Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu

Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Hyohou (天眞正自源流兵法) is an old classical Japanese martial arts school (koryu, 古流) still active today. The system was founded in early 1500s during the Eishō (Muromachi period) (永正室町時代, 1504–1521) by a Samurai named Kaiso Setoguchi Bizen no Kami Masamoto. The school emphasizes the sword as the primary weapon; Iaijutsu (居合術) & Kenjutsu (剣術). The system also teaches Jujutsu (柔術), Soujutsu (槍術) and Nagamaki (長巻) as part of the curriculum.

Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Demo at Yasukuni Shrine, 2009

History

According to the written scrolls passed down within the successors of the school, Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Hyohou[1] traces back its roots to Jigensai Kazutou Jiichibou (自源齋一任自一坊) founder of Jouku Ryu Kashima no Tachi Hakugen Ryu (上古流鹿島之太刀白源流), during the era of Emperor Suzaku (朱雀天皇), 2nd year of Jouhei (承平) 931 A.D. Hakugen Ryu was based on Kashima no Tachi Shinmyoken (鹿島之太刀神妙剣), which was founded by Kunima Masato (國摩真人) in early 400 A.D. and it is regarded as the first sword school of Japan. Jiichibou created a unique technique based on Shinmyoken, called Tenshinken (天眞剣) and set it as the secret of Hakugen Ryu. The main feature of Shinmyoken is to cross blades with your opponent’s on the same trajectory, reading the opponent’s blade line, and then flicking his blade off your centerline by a special hand manipulation (手之内) to subdue him.

Hakugen Ryu was then inherited by the Minamoto clan (源氏), Oide clan, Urabe clan (Priests of Kashima), and finally Yaobettoh Kenko[2] (八尾別當顕幸) also known as Yaobettoh Kaneyuki, the 14th inheritor. Yaobettoh integrated the theories of Hakugen Ryu and Minamoto Ryu (源流) and called it Jiken Ryu (自顕流).

There were two unique forms in Minamoto Ryu; one was called “Ten Chi Jin Sandan no Houkei” (天地人三段之法形, the form of the three techniques of Heaven, Earth, and Human) which was created according to legend by Yamato Takeru (日本武尊), the prince of Emperor Keiko (景行天皇). Its secret was embedded into a set of two scrolls, “Ryuko Nikan no Hidensho (龍虎ニ巻之秘伝書, the two secret scrolls of Dragon and Tiger) and inherited to Minamoto no Yoshiie (源義家). Minamoto Yoshiie decoded the secrets and created a system which he called “Ten Chi Jin In Yo Godan no Houkei” (天地人陰陽五段之法形, the form of the Five Techniques of Heaven, Earth, Human, Darkness and Light). This is the other basic principle of Minamoto Ryu. The scrolls and the secrets were then inherited by Kiichi Hougan (鬼一法眼) and he taught them to Minamoto no Yoshitsune who founded Minamoto Ryu based on them. The 14th inheritor Yaobettoh Kenko, succeeded Minamoto Ryu from Shunjobu Jugen (俊乗坊重源). Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu still keeps the secrets of “Ryuko Nikan no Hidensho” and those two ancient forms, “Ten Chi Jin Sandan no Houkei” and Ten Chi Jin In Yo Godan no Houkei” today.

Yaobettoh wrote a scroll named Jiken Ryu Ryuko no Kan (自顕流龍虎之巻, the Jiken Ryu scroll of Dragon and Tiger). It was then succeeded by Oze ( Tose ) Yozaemon’i Nagamune (小瀬与左衛門尉長宗 or 十瀬与左衛門尉長宗), a Samurai from Joshu Kasama (常州笠間, the old name for Ibaraki Prefecture today).

Nagamune learned Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū (天眞正伝香取神道流) from its third inheritor, Iishino Morichika (飯篠盛近) and after given Menkyo kaiden (免許皆伝, the complete proficiency license of the Katori Shinto Ryu School) Nagamune then added his own theories and knowledge based on his studies and called it Tenshinsho Jiken Ryu (天眞正自顕流).

“Tenshinsho” (天眞正) represents Kashima Katori Myojin (鹿島香取明神). “Ji” (自) was taken from the original founder’s name Jiichibou’s “Ji” and “Ken” (顕) was taken from his previous master Yaobettoh Kenko’s “Ken”. Nagamune wrote three scrolls that contained the secrets of his style. They are called Songyo (尊行), Sakken (察見) and Kikigaki (聴書). It is written in history that after a long errant journey, Nagamune followed the lineage that connected him to the Minamoto clan and requested lands to settle in Satsuma (薩摩) (present day Kagoshima) the only place in Japan capable of matching Toyotomi Hideyoshi's power, ruler of Japan at the time. He then changed his name to Setoguchi Masamoto or Setoguchi Bizen no Kami Masamoto (瀬戸口備前守政基) “Bizen no Kami” was his title.

After many years of training in the Satsuma Domain, the scroll tells that Setoguchi reached enlightenment and changed the name of his style to Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Hyoho (天眞正自源流兵法). He left a note explaining the reason why he adopted the word “Gen” (源) in Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Hyouho Somokuroku[3] (天眞正自源流総目録, the comprehensive scroll of the school). The note he left reads:

“The origin of my style traces back its roots to Jouko Ryu Kashima no Tachi Hakugen Ryu. The style has incorporated many other different styles by the past successors. “Gen” (源) means all those different styles and also refers to Jigensai’s “Gen” (自源齋), the founder of Jouku Ryu Kashima no Tachi Hakugen Ryu. “Gen” (源) also contains several meanings like; the source of everything in the world, the war strategy (Hyohou, 兵法) of the Minamoto clan, and the source of mind. I hereby name my style as Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Hyoho (天眞正自源流兵法) with absolute certainty and confidence.”

Setoguchi died in 1519 but left behind hidden in Satsuma all the secrets of his art, that was passed down to only one disciple of each generation and royal guards of the Shimazu clan (島津氏) for about 500 years. The style was kept in secrecy within Satsuma and taught to a very few chosen group of the Elite Samurai of the domain, for this reason other styles that developed from Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu became popular amongst the lower rank Samurai, and many other schools were inspired and created based on Setoguchi’s style.

Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Hyoho was always kept as the secret weapon of the Satsuma Warriors until 1963, when Master Ueno Yasuyuki Genshin (上野靖之源心), the 27th inheritor of the style decided to open this sword art to the world for the first time in the long history of the school. The Shobukan (尚武館) Dojo was then opened in Asakusa, Tokyo, where he taught many students until his death in 1972. The “Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Hyoho Sogo Budo Genshinkai” (天眞正自源流兵法総合武道源心会) was then created in memory and honor of his name.

Today Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu has its headquarters at Kasukabe Shimin Budokan (春日部市民武道館, a civic Budo Gym) in Kasukabe (春日部), Saitama (埼玉). It is headed by 29th inheritor Ueno Doushin (上野童心) and Saikoh Shihan (最高師範, headmaster) Ueno Kagenori (上野景範), present headmaster of the school. In reference to the techniques of Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu, Master Ueno Kagenori said:

“The sword art of Tenshinsho Jigen ryu is extraordinarily powerful but must also be flexible and beautiful at the same time. If it is only hard, it is easy to break. If it is only soft and flexible, it is powerless. If it is not beautiful and flowery, you can neither fend nor parry the attack."

In the recent years Saikoh Shihan Ueno Kagenori himself has conducted seminars outside Japan, specifically in West Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, U.S.A.

Note

Kiyoshi Watatani, one of the foremost experts in traditional Japanese martial arts history, argues that the history described above is a work of fiction, based on the Jigen ryu.[4] And the existence of this Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu can be confirmed only after the Meiji Era.[5]

The Tenshinsho Jigen ryu seen nowadays appeared suddenly after 1988, with doubts about the legitimacy of its genealogy. The Japanese Wikipedia entry on Tenshinsho Jigen ryu hints at lineage forgery.

Philosophy

The philosophy of Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu is to have pride in the five virtues; “Jin” (仁, Humanity), “Gi” (義, Justice), “Rei” (礼, Propriety), “Chi” (智, Wisdom) and “Shin” (信, Faith) and to cultivate the spirit of simplicity and fortitude. These five virtues are represented on the different parts of the Japanese sword:

The spirit of simplicity and fortitude is often represented by a special four character idiom 質実剛健 ("Shitsu Jitsu Gou Ken"), which translates as “Unaffected and sincere, with fortitude and vigor”

Lineage

Tenshinshou Jigen Ryu lineage

  1. initiator: Jigensai Kazutou Jiichibou (始祖：自源齋一任自一坊)
  2. inheritor: Minamoto Doushin Fujiwara Hirosato (第二代継承者：源童心藤原廣郷)
  3. inheritor: Minamoto Genshin Fujiwara Ippou (第三代継承者：源童心藤原廣郷)
  4. inheritor: Minamoto Tadahiro Fujiwara Kagemitsu (第四代継承者：源唯廣藤原景光)
  5. inheritor: Minamoto Genki Fujiwara Motonori (第五代継承者：源玄鬼藤原基教)
  6. inheritor: Fujiwara Genyou Kazushige (第六代継承者：藤原源養一重)
  7. inheritor: Minamoto Jigen Fujiwara Ittou (第七代継承者：源自源藤原一至)
  8. inheritor: Oide Jiroudaifu Noritaka (第八代継承者：尾井手次郎大夫教高)
  9. inheritor: Oide Jiroudaifu Tadataka (第九代継承者：尾井手次郎大夫忠高)
  10. inheritor: Oide Jiroudaifu Tadanori (第十代継承者：尾井手次郎大夫忠教)
  11. inheritor: Urabe Munetoshi (第十一代継承者：卜部宗俊)
  12. inheritor: Urabe Munekage (第十二代継承者：卜部宗景)
  13. inheritor: Urabe Muneharu (第十三代継承者：卜部宗春)
  14. inheritor: Yaobettou Kaneyuki (Kenko) (第十四代継承者：八尾別当顕幸)
  15. founder: Setoguchi Bizennokami Masamoto (第十五代継承者・開祖：瀬戸口備前守政基（十瀬与左衛門尉長宗）
  16. inheritor: Setoguchi Gennoshin (第十六代継承者：瀬戸口源之進（武蔵守藤兵衛尉重為）
  17. inheritor: Setoguchi Masanoshin (第十七代継承者：瀬戸口政之進（大和守長重）
  18. inheritor: Setoguchi Maotohiro (第十八代継承者：瀬戸口基広（和泉守宗重）
  19. inheritor: Yakumaru Kenchinnyuudou Nyosui (第十九代継承者：薬丸兼陳入道如水)
  20. inheritor: Yakumaru Gyoubuzaemon Kanefuku (第二十代継承者：薬丸刑部左衛門兼福)
  21. inheritor: Yakumaru Chouzaemon Kaneyoshi (第二十一代継承者：薬丸長左衛門兼慶)
  22. inheritor: Mizoguchi Isshinsai Kazushige (第二十二代継承者：溝口一心斎一重)
  23. inheritor: Mizoguchi Genkichi Teruyoshi (第二十三代継承者：溝口源吉耀芳)
  24. inheritor: Mizoguchi Gennoshin Kouhaku (第二十四代継承者：溝口源之進幸伯)
  25. inheritor: Mizoguchi Muneshige Genshinsai (第二十五代継承者：溝口貞勝宗重源信斎)
  26. inheritor: Mizoguchi Masao Genshin (第二十六代継承者：溝口正緒藤原玄心)
  27. inheritor: Ueno Yasuyuki Genshin (第二十七代継承者：上野靖之源心)
  28. inheritor: Ueno Kagenori Genki (第二十八代継承者：上野景範源己)
  29. inheritor: Ueno Takashi Doushin (第二十九代継承者：上野貴史童心)

Ranking System

Like many other classical Japanese Martial Arts, Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu traditionally awards scrolls or certificates to acknowledge the level of advancement of a student within the system. In the recent years the "Dan" ranking has been incorporated as a way to give the student a better understanding of his advancement in comparison with the more modern schools. The scrolls of Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu:

  1. Shoden (初伝)
  2. Chuden (中伝)
  3. Okuden (奥伝)
  4. Kaiden (皆伝)
  5. Souden（相伝）
  6. Muden (无伝)

References

  1. ↑ Shobu no ma (尚武の間）, a website about comprehensive history of Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu system
  2. ↑ Setoguchi Bizennokami Masamoto, "Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Kihon Kyoten / Ugenroku (天眞正自源流兵法基本教典 / 无源録, the basic and ultimate book on Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Hyoho）, 1512
  3. ↑ Setoguchi Toubei, "Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Hyoho Somokuroku (天眞正自源流兵法総目録, the comprehensive scroll of the Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Hyouho), 1554
  4. ↑ Zoho Kaiteiban Bugei Ryuha Daijiten, Tadashi Yamada (Ed.), Tokyo Copy, 1978
  5. ↑ Kagoshima-ken shi Gaisetsu, Masanori Kawagoshi, Shibunsha, 1958

Further reading

  1. Ueno Genshin Yasuyuki, ( the 27th inheritor of Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu school ), "Iaidohouten （居合道宝典、All about Iaido, the Japanese classical sword arts）", Zen Nihon Budo Renmei Sohonbu, 1965,
  2. Ueno Genshin Yasuyuki, ( the 27th inheritor of Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu school ), “Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Shihan Kyoten （天眞正自源流師範教典、Teacher's manual of Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu ）”, Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu Sokesohonbu, 1967
  3. Higa Yasuke Shigetaka, “Setoguchi Bizennokami”, Honchou Bugei Shouden Dairokkan （本朝武芸小伝第六巻, the concise encyclopedia of Japanese martial arts, vol.6 ), 1716
  4. Kiyoshi Watatani, "Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu, Tenshinsho Jiken Ryu", Bugeiryuhadaijiten (武芸流派大事典, The encyclopedia of Japanese martial arts schools), Shinjinbutsu Ouraisha inc., 1969
  5. Yoshihiko Sasama, "Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu and Setoguchi Bizen no kami", Zusetsu Nihonbudojiten (図説日本武道事典, The illustrated Japanese martial art encyclopedia ）, Kashiwa shobo, 1982
  6. "Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu, the hidden system in mystery part 1", Monthly Hiden December issue （月刊秘伝12月号）, BAB JAPAN, 2003
  7. "Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu, the hidden system in mystery part 2", Monthly Hiden January issue （月刊秘伝１月号）, BAB JAPAN, 2004
  8. Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu　（天眞正自源流）, Wikipedia Japan

External links

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