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TheSwordofNoAbidingMind
MujuushinKenjutsuandSamuraiChamploo

"ThroughouthiswholecareerChaochou(Joshu,c.778897)taughtinasimplemanner
withjustafewquietwords.Itissaidthatalightseemedtoplayabouthismouthashe
spoke.DogenKigen,whofreelycriticizedmanyofhisancestorsintheDharma,could
onlymurmurwithawe,'Joshu,theOldBuddha.'FortygenerationsofZenstudentsand
moresincehistime,Chinese,Korean,Vietnamese,Japaneseandnowpeopleeverywhere,
havebreathedhisoneword,'Mu,'evokingthelivingpresenceoftheOldBuddhahimself.
ThusMuisanarcanumanancientwordorphrasethatsuccessiveseekersdownthrough
thecenturieshavefocusseduponandfoundtobeanopeningintospiritualunderstanding.
Whenyoujointhatstreamyouhavejoinedhandswithcountlesspilgrims,past,present,
future.
Ineverydayusagetheword'Mu'means'doesnothave'butifthatwereChaochou'sentire
meaning,therewouldn'tbeanyZen."
RobertAitken,"TheGatelessBarrier"
PartI:theHistoricalMujushinSekiunandIchiun
Mujushinkenjutsuisastyleofshimpokenjutsu"swordskillsofthemind"foundedbySekiunHarigaya,sometime
around1640.(Thespellingsmujuushinandmujushinareinterchangeableandequallycorrect.)Onedefinitionof
mujushinis"spiritincontinuousmotion"likecloudsinthewind,orflowingwater.Bebopariaandcowgirlnoirputit
thiswayintheirnotestoChamplooepisode#8:"Thekanjiarebrokendownasmujuu,'templewithoutapriest'shin,'real
sword'(asopposedtopracticesword)andkenjutsu,'swordtechnique'.Byanalogy,thenameimpliesaprecognitiveor
instinctualmethodofswordfighting,sometimestranslatedas'theswordofnoabidingmind'".
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Inactualpracticeitwasashortlivedschool,activelessthanahundredyearsandwithonlythreeknownheadmastersin
succession.Butitsreputationasadiscipline,asthepurestandmostetherealartofthesword,lastedlongaftertheMujuu
itself,andfascinatedagenerationofswordsmeninatimewhentheoncereveredtrainingofkenjutsuwasslowly
degradingintoroutine,emptyformandeventualoblivion.
It'snothardtoseewhytheMujuu(aswewillcallit,Champloostyle)neverenjoyedwidespreadpopularity.Atatime
whenallotherschoolspridedthemselvesonadistinctivestyle,itscornedeventheideaofastyle.Wheneveryother
schoolofkenjutsutaughtitsstudentshowtoconqueranopponentbystrategy,swiftresponse,strength,orshrewd
foresightoranycombinationofthesetheMujuutaughtthatoneshouldnotevenreacttoone'sopponentthattotreat
theartofswordfightingasamodeofcombatwasacorruptionofitspurity,adescentintocrudebestiality.Kenjutsuinthe
Mujuustyleisnotatallaboutwinningandlosing,beatingorbeingbeaten,infactisnotaboutconflictatall:it'sa
flowingmovementofbreath,spiritandpower.ThelastseriousdevoteeoftheMujuu,passionatekenjutsupuristToru
Shirai,oncetoldastudentthatthethreethingshemustforgetcompletelytofightinthetrueMujuuformwerehisown
body,hissword,andtheexistenceofhisadversary.Toanyhardworkingsamuraiwhosefirstresponsibilitywastodefend
hismasterwithhislife,thisdidntseemtohavemuchpracticalapplicationtosaytheleast.Butaswewillsee,itsreal
applicationsweremoreprofoundthanthat
SekiunGoroemonHarigayafounderandfirstmasterofMujushinkenjutsu
IchiunOdagiriSekiun'sheir,secondmaster
MariyatsuEnshiroGikyoku(a/k/aMariyaEnshiro,MariyaEnjiro)thirdandlastknownmaster
MuchofwhatweknowaboutSekiunHarigaya'searlylifecomesfromacollectionofhistoricalandphilosophical
writingspasseddownfromMariyaEnshirotohispupilKawamuraYakobei,whocompiledthemintoasinglevolume
calledtheZenshu.KawamurawritesthatSekiunHarigayawasbornsometimearound1593,intheUenoarea,withthe
nameofGoroemon.Heremainedaroshi[aronin,orlordlesssamurai]allhislife.SekiunfirstlearnedShinkagerywhen
hecameofagehelearnedthewaysofTaoismandBuddhism,andstudiedkenjutsuonhisown(heeventuallystudied
some12differentstyles).InhislateryearshetookthenameSekiunandlived,untilhisdeathbyillnessattheageof68
approximatelytheyear1662intheHatchoboridistrictofEdo.
Heenteredhismartialartscareeratayoungage12or13andbecameoneofthebestpupilsofShinshinkageryumaster
GenshinsaiOgasawara.Ogasawarawasconsideredoneoftheforemostswordsmenoftheday,andwassaidtohavestudied
directlyunderShinkageryfounderKamiIzumiIsenoKamiNobutsunaawarriormuchvaluedandrespectedbyJin's
mostillustriousprobableancestor,thebrilliant16thcenturywarlordTakedaShingen.
InhistextMujushinKenjutsuSho,IchiunOdagiri(Sekiun'sstarpupil,andthesecondMujuuheadmaster)writesthat
Ogasawarawasoriginallyahatamoto(retaineroraide)ofHideyoshiToyotomi,andfollowingthefallofOsakaCastle,
traveledtoChinaforayeartostayclearofanyreprisalssentbythenewTokugawaregimeagainstToyotomi'sfollowers.
WhileontheContinenthe'ssaidtohavetaughtJapanesebujutsutoChinesewarriors,amongthemadescendentofthe
HanDynastytacticianChoryo,fromwhomhelearnedhalberd(naginata)techniquespasseddownfromthatmaster
strategist.Oneofthese,calledhassunnonobegane,OgasawaraaddedtohisShinkagerytechniquewithgreatsuccess,
andafterreturningtoJapanhecouldnotbedefeated,evenbypupilsofhisownmasterKamiIzumi.Althoughthespecific
natureofhassunnonobeganehasbeeninterpretedinavarietyofwaysoneofthemreferssimplytoawayofturningthe
bodysoastogiveone'sswordmorereachithasalsobeeninterpretedasa"mentaltechnique",orkenpoapproach,in
whichtheswordsmanimaginesthatthetipofhisweaponextendsabouteightinchesfurtherthanitsphysicallength:that
is,heconcentrateshisintentionorfeelingthroughthetipofhissworddirectlyintohisopponent'sspace.Thisisthemost
interestingandpertinentusageofthetermforourpurposeshere,thatis,howtheMujushinisusedinSamuraiChamploo,
andit'sintriguingthatitallegedlycamefromChina,as(Ispeculate)didthequasiparanormalfightingskillsweseeinthe
series.
OnecanseetherootsoftheMujuushinteachinginSekiun'searlyexperiencewithShinkagery.FortheShinkagery
swordsman,shinkage,"heartreflection,"impliesthatoneunderstandshisopponent'sintentperfectly,andcreatesa
situationwhichwillcausehimtoreactinacertainway,whichonethencountersaccordingly.Intermsofactualcombat,
onemustknowtheenemyandoneselfonemustmaketheenemyconformtoone'sownwill.Atthesametime,the
swordsman'sspiritualstateshouldencompassboththeserenebenevolenceofZenandconstantflexibility,enablingone
nottobecometotallyabsorbedorattachedtoanythinginthisworld.KamiIzumiIsenoKamiwasthefirsttoapplysuch
ZenBuddhistphilosophytoswordsmanship,andforthisreasondevelopedtechniquesfortakinganassailant'ssword
awayfromhimunarmed,withoutneedlesslytakinglife.CutsintheShinkagestyleuseonlythetipofthesword,andare
intendedtoneverstrikebone,sothattheeffectisofasingle,neverstopped,flowingmovement.
KamiIzumitaughtthat"thetechniquesofShinkageryareunbeatablethisarisesnotfromtheneedlesstakingoflife,
butfromthetruecouragerequiredtoavoidunnecessaryconflict."Heandhisfollowersspreadtheseprinciples
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everywheretheytraveled,hopingthatifenoughwarriorsacceptedandpracticedthemitwouldbringanendtowarfare
andthebeginningofapeacefulsociety.Eventually,theseconceptscametobearfruitunderYagyuMunenori,master
swordsmantotheTokugawaShogun,andresultedinthreecenturiesofpeace.
SeeShinkageRyu.
SeeNobleHouseShinkage
SekiunHarigayacreatedMujushinkenjutsubasedoninsightshegainedwhenhewasaboutfiftyyearsold.Bythenhe
wasanimposing,veteranwarrior,asurvivorof52battles,bothformalduelsandcombatexperiencetall(6shaku,which
is180cmoraboutsixfeet),physicallypowerful,andpossessedofgreatcourageandferocity.Astoryistoldinwhichhis
pupil,Ichiun,notesinsurprisethatthemastercarriesanunsharpenedswordSekiunrepliesthatthisisbecausehenever
knowswhenhemaylosehistemperandchargeintoaduel,andwithhisswordkeptbluntheismorelikelytosimply
injurehisopponentsthankillthem.(Headdsdryly,"Ofcourse,Ialwayskeptakeenedgeonmyshortsword,knowing
thatonedayImighthavetouseitformyownseppuku.")
AlthoughSekiunhadbeenoneofOgasawara'sbestpupils,thepowerful,roughandtumblestyleofswordplayhehad
developedonthebattlefielddidnotshowmuchofthepeacefulinfluenceofShinkagery.Nonetheless,alongwiththe
changingtimes,eventhisfiercewarriorbegantoreflectdeeplyon,andtoquestion,thenatureofhisownswordsmanship.
Sekiunwentaboutfindinganswerstohisquestions:hestudiedwithasuccessionofZenscholarsandeventuallyplaced
himselfunderthetutelageofaZenpriest,Kohaku.Hebecamebothadevotedadmirerandfriend(Kohakuhimself
eventuallypresidedoverSekiun'sburialrites),andthroughthepriest'steachingscametounderstandhowtoplumbthe
depthsofhisownmindandspiritfortheknowledgeheneeded.ItwasKohakuwhosuggestedthenameMujushin
KenjutsuforSekiun'snew,enlightenedstyle.
YoshinoriKonowrote:
"AccordingtoIchiunOdagiriintheMujushinKenjutsuSho,intheprocessofworkingthroughadozenorsoofKohaku's
koan[questionsformeditation,oftenusedinZentraining],Sekiunarrivedattheconclusionthatthetechniquesofall
thosewhohadgonebeforehim,includingtherenownedShinkageryufounderKamiIzuminoKamiNobutsuna,andeven
thehassunnonobeganeofhisownteacherOgasawara,werealldelusion,unfoundedonanyofthenaturalworkingsand
movementsofhumanlife.Suchstylesandtechniques,hedetermined,werebasedonabeastlikespirit(chikushoshin)
throughwhichthebestthatcouldbeexpectedwouldbetodefeatone'sinferiors,tobedefeatedbyone'ssuperiors,andto
achievemutualdestructionorstalematewithone'sequals.Basedonthisconclusion,Sekiunbegantodevotehisevery
wakingmomenttodevisingastylethatcouldmovethepractitionerawayfromsuch'bruteswordsmanship'(chikusho
kempo).Hepurgedhisswordsmanshipofvariousmovementshefeltarosefromthebestialspiritexclusively,andstudied
howtoachievevictorynaturally,basedonthecapabilitiesandresourceswithwhichhumanbeingsareessentially
endowed.
"Finally,inaflashofspiritualawakening,Sekiunwasabletodepartfromthegenerallyacceptedprinciplesof
swordsmanshiptoclarifycertainprinciplesofachievingvictory(particularlythosetakingadvantageofessentialaspects
ofthewaypeoplelive)andbreakingcompletelythroughallswordtechniqueshecametorealizethesecrethesoughtin
therealityoftheserenityofindependencefromtheworldly.
"Thusenlightened,Sekiunbeganengagingincontestswithswordsmenfromvariousothertraditionsandwhenhe
appliedhisnewinsightsnonewereabletomatchhim.Naturallyhediscussedhisdiscoverieswithhisownteacher
Ogasawaraandthetwoarrangedamatch,butevenOgasawara'shassunnonobeganewasannihilatedinaninstant'likea
sliverofbambooinaraginginferno'bySekiun'snewfoundstyle.
"Withthis,SekiundiscardedcompletelyallthemovementsandtechniqueshehadlearnedfromShinshinkageryuandthe
restofthestyleshehadpracticed,andconsolidatingthefruitsofhisZenexperiencehebegantofollowastyleof
swordsmanshipentirelyhisown.Mujushinryukenjutsuteachesthatratherthanconcerningoneselfwithhowtheenemy
willadvanceandtryingtoparryhisattack,allthatisnecessaryistoraisetheswordtoone'sbrowandbringitdownagain
inotherwords,itisahighlyrarefiedtechnicalapproach,aphilosophythatrejectsanyandallsocalled'techniques'."
Sidenote:Wecannotsayforsurewherethedojowaslocatedinreallife,butinChamploo,itissetinKisarazu,thena
smalltownacrossthebayfromEdo.Thislocationmakessense,asit'splacedwithincloseproximityofcastlesownedand
builtbyboththeTakedaandMariyafamilies.[Seefootnoteformoreonthis.]
Sekiun'seventualsuccessorwouldbeIchiunOdagiri,whohadmethimwhenIchiunwas28,studiedwithhimfiveyears
andattainedthetitleofShimenboku(trueform)whenhewas33.AccordingtotheZenshu,however,therewereveryfew
others.Outofareported2,800ofSekiun'soriginalpupils,eightythreereceiveddiplomasinShinkageryuandofthose
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heconsideredthirteentobehisbeststudents.Heundertooktotrainthese13inhisnewschool,butamongthesethe
Zenshudescribesonlyfouras"understandingthemeaningofthisstyle."Thissuggeststhattherewereonlythreestudents
besidesIchiunwhoevertrulyunderstoodSekiun'sMujushinkenjutsu.OneoftheseweknowtobeIheiHideyasu
Kataoka,aretainerofMimasakuKuroda,butunfortunatelytheidentitiesoftheothertworemainunknown.
TheMujushinkenjutsustyleaswe'vesaidwasonlytaughtforabout70years,andisnowhererecordedasanactive
schoolafterthedeathofMariyaEnshiro,itsthirdandfinalheadmaster.Aswesaidearlier,oneofthereasonsforitsbrief
lifemaybethatwhileatechnicallyandspirituallypurestyle,itpresentssomeproblemsinreallifeuse.
Konowrites:
"Typicalofshimpoormindorientedstylesofkenjutsu,Mujushinkenjutsurejectsspecifictechniquesentirely,
suggestinginsteadthatnomatterhowtheopponentattacks,theonlythingthedefenderneeddoisraisehisownsword
abovehisbrowandbringitdownagain.[Insert:NotethelineofMujuustudentsweseedrillingexactlythismovein
episode25.]Suchanapproachmaybeadequateforselfdefense,anditmayworkifyouareabletopositionyourselfin
frontofyourlordbutwhentherearemultipleattackers,whenfightingconditionsbecomeconfusing,orwhenthe
topographyallowstheenemynumerousotheroptionsforattacking,itcanhardlyberelieduponasameanstofulfillone's
dutyasaguardian.Toputitanotherway,whilesuchtechniquesmaybeappropriatetodefendagainstsomeoneattacking
youdirectly,themomentyoufindyourselfturningtopursueanattackerwhodisregardsyouandslipspastyoutocut
downyourlordfromtheflank,youhavealreadyabandonedeverythingthatcouldbecalledMujushinkenjutsu.
"InthetransmissionsofMujushinkenjutsuitiswritten,'Whenattackedbysurpriseorinthedarkofnight,grapple
withoutdrawingyourswordifyouarecloseenough,or,ifyouareslightlytoofaraparttograpple,thendownyour
opponentwithakickinanycase,neverattempttofightwithyourswordinsuchsituations.'Bushi,forwhomprotecting
theirlordwasanextremelyimportantresponsibility,wouldundoubtedlyhesitatetolearnaformofswordsmanshipsoill
suitedtotheexigenciesofbodyguarding."
However,itisextremelyinterestingtonotethatitcontinuedtoexertapowerfulinfluence.Inparticular,astheteachingof
swordskillscontinuedtobecomemorecorruptanddecadent,andmoresensitiveandpuriststudentscametofeelthat
muchofvaluewasbeinglostandforgotten,morethanonceitwasthestudyofMujushinkenjutsutowhichtheyturned,
tobecomereacquaintedwiththeartofthebladeinitspurestandsubtleststyle.
ProbablythemostnotableoftheselaterfollowerswereswordsmenMuneariGoroemonTeradaandhisstudentToru
Shirai.

PartII:theHistoricalMujushinTeradaandShirai
Modernkendousingshinai(bamboopracticeswords)andbogu(protectiveequipment)isgenerallybelievedtohave
originatedduringtheKyohoperiod[17161735].Somesuggestthatthemodernkendoshinaiwasdevelopedby
TanetakeNakanishi,secondheadmasteroftheNakanishihaIttoryu(c.175060?).Tanetakeadoptedthepracticeof
uchiaigeikotrainingthroughcompetitivematchesbetweenopponentsequippedwithshinaiandbogubecausehefelt
thatkatatrainingalonewasatoodifficultandtimeconsumingwaytolearn.
Intraditionalkatatraining,one'sprogressdependsonone'sgraspofthenuancesanddetailsofthekata,aswellasone's
abilitytounderstandthekata'sdeepermeaning.Inuchiaigeiko,however,acertainlevelofmasterymaybeattainedby
becomingaccustomedtotechniquemorethanlearningitthatis,bysimplylearninghowtoperformthemovementand
nothingmore.Predictably,thissimplifiedformoftrainingappealedtomany,andpeopleflockedtoenrollinthe
Nakanishidojo.Despitethedojo'sprosperity,Tanetake'sdecisiontobreakwithtraditionandadoptuchiaigeikowas
criticized,bothwithinhisowndojoandinthemartialartsworldingeneral.However,bythelateEdoperiod,uchiaigeiko
usingboguandshinaihadbecomemainstream.
MuneariGoroemonTeradaenrolledattheNakanishidojowhenhewasfifteenorsixteenyearsold,andwasamongthose
whoquestionedthenewuchiaigeikotraining.HesoonwithdrewfromtheschoolandenrolledintheHeijoMutekiryuof
NariharuIkeda,aschoolheavilyinfluencedbyZenandTaoistthought.LikeMujushinkenryu(whichwastoinfluence
Teradagreatlylateron),itwasoneoftheschoolsknownas"shimpo(mind)kenjutsu"becauseofitsemphasisonthe
mentalandspiritualaspectsofswordsmanship[shimpocontrastswithgiho(thetechnical/physicalaspects)andincludes
thingssuchasmaintainingawarenessofyoursurroundingsandkeepingyourmindcalmandfreeofobstructions].
(InTerada'srejectionofthepopularuchiaigeikotrainingmethodweseeareallifeexampleofthesamedeclineinthe
martialartsthatMariyasamasadlydescribestoJinintheirconversationinepisode25thoughMariyaonlyseesthe
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beginningofthedecline,someseventyyearsbeforeTerada'stime.Respectforandinterestinthedeepermeaningof
kenjutsuwasfading,andpeoplejustastodaypreferredaquickandeasymethodoflearningtothehard,concentrated
drillinganddisciplinethathadalwayscharacterizedswordtraining.Tanetake's"kendofordummies"wasmakinghis
dojowealthy,butattheexpenseoftheart.)
Teradasethismindonlearningtruekenjutsuandachievedadeepunderstandingoftheschool'steachings.Heoncetolda
student,"Heiho(tacticsstrategy)consistsoftechniquesforwinninginaconflict,techniquesthatdecidelifeordeath.
Whenyouhavethoroughlyunderstoodtheprinciple(ri)oflifeanddeath,andwhenyouarefreefrompartiality,doubt,
perplexity,anddelusion,thenyourmindbecomescalmandunfetteredbythoughtandunduediscretion.Thenyoucan
respondfreelytoyoursituation."Inresponsetoaquestionontrainingmethods,hereplied:"'Thereisoneandonlyone
way.Thatistomaintainaconcentratedmindtofreeyourselffromirrelevantthoughtsandattainspiritualenlightenment.
Competitiveboutsonlyincreasetheviciousnessofone'smind.Thus,youshouldalwaystrytofreeyourselffromevil
thoughts."HereheremindsoneofSekiunsensei,whohadsimilarlyrejectedhiscombativewarriorexperience.
TeradaeventuallyreturnedtotheNakanishiittoryuschoolafterthedeathoftheinnovativeTanetakeandbecame
certifiedasanittoryumaster.Havingthoroughlystudiedthedensho(writtenteachings)ofMujushinkenryukenjutsu,he
establishedhisownform,whichhecalledTenshinIttoryu("enlightenedsinglesword"tenshinliterallymeans"awareof
one'sowndivinenature")hiskenjutsuwassometimesreferredtoasshimpokenjutsu.ButitwasprobablyToruShirai,
ratherthanTeradahimself,whobecamemostdeeplyinvolvedinShimpoandcouldbecalledthelasttruedevoteeofthe
Mujuu.
ToruShirai(17821843)hadoriginallybeenafellowstudentofTerada's,andlaterbecameTerada'spupil.However,they
weresoontofallout,sinceTeradaneverimmersedhimselfasdeeplyinMujushinkenjutsuasShiraiwouldhaveliked.
ShiraihadfirstlearnedofitsexistencefromTerada,whomostlikelyprovidedhimwithinformationonthestylemerelyas
areference,butShiraigainedhishighadmirationofOdagiriandtheMujuuonhisown,andeventuallythestyleseemsto
havebecomeforhimtheultimategoalofhistraining.AlthoughShiraieventuallybecamethesecondheadmasterof
Terada'sTenshinIttoryuschool,hewasneversatisfiedwithitandconsequentlydevelopedhisownstyle,whichhe
calledTenshinHeiho("enlightenedstrategy").HefeltthatfromtheperspectiveofsomeonelikeIchiunOdagiri,whomhe
hadadoptedashisancestralmentor,evenTerada'sTenshinIttoryuwouldcertainlyfallintothecategoryofthe"brutish
swordsmanship"thattheMujuustrovetobepurgedof.
AsKonopointsout,thedifferingorientationsofthesetwoswordsmenmayhavebeenatleastpartlyattributabletotheir
respectivesocialsituations,TeradabeingemployedintheserviceofMatsudaira,thelordoftheTakasakidomain,and
Shiraienjoyingthemuchfreerstatusofronin,ormasterlesssamurai.WecansuspectthatTerada'sconsciousnessofhis
responsibilitiestohislordpromptedhimtomaintainacertaindistancefromMujushinkenjutsu.ForShirai,aronin,
bujutsuwasnotboundupinsuchloyaltiestothesameextent,andforhimitbecamemoreofaspiritualfoundationfor
life.Turningawayfromtheharshworldoftrainingindojostyle,hestarteddownthepathofshimpokenjutsuand
pursuedthatpathwithevergreaterpassionandconviction.
It'scleartheintensepuristShiraifeltthathismasterthoughhehadrejectedthesoullessuchiaigeikomethodand
continuedtospurnitallhislifehadnotliveduptohisideals,andthatTenshinittoryuwashardlydifferentfromany
otherformofthisstyle.Thekumitachi(basicmoves)transmittedinIttoryunaturallyinvolvedmovementsandpostures
ofreceivingandparryingtheopponent'sweaponandothersuchtechniques.Thiskindofkenjutsu,inwhichthe
swordsmanobserveshisopponent'sattackandrespondsaccordingly,wasinfundamentaldisagreementwiththetechnical
philosophyoftheMujuu,whichShiraiwasincreasinglyconvincedrepresentedthemostrarefiedformofJapanese
swordsmanship.ShirairemainedextremelyuncomfortablewithTerada'sstatementtotheeffectthat"Whilerentan[rentan
noho,"abdominaltrainingmethod"abreathingandcenteringtechnique]mustbepracticedwithanenlightenedspirit,
bujutsu[the"warrior'sart"]isrealisticallyapathofdeceptivetacticsandtrickerybywhichtoluretheopponentto
defeat."SuchdoubtsmayhavebeenwhatcausedShirai'skenjutsutotakeonanincreasinglyesotericorspiritualflavor
quitesimilartothatofMujushinryukenjutsuinotherwords,muchmoreesotericthanTerada'skenjutsuhadeverbeen.
ShiraigraduallysethissightsonnothinglessthanattemptingtorestoretheMujuushinkenryu.
BystudyingthepurityofthesimplemovementsofBuddhistpriestsintheirtempledevotions,andhowcompetelytheir
concentrationinprayerandmeditationsurroundedandprotectedtheirbodieswithoutanyconsciousintent,Shiraigained
enlightenmentandadvancedfarbeyondtheteachingsofhisteacherTerada.MeikeiTsudacommentsinIttoryuHeiho
TohoKigenthatShiraihadattained"secretssodeepthateventheancientmastershadnotknownofthem."Thekataof
Shirai'sTenshinHeihowereactuallymuchclosertoMujushinkenjutsuintheirextremesimplicity,beingcomprised
primarilyofmovementssuchas"simplyraisingtheswordabovethebrowtojodanandbringingitdownagain"and
"simplythrusting."TohisdiscoveriesaboutMujushinkenjutsuShiraiaddedpracticessuchasrentannohotolendthe
traditionafreshedgeandanewflavor,andtookituponhimselftobecomethereviver,restorer,andinheritortoa
traditionforwhichnolegitimateordirectsuccessorsremainedbythattime.Hisintentionsareespeciallyplaininlooking
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overthebooksonswordtraininghewrote:Meidoron(ClearPathDiscourse),Shinmyoroku(RecordoftheExquisite
Divine),andTenshinroku(RecordofEnlightenment).TenshinrokuisineffectaMujuutextbook:Shiraiquotesthe
entireTenshinDokurotextofIchiunOdagiri**,andaddsprofilesofbothOdagiriandMujushinryufounderSekiun
Harigaya.Assuch,theworkcouldwellbeconsideredanewversionofthedensho,ortransmittedtraditions,ofMujushin
ryukenjutsu,plainlysuggestingShiraiwasfullyawarethathewasrestoring(orhopingtorestore)thatschool.
FollowingTerada'sdeathin1825,ShiraisucceededasheadmasteroftheTenshinIttoryuforatime.Hehopedtopassit
ontoTerada'sgrandsonKisata,butKisataunfortunatelydiedyoung,shortlyafterTerada,leavingShiraitocontinueas
secondheadmasteroftheschool.Unfortunately,hewasnotatallinterestedinTenshinIttoryu.Thoughthepositionof
Terada'ssuccessorwasoneofgreathonor,hedeliberatelychosenottomaintainit,andpassedthispositiontooneMeikei
TsudawhilehehimselfwentontofoundTenshinHeiho.Tsuda'sswordsmanship,however,wasprobablynotnearlythe
caliberofeitherTerada'sorShirai's,sothetitlewasmorenominalthanreal.FollowingTsuda'sdeath,hissoninlaw,
Meijo,becamethefourthheadmaster,butwithMeijoTsuda'sdeathTenshinIttoryufadedawaycompletely.Eventually
countingnumerousdaimyoandhatamotoamonghisstudents,Shiraibecamequitesuccessfulandhisnamespreadfarand
wide.Hisfamecontinuedtogrow,butonNovember14,1843,hediedsuddenly,attheageofsixtyone.Withhisdeath
andthepassingofhisTenshinHeihoschool,theMujuutrulylefttheworld...foraboutahundredandsixtyyears...
...goontoPartIII:TheMujuushininSamuraiChamploo.
..gobacktoSwordofNoAbidingMind.

Footnote:
**TheTenshinDokurotextofIchiunOdagiri:ProbablythemostwidelyknownofIchiun'swritingsonMujushin
kenjutsu.AlternatetitlesincludeSekiunRyuKenjutsuSho,KempoSekiunSensei("ThoughtsofMasterSekiun"),Ichiun
SenseiDenshoandMujushinkenjutsuDempoSho.ItiswritteninamixtureofChinesecharactersandthehiraganaand
katakanasyllabaries.

AnimeForever'ssubofepisode8(blessthem!)translatesthetextonALLthedojosignboards,notjusttheonethat'storn
down.Oneofthemsays"KisarazuMujuuShinkenDojo".Fromthiswewereled(arigato,Google)totheformerlyreported
ruinsofa15thcenturycastlenamed"Mariyajo"[literally"MariyaCastle"],whichwasfoundedbytheTakedaclan.And
noticedthatit'slocatedjustoutsideatowncalledthat'srightKisarazu.
Kisarazuappearstobeagoodsizedtown/smallcitytodayinthelate1600sitwasasmalltown,rightacrossthebayfrom
Edo.It'sinChibaprefecture,whichwascalledAwaatthetime.Furthermore,stillstandinginKimitsuCity,justto
Kisarazu'ssouth(practicallyasuburbthesedays,thoughitwouldn'thavebeenso400yearsago)isKururiCastle,which
wasbuiltin1540byyou'regonnalovethisMariyaTakeda.=)
SowehaveMariyaEnshirou'sdojo,theruinsofarealTakedafamilycastle,andacompleteMariyafamilycastleall
withinafewtownsofeachother.Alongwiththeproximity,thisgivesustwoitemsoffairlygoodproofthatJinandhis
latesenseiarerelated(ifwe'rerightthatJinisaTakeda,atleast,andI'm90%sureweare):
apersonofoneclanhavinganotherclan'snameashisgivenname,whichalmostalwaysindicatesactualrelationship
(beyondsimpleallegiance)betweensaidclans:and
acastlenamed"MariyaCastle"knowntohavebeenbuiltbytheTakedaClan.
Thejoysofresearch.=)
Here'sawebsitewithinfo:KururiCastle.
Andhere'sallweknowaboutthenowinruinsMariyaCastle:
"MariyajoCastlewasamountaincastlebuiltabout500yearsandseveraldecadesagobyTakedaClanof"Kai"country
(nowKofu,Yamanashiprefecture),whomarchedintoBosodistrictearly"Sengoku"period.Thiscastlewasthecenterof
thisdistrictboastingofitslargesitescaleextending700mfromeasttowestand400mfromsouthtonorth,withitsmain
buildinginthecenter.InBambooShootFestival[heldinmidApril]attheruinsofthecastle,manyeventsareheldsuch
asperformanceof"KisarazuSuwaTaiko"(alargeJapanesedrum),openairteaceremoniesaccompaniedbysoundsof
Koto,directsalesofbambooshoots/freshagriculturalproducts,andaliveshowofbambooworks."(Notethementionof
Kisarazu.)

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