is a traditional school ('' koryū'') of

Japanese martial arts Japanese martial arts refers to the variety of martial arts native to the country of Japan. At least three Japanese terms (''budō'', ''bujutsu'', and ''bugei'') are used interchangeably with the English phrase Japanese martial arts. The usage ...

that specializes in the art of spearmanship (''

sōjutsu , meaning "art of the spear", is the Japanese martial art of fighting with a . Origins Although the spear had a profound role in early Japanese mythology, where the islands of Japan themselves were said to be created by salt water dripping fr ...

''). Hōzōin-ryū was founded by Hōzōin Kakuzenbō In'ei (宝蔵院覚禅房胤栄, 1521–1607) in c. 1560. In'ei was a Buddhist monk of

Kōfuku-ji is a Buddhist temple that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples in the city of Nara, Japan. The temple is the national headquarters of the Hossō school. It is part of Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, a World Heritage Site. H ...

Temple in

Nara The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government within the executive branch, charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It is also task ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. He adored martial arts and trained in the art of swordsmanship. At the same time, he was coached and mentored by , a master of the

spear A spear is a polearm consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head. The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with Fire hardening, fire hardened spears, or it may be made of a more durable materia ...

. Under this master's guidance, In'ei honed his spearmanship. It is said that one evening, on seeing the reflection of the crescent moon shining on Sarusawa pond in Kōfuku-ji, he was inspired to create a spear with a cross-shaped spearhead. He imagined this style of spear would be more effective in fighting. With this new type of spear (known as ), he founded the Hōzōin-ryū. Later, the teachings of the Hōzōin-ryū sōjutsu were passed down to other Buddhist monks of his order, with the next masters Hōzōin Inshun, Hōzōin Insei, Hōzōin Infū, Hōzōin Inken who constituted the monasterial line of the school ending on Inken, and Nakamura Naomasa and then Takada Matabei Yoshitsugu, who started the secular line of the school. The three best disciples of Takada went to Edo, present day

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

, to promote the art. Its reputation spread nationwide and the number of disciples increased. As martial art of Hōzōin-ryū sōjutsu was passed down from generation to generation, various new techniques as well as new dojo were created. At the end of the

Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...

, (around the middle of the 19th century) there were many masters of Hōzōin-ryū sōjutsu employed at the shogunate's martial arts training center. In the 19th century, the school was revived and updated thanks to

Takeda Sokaku is a Japanese family name.1990 Census Name Files< ...

. He introduced the use of bamboo practice swords (''

shinai A is a Japanese sword typically made of bamboo used for practice and competition in '' kendō''. ''Shinai'' are also used in other martial arts, but may be styled differently from ''kendō shinai'', and represented with different characters. ...

''). Eventually in 1976, Hōzōin-ryū sōjutsu returned to Nara. In 1991 was appointed the 20th headmaster and has been leading the Hōzōin-ryū sōjutsu school until his death on 16 December 2011. His successor and 21st headmaster is . An ancient Japanese poem expresses the spear of Hōzōin-ryū sōjutsu: "It can be a spear to thrust. It can be a

naginata The ''naginata'' (, , ) is a polearm and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades ('' nihontō''). ''Naginata'' were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei ( ...

to cleave. It can be a

Kama ''Kama'' (Sanskrit: काम, ) is the concept of pleasure, enjoyment and desire in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It can also refer to "desire, wish, longing" in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh literature.Monier Williamsका� ...

to slash. In any case, it never fails to hit the target."

Genealogy of the Hōzōin-ryū

The Hōzōinryū as practiced today follows the tradition of the secular line of the Hōzōinryū Takadaha, named after its founder Takada Matabee Yoshitsugu. As with many other Japanese schools, the headmasters keep the memory of tradition and line of their masters up to the beginning. As Hōzōin Kakuzenbō Inei was the founder of the Hōzōinryū and master of Takada and Nakamura, he is listed in the secular line as the first master too. Asterisks indicate uncertain readings. The monasterial line: * Hōzōin Kakuzenbō Inei (founder of the Hōzōinryū) * Hōzōin Zeneibō Inshun (1589-1648) * Hōzōin Kakushunbō Insei (1624-1689) * Hōzōin Kakuzanbō Infū (1682-1731) * Hōzōin Jōshikibō* Inken (1746-1808) Masters of the secular line: * Hōzōin Kakuzenbō Inei (founder of the Hōzōinryū) * Nakamura Ichiemon Naomasa (founder of the Nakamuraha) * Takada Matabee Yoshitsugu (founder of the Takadaha) * Takada Matabee Yoshimichi * Takada Yoshitoshi * Takada Michiakira* * Takada Yoshitaka * Takada Matabee Yoshitora * Takada Matabee Yoshichika * Takada Magoichi Yoshitake * A certain Endō * Yamazato Tadahiro * Sasaki Yasuzō * Waku Kinzō * Ishida Kazuto * Nishikawa Gennai * Kagita Chūbee * Ichiya Junzō * Komakita ManabuKomakita Manabu
/ref>

References

External links

Hozoin-ryu Sojutsu Japan Homepage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hozoin Ryu Ko-ryū bujutsu Japanese martial arts Spears of Japan