maki (根元之巻), in any generation.[13] Due in part to Ōe Masaji's more open and inclusive approach to teaching Eishin-ryū, the lineages of groups practicing the art are fairly diverse and complex.
Following Kōno Hyakuren's death, the lineage of Eishin-ryu became contested again, with several individuals claiming to be the most senior representative. Who people consider sōke generally depends on the organization to which they belong. Some consider Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū to no longer have a sōke.
In addition to groups claiming to continue the above lineage, there are some branches of Eishin-ryū that trace their lineage back to students of Ōe Masaji other than Hokiyama Namio, and which regard their leaders as the most senior member of the school.
There are a number of lines of transmission with direct links to Ōe Masaji but which do not make claims to hold leadership of Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū.
Ōe Masaji had many students who went on to spread Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū throughout Japan. Some established their own branches (派, ha). Seventeen of Ōe's most influential students, some with the branches they established, are listed below.[14] [16] This list is not inclusive. Some of these students were presented with menkyo kaiden although the exact number Ōe awarded is unknown. Most Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū taught today traces its lineage back to one or more of these men.
The techniques of Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū are broken up into sets based on the principal starting position of the waza and by skill level. The majority of the study is focused on these solo waza.
Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū has 45 solo waza and 45 paired waza; some of these paired waza are rarely taught. Certain lines contain additional waza, grouped under Bangai no Bu.
Solo waza use a single long sword (katana).
The word shoden (初伝) can be translated as ‘entry-transmission.’ This set of techniques was derived from Ōmori-ryū, and is still often referred to as “Ōmori-ryū.” It is the first set of techniques taught. Seiza no Bu waza are performed from seiza, a formal kneeling position, with the general exception of Oikaze, which often begins standing.
Seiza no bu (正座之部) contains the following techniques:[21]
The word chūden (中伝) can be translated as ‘middle-transmission.’ This set was derived from techniques created by Hasegawa Eishin and is still commonly referred to as "Eishin-ryū." It is the second set of techniques taught. Tatehiza no bu waza are performed from tatehiza, a half-seated position, with the exception of Makkō.
Tatehiza no bu (立膝之部) contains the following techniques:[22]
The word Okuden (奥伝) can be translated as ‘inner transmission,’ or ‘secret transmission.’ The Okuden sets contain advanced-level techniques. Okuiai Iwaza are performed from tatehiza. Okuiai Iwaza no Bu (奥居合居業之部) contains the following techniques:[23]
Okuiai Tachiwaza are performed from a standing position, with the exception of the three Itamagoi waza, which start from seiza.Okuiai Tachiwaza no Bu (奥居合立業之部) contains the following techniques:[24]
Bangai (番外, lit. ‘extra’) are extended tachiwaza. These waza are not koryū,[25] but were created by Ōe Masamichi,[26] along with the Katate Hayanuki exercise.[25]
Bangai no bu (番外之部) contains the following waza,[27] performed from a standing position.
In addition to variations of Hayanami and Raiden,[28] some lines contain additional Bangai waza.3
Komei-Juku (Yamauchi-ha) practices the following set of five bangai kata in addition to theaforementioned three:
Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai formerly JKI (Masoka-Den) practices one additional bangai kata in addition to the aforementioned mentioned three:4.鬼 Akuma Barai (shihogiri)
Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū's paired waza (kumitachi, 組太刀, Kenjutsu) are often taught only to advanced students after years of study. Some of these sets are rarely seen outside of Japan. Some ryuha have the first set (tachi uchi no kurai) as part of their yudansha curriculum. There is a high incidence of grappling, striking, and disarms in these paired sets. Some waza use both long (ōdachi) and short (kodachi) swords.
Some waza begin with swords drawn; others begin with swords sheathed and employ nukitsuke (drawing) techniques. Typically these forms are practiced using bokutō; however, it is also practiced at high levels with shinken.Each of these katachi (essence of kata) was created to promote practice of a key principle of Eishin Ryu under controlled yet reasonably realistic conditions.[29]
Tachi Uchi no Kurai (太刀打之位) is first kumitachi waza set in Eishin-ryū. Both practitioners use a single long sword. The techniques are performed from a standing position.
There are two versions of this set: the original set of 10 waza (Tachi Uchi no Kurai) and the revised set of 7 waza formulated by Ōe Masamichi (also known as Tachi Uchi no Kata). These two sets contain similar techniques.
This version of the set contains the following 10 techniques:[30]
This version of the set contains the following 7 techniques:[31]
Tsume Ai no Kurai (詰合之位) is the second kumitachi waza set in Eishin-ryū. Both practitioners use a single long sword. The set includes the following techniques,[32] performed from tatehiza and standing positions:
The following kumitachi sets (Daishō Zume, Daishō Tachi Zume and Daikendori) are rare but are still taught in some dojo.
Daishō Zume (大小詰) is the third of the kumitachi sets. Shidachi wears an ōdachi and uchidachi wears a kodachi. The set contains the following techniques,[31] which start from tatehiza and seiza.
Daishō Tachi Zume (大小立詰) is the fourth of the kumitachi sets. Shidachi wears an ōdachi and uchidachi wears a kodachi. The set contains the following techniques,[31] which start from a standing position.
Daikentori (大剣取) is the fifth kumitachi set and contains ten waza. The first four waza are kodachi (shidachi) vs. ōdachi (uchidachi), while the next six are ōdachi vs. ōdachi.
Kōno Hyakuren, the 20th sōke of Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū, added two sets of additional waza, called Dai Nippon Battō Hō (大日本抜刀法).[33] The Battō Hō are based on techniques from throughout the system, but are performed starting in a standing position. As these waza were added in the 20th century, they are not considered to be koryū.
Eishin-ryū lineages without a connection to Kōno Hyakuren do not generally practise these techniques. Therefore, these waza are only included in some lines of transmission.
These waza begin using the Okuiai walking pattern.
In his book Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū Iai Heihō Chi no Maki, Masaoka Katsutane states that there were once two auxiliary arts practised alongside Tosa Eishin-ryū.
This subsumed art focused on the bō, or long staff. It featured 5 kata of bō vs. bō and 8 kata of bō vs. sword.
This subsumed art focused on grappling techniques in a variety of circumstances: standing, kneeling, from behind, etc. The school was divided into 6 sets with 63 kata. Natsubara-ryū seems to be no longer extant.
In addition to the bojutsu and yawara, Masaoka's book also makes mention of other techniques, such as torinawa (rope tying) and jōjutsu (short staff).