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Niten Ichi-ryū
Hyohō Niten Ichi-ryū (兵法 二天 一流), which can be loosely translated as "the school of the strategy of two heavens as one", is a koryū (ancient school), transmitting a style of classical Japanese swordsmanship conceived by Miyamoto Musashi. Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū is mainly known for the two-sword—katana and wakizashi—kenjutsu techniques Musashi called Niten Ichi (二天一, "two heavens as one") or Nitō Ichi (二刀一, "two swords as one"). OriginMusashi originally studied Enmei Ryū and Tōri Ryū, which were ryūha founded by his grandfather Miyamoto Musashi no Kami Yoshimoto and his father Miyamoto Muninosuke respectively. Musashi eventually focused in the kenjutsu and nitōken and developed his own style.[4] Around 1640, Musashi intended to pass on his art to three successors from among his thousand students; specifically, to Terao Magonojo, his younger brother Kyumanosuke and to Furuhashi Sozaemon. He considered Magonojo to excel in technique but to lack in reflection, while Furuhashi excelled at reflection but lacked technique. Magonojo received the treatise, the Go Rin no Sho. Hosokawa Mitsuhisa made two copies—one for Furuhashi and one for himself, which he transmitted under the name of Ihon go rin no sho. The best known edition today is this Hosokawa copy. Kyumanosuke was a well known warrior and student of Musashi's at the time. Before becoming leader of the school, he fought in the Shimabara Rebellion in 1638. His service there earned him gold and a robe from the Tokugawa shogunate.[5] Magonojo died in 1645 and yielded the role of successor to his younger brother Kyumanosuke[5] who had received the Hyoho San-jugo from Musashi. It was Kyumanosuke who transmitted this document to his students with seven added instructions called the Hyoho shiji ni kajo. Shortly before his death, Musashi also wrote the Dokkodo ("Going My Way"). It seems to be a list of rules that one should try to follow in life steeped in Buddhist precepts. SuccessionSuccession in the Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryū (the name given by Musashi towards the end of his life) does not follow a hereditary pattern. It is attested to by the bestowing of two artifacts: a scroll on which is written the name of the techniques and the approach to them that must be transmitted if the school is to be perpetuated truly,[3] and a wooden sword that Musashi made himself, with which he trained and used as a walking stick during the last years of his life,[3] today in possession of the city of Usa's Shinto Shrine. The original title for leaders of Musashi's school were called "Sōke," which translates to leader of the family. The Sōke title was done away with by Imai Masayuki in 2003.[5] Terao Kyumanosuke (Motomenosuke) had received the complete transmission of the School of Musashi, with certification and Musashi's two swords. He at first refused to teach and sent what he had received to Musashi's adopted son, Iori. Iori refused the succession, since the honor had not been bestowed upon him. With this, Kyumanosuke then agreed to take over as head—both his and Iori's actions were manifestations of their respect for Musashi. Kyumanosuke would go on to have six sons with five practicing Niten Ichi-ryū. Those sons were Fuji-tsugentaka, Bensuke Nobumori, Goemon Katsuyuki, and Terao Nobumori. It was Nobumori that was the most adept at the art and was handed down possession of the school before Kyumanosuke died in 1688.[5] Modern LineageIn 1908, Aoki Hisakatsu was given the soke title from Santo Kiyotake. He studied under Kiyotake for 21 years. Aoki took training so serious that he would swim in full armor.[5] In 1920, Aoki moved to Taiwan and began teaching in private schools. He lived and taught there until the end of World War II. He moved back to Japan but left Musashi's scroll and wooden sword handed down for safe keeping due to Japan's ban on combat sports that facilitated “the removal and exclusion from public life of militaristic and ultra nationalistic persons.” Aoki's student returned the relic in 1958.[5] In 1968, Aoki named Kiyonaga Tadanao and Gosho Motoharu dual soke of the school.[5] DisputeThe Gosho-ha Niten Ichi-ryū disputed the lineage claiming that Iwami Toshio Gensho is the sole legal representative of Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū until 2007. Miyagawa Yasutaka established a line of Niten Ichi-ryū that continues to practice and thrive in the Kansai region of Japan. Miyagawa Yasutaka and Kiyonaga Tadanao were both students of Aoki Kikuo during the same period. This "Kansai" line, currently under 10th Headmaster Miyagawa Morito, is an alternate but equal lineage to the main line. LineageThe lineage to date is as follows:
TechniquesToday the following sets of techniques and forms are transmitted: 1) Tachi Seiho (太刀勢法) Twelve techniques with long sword:
2) Kodachi Seiho (小太刀勢法) Seven techniques with a short sword:
3) Nito Seiho (二刀勢法) Five techniques with two swords corresponding to the five forms in the Water Scroll:
4) Bōjutsu—Twenty techniques with a long staff bō(including techniques Bō Vs Bō and Bō Vs sword). 6) Jitte to jutsu—Five techniques against a sword.[2][3] References
Further readingIwami Toshio Harukatsu soke, 11th successor in Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu:
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Niten ichi ryu. |
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