Kanshin Ryu Iai-jutsu and Ken-jutsu |
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Kanshin Ryu Martial Art springs from legendary Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159 - 1189). Yoshitsune is known to be a general of Minamoto clan during early Kamakura period. He was born just a year before the rebellion, during which his father Minamoto no Yoshitomo and both elder brothers were killed, and Taira clan gained a victory over its main rival - Minamoto clan - consequently capturing the rule in Japan. Elder brother, Minamoto no Yoritomo, had survived and was isolated, while little Yoshitsune had spent 7 years in Kurama-dera Buddhist monastery, knowing nothing about his origin. He took monkhood in that monastery. Taira clan considered their rivals to be neutralized, but Yoshitsune had found out who he was and, desiring to revenge, secretly started to train Martial Arts. The legend says that he was trained under mystical mountain spirits - Tengu. It is considered that Sojobo, the leader of Tengu inhabiting Kurama mountain, became his mentor and teacher. In 1147 Yoshitsune secretly left the temple and went to the north of Honsyu, under defence of Minamoto clan supporter - Mr. Fujiwara Hidehira. The legend narrates that on his way he defeated a number of robbers and had studied an ancient Chinese treatise on Martial Art “Lyutao”. The story regarding Yoshitsune’s getting that treatise is rather interesting. This legend is presented in “Gikeiki”. The copy of “Lyutao” was considered to be kept in the house of Kiichi Hogen, a famous strategist and divination master. Kiichi was an adherent of Taira clan and would never give the treatise to the offspring of Minamoto clan. Yoshitsune was eager to read it. At that time there were such words describing the treatise: “Neither in China, nor in our land those, in whose hands fell this book, did not know any failure. In China elder Wan, who had read it, got the ability to reach 8 syaku height wall and fly to the sky. Jan Lyan, having read it, became able to move in kidany country at 3 syaku bamboo stick. After acquaintance with this book Fan Kuay, vested in armour, holding in his hands bow and arrow, stared at his enemy ranks and his hair stood on end piercing through his helmet and moustaches - plastron”. Yoshitsune had been thinking a lot how to get that book and gradually worked out the plan of penetration into its holder’s house. Having found out that the master had a young daughter, Yoshitsune was playing the flute under her window, until got the acquaintaince and soon an invitation. Having slipped into the house in the guise of being in love, Yoshitsune persuaded his “beloved” to bring him that dear book. He’d been memorizing the treatise page after page for 60 days. When the book was over, a young samurai declared the girl that military affairs waiting for him and left her. Yoshitsune joined his brother Yoritomo during the rebellion against Taira and, having become the general of rebel army, won several important battles of 1184 - 1185. The general is considered to be an outstanding strategist, who used to win superior numbers of enemy troops. On April 25th 1185 he had won the naval battle in Shimanoseki region, what meant the final defeat of Taira. Unfortunately, soon Minamoto Yoritomo, who had grounded the first shogunat of Japan, began to suffer from persecution mania and decided to liquidate all his potential rivals. He decided to kill his brother, who was loved and respected by the troops. Yoshitsune escaped and was hiding for several years. But in 1189 he was surrounded in his house together with his family. Yoshitsune’s warriors were killed, defending their master. Yoshitsune commited a suicide. Together with him his wife took her own life and Kanefusa servant, weeping bitter tears, killed Yoshitsune’s children - tendays girl and fiveyears old boy. Yoshitsune’s life story inspired a lot of artists. Taira and Minamoto war history was depicted in such literary works as “Heike Monogatari” and “Gempai Seisuiki”, Yoshitsune history was presented in war chronicle, No-theatre, dance performances and short stories.
Kanshin ryu - Yoshitsune ryu - Kurama Kiohachi ryu Before Tokugawa captured the rule in the 17th century with subsequent displacement of the government residence to Edo (today Tokyo), Kyoto had been a capital of Japan and the largest art, culture, religion and political forces centre for 800 years. That power and political influence accumulation attracted lots of artists, including martial. One of the famous Sword Art centre was Kurama-dera Buddhist temple complex, located not far from Kyoto. Kiichi Hogen is considered to be a famous strategist and sword master of that time, working for Taira clan. There are not much reliable facts regarding him. The legend says that he had passed his sword art knowledge to eight temple monks, and afterwards they grounded eight Martial art schools. Some sources point that Hogen ryu, Kiichi ryu, Kurama ryu, Yoshioka ryu, Suwa ryu, Kyo ryu and Yoshitsune ryu are interconnected. According to “Bugei Ryuha Daijiten” lots of further schools have their roots there. Today Kurama ryu and Kanshin ryu are alive schools, positioning themselves as Yoshitsune ryu descendants and lead their genealogy directly from Minamoto no Yoshitsune. Yoshioka ryu ended its existence but became famous because of a striking vendetta against Miyamoto Musashi, the founder of Niten Ichi ryu. Kanshin ryu documental authorities state that Minamoto no Yoshitsune had mastered the Martial Art under all eight Kurama-dera monks and directly Kiichi Hogen. According to the School’s tradition Yoshitsune passed his Martial Art to Yuri family during his stay in Oshu. The 3rd Soke Yuri Gyobu Masatoshi moved to another region of the country (today part of Hiroshima prefecture) and during Genki (1570 - 1572) he passed the style to Shishido Shisen Ietoshi. Shishido Ietoshi was the 3rd son of Shishido Takaie and his wife, the daughter of a famous Mori Motanori. Having become 4th Soke, he was the first who called the style Kanshin ryu. Today is unknown if Kanshin ryu is a direct descendant of Yoshitsune ryu or one of derived style from Kyohachi ryu, grounded approximately in 1570 by Shishido Shisen Ietoshi. Anyway, there is a following succession line in Nihon Kobudo Kyokai:
Kanshin ryu succession line: 1. Minamoto no Yoshitsune 2. Yuri Chuta Masayuki 3. Yuri Gyobu Masatoshi 4. Shishido Shisen Ietoshi 5. Kono Ouchi Kuraaki 6. Chikuzan Saii 7. Hoso Rokuro Yoshitomo Sokan 8. Hoso Rokuro Yoshitame Donku 9. Hoso Genkuro Techosai Masayoshi 10. Mizoguchi Jingoemon Techu Mutan 11. Yamane Daizo Masakiyo 12. Yamane Masao 13. Omi Sakuro Terukatsu 14. Nagano Mitsutaka 15. Miura Keiichi 16. Kamitake Seiichi Reishi 17. Fukuhara Yoshitaka
Mitsoguchi Ingemon brought the style to Awa (today Tokishima prefecture). Now the school is presented in Matsue city by 17th Soke Yoshitaka Fukuhara. His student Kato Sensei, the leading School master, teaches Japanese students of the School and since 1999 he’s also trained foreigners. Today Kanshin ryu dojos operate in Matsue (Koshibara dojo), Kashima (Kashima Budokan), Shishido (Shishido Budokan).
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