大石神影流剣術の三段の論文です。米国在住の英語を母語とする方が大石神影流に関する情報を得るにはこの道標を参考にして日本語を英約して読むしかないのですが、英訳ソフトを用いても歴史的用語はなかなか英訳しにくく論文を書くのは難しかったと思います。早く大石神影流に関する論文を集大成し、それを英訳しなければなりません。
Describe the unique features or characteristics of Oishi Shinkage Ryu Kenjutsu compared to other schools.
The origins of the Oishi Shinkage Ryu trace back to the Aizu Kage Ryu, founded around 1490 by Aizu Ikosai.
As with many of the earliest schools very little was recorded of the techniques or methodology of the school and very little remains in the way of historical records.
Aizu Ikosai is also a bit of a mysterious figure as well, with some of the legends making him a Wako pirate and founding the Kage Ryu using a longer sword after watching a monkey use a stick to remove fruit from a tree.
What is known of the Aizu Kage Ryu is preserved in the Shinkage schools that it influenced.
This would include both the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu of the early Edo period and the Oishi Shinkage Ryu of the late Edo period.
Martials arts and the culture surrounding them changed considerably from the Muromachi period to the early Edo, and then again from the early Edo to the late Edo periods.
With the exception of local insurrections and skirmishes, samurai had very little opportunity to experience combat during most of the Edo period.
Most of a young samurai’s martial education would take place in private dojos during the early to mid Edo period, or in the later Edo period in domain schools which would teach a variety of subjects including kenjutsu, jujitsu, archery, horsemanship and strategy along with scholarly subjects.
With dueling being outlawed by the Tokugawa Shogunate by the mid-17th. century, the only method of testing one’s skills was in matches.
It is this culture that led to the development of sparring equipment as well as new, innovative techniques.
The earliest non-lethal duels were fought with lengths of bamboo. Even though this was safer than using wooden swords the risk for injury was still great.
Kamiizumi Hidetsuna who is the founder of the Shinkage Ryu is generally credited with the invention of what is known as the fukuro shinai. This is a piece of bamboo split twice creating four flexible sections with a leather sheath covering the split ends. This allowed for contact while lessening the risk of injury.
It should be noted that the credit given to Kamiizumi is based entirely on anecdotal evidence with no written record.
Handguards were later developed which would eventually evolve into the kote of modern Kendo.
Face guards and chest protector made of bamboo would also be developed. These would eventually evolve into the Men and Do protectors of modern Kendo.
By the time we reach the late Edo period the inter-school dueling known as taryu-jiai was common practice.
It is in this time that Oishi Susumu Tanesugu, founder of the Oishi Shinkage Ryu would become a well-known swordsman and innovator of both technique & sparring gear.
It is possible that due to the techniques Oishi Susumu developed he created both the four section shinai that closely resembles the modern kendo shinai as well as a prototype chest protector that closely resembles the modern Do protector.
However, more research is needed to prove this.
Murakami Itto , a ronin from Oka domain brought Aizu Kage Ryu to Yanagawa domain in Kyushu. He was also a master of Oshima Ryu sojutsu which until the modern era was a part of the Oishi family kobudo curriculum as well.
The first member of the Oishi family to learn Shinkage Ryu from Murakami Itto was Oishi Susumu’s grandfather. After being adopted into the Oishi family he took the name Oishi Tarobei Taneyoshi. He received Menkyo Kaiden from Murakami in 1765 at the age of 23. After his retirement as Shihan of Yanagawa domain he adopted the name “Yuken” or “One Who Prays With His Sword”. He passed away in 1822 at the age of 80.
His son, who would take the name Oishi Tarobei Hachizaemon Taneyuki after being adopted into the Oishi family, received Menkyo Kaiden from Murakami Itto as well. He held the position of Odai Kan Yaku in Yanagawa domain. However, the exact duties of this position are uncertain. He was also a Shihan of Oshima Ryu sojutsu. Oishi Taneyuki passed away at the age of 53 in 1825, only 3 years after his father.
Oishi Susumu Tanetsugu, who would go on to found the Oishi Shinkage Ryu, was born in 1797. One of the most striking things about Oishi Susumu is that he was nearly 7 feet tall. Quite a remarkable thing for Edo Japan where the average male height was just over 5 feet tall.
Oishi Susumu learned Aizu Kage Ryu from both his father & grandfather receiving Menkyo Kaiden from either his father or grandfather depending on the source in 1822.
Many of his most notable achievements were accomplished in taryu-jiai matches.
However, his first competitive match did not end in success.
He was defeated easily in a local competition held during a festival. Susumu became quite dejected after his loss. From this point began his devotion to kenjutsu.
In 1822 he defeated Naganuma Musōemon, a swordsman of the Ono-Ha Itto Ryu. It is recorded that on the 8th day of the match Susumu broke through Naganuma’s face protector with a powerful thrust & gouged out his eye.
This began a career of matches spanning more than 10 years in which he would remain undefeated.
During a second visit to Edo in 1838 he was called before a member of the Shogun’s Council of Elders for a demonstration.
Mizuno Tadakuni, Daimyō of Hamamatsu domain requested a demonstration of the paired forms as well as matches with his retainers. Susumu was victorious in all the matches. This demonstration also included a match against the Soke of the Shingyōtō-ryū, Iba Gumbei in which Susumu was also the victor.
Oishi Susumu returned to Yanagawa domain in 1839. He continued to refine the techniques of the Aizu Kage Ryu and testing those refinements in matches. The name Oishi Shinkage Ryu first appears on documents dating from 1842 but Susumu put his own stamp on his art well before he changed the name of the school.
After Susumu’s death in 1863, the school was passed on to his son, Oishi Susumu Tanemasa. He continued his father’s legacy as an excellent swordsman, teaching the Oishi Shinkage in Tosa domain where it was practiced alongside Muso Shinden Eishin Ryu.
After Tanemasa’s death in 1878, the lineage is as follows:
Oishi Yukie
Itai Masumi
Oishi Hajime
Oishi Eiichi
Morimoto Kunio
While this is the lineage of the Oishi Shinkage Ryu practiced by Kanoukan members it should be noted that Oishi Kei, the grand-daughter of Oishi Eiichi was granted the title of Soke in 2008.
It should also be noted that as of 2022, Morimoto Kunio Sensei is the only licensed instructor actively promoting the Oishi Shinkage, both in Japan & around the world.
In reviewing the techniques of the Oishi Shinkage Ryu it is interesting to note that there are some similarities in the way the techniques and sets of the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu are named and organized.
In his book “The Sword & The Mind”, Hiroaki Sato describes the Yagyu Shinkage sets as “The First Five”, “The Nine Kinds”, “The Goblin’s Set” and “Supreme Maneuver’s”
Many of the same names are used, such as Hankai, Hankou, Usen, Saten, Gyafuku and others.
Though the descriptions of the techniques in the book are only partial, it is obvious they are completely different from the techniques that we practice in the Oishi Shinkage Ryu.
After reflecting on this, there are almost 250 years between these two schools.
In America where firearms have always been more common it could be like comparing the flintlock rifle of the 18th. and 19th. centuries to the modern sporting rifles and pistols of today.
Many things change in a couple of centuries.
Even in koryu traditions.
Conditions change. People’s needs change. The way people think changes.
The Oishi Shinkage Ryu has a few distinctive techniques that are used as teaching methods.
One of these is Kurai O Miru or Seeing the Position.
This is the opening move in all five tekazu of the first set called Shiaiguchi.
In Kurai O Miru the kissaki of the swords are matched and moved back and forth using the tanden.
The object is to feel a connection with your opponent.
Along with beginning to build your ability to observe your opponent’s mind the Shiaiguchi also introduces a method of using the tanden called Haru.
This is introduced in the first two techniques, Isshin & Mumyo Itto.
In these techniques strikes to the head are intercepted by shuffling back slightly, receiving the strike on the shinogi or side of the sword.
It is difficult to describe the movement of the tanden in Haru.
In some ways it seems to compress and sink but, in some ways, it also seems to expand.
What is important is that it is connected to the arms though the rest of the body and using Te No Uchi the Haru motion is used to clear the center for a thrust to be delivered.
Haru is also used and expanded upon in You No Omote & You No Ura.
In Suigetsu, the lesson of observing the opponents mind is continued by following the opponent’s movement in to Jodan with a cut to the wrist.
In Suken, Haru is taught from a different body position making it more difficult to perform with power.
The last technique of the Shiaiguchi, Ichimi, builds on the lessons taught in the set.
Not only do you need to observe your opponent for the strike your hand & body must be relaxed as in Haru to perform ukenagashi, dropping your tanden to perform the strike finishing your opponent.
We see a progressive pattern of repeating the basic ideas of the school over and over in different context.
Despite changes over the centuries maybe the inner lesson does not change, only the way it is taught.
In You No Omote the basic ideas of coordinated body movement achieved through relaxation and observing the opponents mind are repeated at an increased level.
Timing & distance also become more important as the forms become more complex.
Haru must also become more refined to perform the movements of Muiken.
You No Ura brings another level of refinement to the basics as the movements of the forms again become more complex.
This is only a brief overview and does not do justice to the concepts or learning process involved.
In refining the Aizu Kage Ryu into the Oishi Shinkage Ryu, Oishi Susumu proved himself to be not only an inspired martial artist but also an innovator as the lessons of the Aize Kage Ryu were reformed into something that was still useful in the different conditions of the late Edo period.
It is said that history is written by the victor.
Ironically, in the case of Oishi Susumu and the Oishi Shinkage Ryu history was written by the Edo samurai that lost matches to him. Because of their position they were able to downplay the role that he played in the development of kenjutsu and taryu shiai leading into modern Kendo.
Hopefully time and research will correct this oversight.
References:
“The Sword and The Mind”
Hiroaki Sato
Oishi Shinkage Ryu history essay
Kanoukan Trinindad and Tobago website
Written by Morimoto Kunio Sensei
Oishi Shinkage Ryu Dan Essays
Written by Kanoukan students in Japan
Provided by Morimoto Kunio Sensei
Personal conversations with Morimoto Kunio Sensei
- 2022/10/06(木) 21:25:00|
- 昇段審査論文
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