|
|
|||||||
hock
of the modern world with the oldest tradition; at little distance from the
airport of Narita, where land howling jumbo jets, close to TOKYO is located
a Japanese traditional school of the art of the Katana, the Tenshin Shoden
Katori Shinto Ryu. This school was founded in the middle of the 15th century
and is today the oldest of the traditional schools of Katana in Japan.
This art was created by a valorous warrior named IIZASA IENAO. Born in 1387 in Takomachi, in the province of CHIBA, in the MUROMACHI era (see "History of Japan"), he was at the service of the lord of the province, the CHIBA clan. According to information that reached our time, he would have also been during a short period of his life, the fencing master of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, to whom we owe the Kinkaku Ji, the temple of the golden phoenix, also known as the Golden Pavilion, in Kyoto.
fter
the disgrace of the Chiba family, having understood that wars and conflicts
could only lead to the ruin of nobility, he retired to the temple of Katori,
one of the three shinto sanctuaries the most revered in Japan (the other
two being Kashima and Ise), and took up buddhism under the name of Chosai
Ienao. The temple of Katori was devoted to Futsunushi no kami, a guardian divinity of the martial world, particularly significant for all the warriors. There, he carried out his monastic life and a rigorous training, along with teaching to his disciples. According to the legend, a disciple had the absurd idea to wash the horse of Chosai with the water of the sacred fountain, reserved to the purification of the faithful. What do you think happened ? The horse died. Understanding the power of the shinto deity of the temple, Master Chosai Ienao retired to Mount Umeki, not far from the temple, for one thousand days, to pray, fast and train.
It is at the end of this ascetic time that the Master, "inspired
by the god", defined the doctrines of his school. This is why he had the
name of the school preceded by "TENSHIN SHODEN", which can be translated
by "truthful and faithful celestial tradition". 
any
other legends exist about the life of this exceptional Master who, according
to information held at the temple, died at the age of 102, in 1488. For
that time, it is truly an exceptional longevity, almost supernatural !
When one came to defy him, which was not unusual in a temple very popular with warriors, he first invited his opponent to discuss with him. His disciples then laid down a plait on small bamboos. Master Chosai could sit down there without the bamboos folding under his weight. Usually, the "challenger" understood that this man had reached a level quite higher than his and backed up spontaneously from his project of challenge. Then the Master lengthily explained to him that instead of seeking the best way of killing others, a warrior must learn how to behave humanly, to improve his spirit.
Moreover, the Master forbade his disciples to fight, and that is mentioned in the KEPPAN, the entry engagement to the school, which one signs with his own blood.
any
high level students, after being trained in Katori, went their way through
Japan and ended up founding schools which became famous. Thus, the neighboring school, Kashima shin Ryu, was founded by Matsumoto Bizen (1468-1524), whose family exerted the priesthood of the shinto temple of kashima. However, Matsumoto Bizen was initially one of CHOSAI's students. One of Bizen's students is much more famous than him, since he is Tsukahara Bokuden (1489-1571). He was initially a student of Katori before becoming a disciple of Kashima. Finally, he founded his own school, under the name of shinto ryu. He was the fencing master of 3 shogun of the Ashikaga family.
n
his book GO RIN NO SHO, Myamoto MUSASHI talks about the art of the monks
of Shinto ryu. Besides, the first duel fought by Musashi at the age of 12,
and that het won, opposed him to a practitioner of the shinto ryu, the school
of Bokuden. Thereafter, the tradition of Katori continued with the passing centuries. Twenty soke (heirs) followed one another within Katori, but there were many Masters, shihan, who, although not being part of the IIZASA family, held the whole knowledge of the contents of the school. Each one of them contributed to the whole edifice. As for the shinto or the trail of gods, it shows the way, that each generation takes, guided by the preceding one. Thus was transmitted until our days this marvellous art which, starting from a lethal technique, brings in fact peace and serenity to those who continue the way.
Ken-jutsuTechniques of the Katana
Bo-jutsuTechniques of the stick
Naginata-jutsuTechniques of the spear
Iai-jutsuTechniques of cutting at unsheathing |
Ryoto-jutsu Techniques of two Katana
Kodachi-jutsuTechniques of the small Katana
Soo-JutsuTechniques of the long pike (called YARI)
Shuriken-jutsuTechniques of the throw of steel peaks |
Ju-jutsu Technique of combat with bare hands
Nin-jutsuTechniques of espionage
Sen-jutsuStrategy
Stratégie Chikujo-jutsuTechnique of construction of fortifications |
|
|
|
