中伝 長谷川英信流
This page juxtaposes three distinct textual layers:
(From the Eishin-ryū battō no koto)
是重信翁より段々相傳の居合然者を最初に教へべき筈のものなれ共先大森流は初心の者覚へ安き故に是を先に教ると云へり
This is the iai handed down in succession from Master Shigenobu. Although it should properly be taught first, Ōmori-ryū is taught beforehand because it is easier for beginners to learn.
Poem
深山には あらし吹くらし みよし野の
華か霞か 横雲のそら
Deep in the mountains, storm winds seem to blow;
are those blossoms of fair Yoshino, or haze, in the cloud-banded sky?
Densho instruction
右足を向ふへ踏出し抜付打込み開き足を引て先に坐したる通りにして納る也
Step the right foot forwards, perform nukitsuke and uchikomi, then hiraki; draw the foot back and return to the original seated posture while sheathing the sword.
Explanation
意義 大森流初発刀に同じである。
Meaning: The same as Shohattō of Ōmori-ryū.
動作 正面に向ひ箕坐す、右足を僅か前方に踏み出し大森流の初発刀と同様に抜刀して直ちに頭上に振りかぶり、敵を斬り下ろし、直ちに陰陽進退の最初の血振りをなし、刀を納めつゝ右足を左足に引き付けて蹲踞し、後、徐かに立ち上がる。
Action: Sit in kiza facing the shōmen.1 Step the right foot slightly forwards and draw as in Shohattō of Ōmori-ryū; immediately perform furikaburi and cut the enemy down, then perform the first chiburi of In’yō-shintai. While sheathing the sword, draw the right foot back to the left and sink into sonkyo; then rise slowly.
Poem
猛き虎の 千里の歩み 遠からず
行より早く 歸るあし引
To a fierce tiger, a thousand ri is no great distance;
swifter still than its going is its returning step.
Densho instruction
左足を引刀を逆さまに抜て留め扨打込あと上におなし
Draw back the left foot and draw with the edge reversed to stop the attack; then perform uchikomi. Thereafter, proceed as above.
Explanation
意義 敵が前方から我が右臂を斬って来るのを抜刀して之を受け、敵の退くに乗じ正面に向ひ斬る業である。
Meaning: An enemy cuts at your right arm from the front. Draw to receive the cut; taking advantage as the enemy withdraws, cut straight to the front.
動作 正面に向ひ箕坐す、刀柄を上から握り、半ば刀を抜きつゝ左足を後方に踏み開き、刀を右足の側方に刀刃を前方にして敵の斬りつける刀を拂ひ受け、刀を頭上に振り被りつゝ左足を右足に引きつけ、右足を僅かに前方に踏みつけて正面を斬り直ちに血振りをする。以下前に同じ。
Action: Sit in kiza facing the shōmen. Grip the tsuka from above and, while half-drawing, open the left foot to the rear. Bring the sword beside the right leg with the edge facing forwards and sweep aside and receive the enemy’s cut. As you perform furikaburi, draw the left foot in to the right; step the right foot slightly forwards, cut straight ahead, and immediately perform chiburi. Thereafter, proceed as in the preceding form.
Poem
もろともに 光りと知れと 稲妻の
あと鳴雷の 響知られず
Though its flash is perceived in the very same instant,
the thunder that follows the lightning is never heard.
Densho instruction
左あしを引敵の切って懸る拳を拂ろふて打込み跡上に同し
Draw back the left foot, sweep aside the hand with which the enemy attacks, and perform uchikomi; thereafter, proceed as above.
Explanation
意義 前方から斬って来る敵之起り頭を乗じ其前臂を斬る業である。
Meaning: Take the enemy at the very outset of a cut from the front and cut the forearm.
動作 正面に向ひ箕坐す。右足を左足に引きつけ左足を一歩ひきつゝ中腰の儘で抜刀して敵の前臂を切り（大森流の勢中刀を参照）左膝を右足に引きつけつゝ刀を頭上に振り冠り右足を前に踏みつけて正面を斬る。以下前に同じ。
Action: Sit in kiza facing the shōmen. Draw the right foot in to the left, then withdraw the left foot one step while drawing from a half-raised posture and cutting the enemy’s forearm (see Seichūtō of Ōmori-ryū). Draw the left knee in towards the right foot while performing furikaburi, then step the right foot forwards and cut straight ahead. Thereafter, proceed as in the preceding form.
Poem
麓より 吹上られし 浮雲は
四方の高根を 立包むなり
Floating clouds, blown upwards from the foothills,
rise and envelop the lofty peaks on every side.
Densho instruction
右へ振り向き足を踏みもぢ彳腰をひねり抜付左の手を添て敵を突たおす心にて右の足を上は拍子に刀を膝へ引切先を後ろへはね扨上へ冠膝の外へ打跡上に同し又刀を引て切先を跡へはねずして取って打込む業もあり
Turn to the right, twist the feet into position, and twist the hips to perform nukitsuke. Place the left hand on the blade and, with the intent of driving the enemy down, draw the sword back towards the knee as the right foot is raised, flick the kissaki rearwards, then perform furikaburi and uchikomi outside the knee. Thereafter, proceed as above. There is also a method in which one draws the sword back and performs uchikomi without flicking the kissaki rearwards.
Explanation
意義 右側面に坐せる敵が我が刀柄を握ろうとするのを避けつゝ立ち上り抜刀と同時に斬り着け敵の倒るゝに乗じ胴部を斬る業である。
Meaning: When an enemy seated on your right tries to seize your tsuka, evade the attempt while rising, cut as you draw, and, taking advantage as the enemy falls, cut the torso.
動作 正面に對し左向に箕坐す。敵が我刀を握ろうとするのを、左手の拇指を鍔にかけ刀柄を左方に開きつゝ何心なき態で立ち上り、左足を右足の前方から廻して右足の外側に小趾の側にて踏みつゝ腰を右に捻り両膝を僅かに屈げ、之を左右に開きて平均を保つ、此の間左手で以って刀を少し上方に引き出しつゝ（敵の頭上に触れない様にする心持で）左手を右腰の附近に致し、後、概ね舊帯刀の位置に復せしめ、此の姿勢に於て右拳を以って刀を抜き、鯉口を離れる時、體が概ね正面に向ふ如く腰を左に捻りつゝ僅かに立ち上る心地にて斬りつける。
茲に於て左足裏を全部踏み着けると同時に左手を物打附近の刀背部に當て右足を左足の僅かに右後ろに踏み開き両手を以て敵を押し倒し、且つ引き切る如き動作をなす。
此際左膝は動作の基礎となるのであって、概ね直角より伸びないのが可い、又、右足踵を挙げ右膝は屈げて體を安定させることが肝要である。
右膝を突くと同時に右臂を僅かに伸ばしつゝ刀を右前上方に上げ左手を以て柄頭を握り刀を頭上に振り被りつゝ右膝を軸として右足を僅かに左足の後方に旋廻し、次に左足を僅かに右に踏み着けると同時に斬り下ろす。血振りをなし刀を納め左足を右足に引き著け蹲踞し、後、徐かに立ち上る。
Action: Sit in kiza facing left relative to the shōmen. As the enemy tries to seize your sword, place the left thumb on the tsuba and open the tsuka to the left while rising with an unconcerned air. Bring the left foot round in front of the right and set it outside the right foot on its little-toe edge; twist the hips to the right, bend both knees slightly, and open them to either side to maintain balance. During this movement, draw the sword slightly upwards with the left hand, taking care not to touch the enemy’s head; bring the left hand near the right hip, then return it approximately to the usual position at the belt. From this posture, grip the tsuka with the right hand and draw. As the blade leaves the koiguchi, twist the hips to the left so that the body faces roughly towards the shōmen, and cut with the feeling of rising slightly.
As the whole sole of the left foot is set down, place the left hand on the mune near the monouchi, open the right foot slightly to the right rear of the left, and use both hands to push the enemy down while making a drawing cut.
The left knee forms the basis of the movement and should generally not open beyond a right angle. It is also essential to raise the right heel and bend the right knee to stabilise the body.
As the right knee is set on the ground, extend the right arm slightly and raise the sword forwards and upwards to the right. Grip the kashira with the left hand and perform furikaburi; pivoting on the right knee, rotate the right foot slightly behind the left, then set the left foot slightly to the right and cut down. Perform chiburi, sheathe the sword, draw the left foot in to the right, sink into sonkyo, and then rise slowly.
Poem
高根より 吹下す風の 强ければ
麓の木々は 雪もたまらず
When fierce winds blow down from the lofty peaks,
not even snow can settle on the trees below.
Densho instruction
右へ振り向左3の足と右の手を柄と一處にして打倒し抜付跡前の通り但足は右あし也浮雲とあしは相違也
Turning to the right, bring the left3 foot and the right hand together as one with the tsuka, strike down, and perform nukitsuke. Thereafter, proceed as before. However, the foot is the right foot; the footwork differs from Ukigumo.
Explanation
意義 右側面に坐せる敵が抜刀せんとするを取り敢えず刀柄を以て其の手背を強打しヒルム所を抜刀して斬りつけ、其の殪（たお）るゝを再び正面より胴部に向ひ斬り下ろす業である。
Meaning: When an enemy seated on your right tries to draw, first strike the back of the enemy’s hand hard with the tsuka. As the enemy flinches, draw and cut; as the enemy falls, cut down once more towards the torso from the front.
動作 正面に対し左向きに箕坐す。左膝を軸として約九十度右に向くと同時に刀に反りを打たせつゝ左手を以って刀を少しく前上方に出し、右足を約一歩前方に踏み着くると同時に鍔を以って敵の手を打つ、次に左手を以て刀を上方より敵の頭を越えて敵にふれない心持ちで右に旋廻し、左拳を概ね右腰の附近より舊帯刀の位置に復しつゝ、右拳で刀柄を握り左膝左右足尖を軸として左足を右足に旋廻して、右足の後方に至らせ、腰を左に捻りつゝ抜刀して敵の胸に斬りつく。
直ちに左膝及び右足尖を軸として左足を約九十度左に旋廻して、左手を刀尖に近き刀背に當て右脚を左膝附近に引き着け刀を右後ろに引きつゝ敵を切り倒す（刀を引く時身體に触れない様に注意するを要す）、其位置に於て刀を反転し右足を約一歩前方に踏み出しつゝ左手を添へ、右足尖を軸として、左足を約九十度右に旋廻し、概ね正面に向く間に全く刀を頭上に振り被り直に斬り下ろす、以下横雲に同じ。
Action: Sit in kiza facing left relative to the shōmen. Pivoting on the left knee, turn about ninety degrees to the right; at the same time, turn the sheathed sword over along its curve and move it slightly forwards and upwards with the left hand. As the right foot steps about one pace forwards, strike the enemy’s hand with the tsuba. Next, use the left hand to circle the sword to the right over the enemy’s head without touching it. Return the left hand from near the right hip to the usual position at the belt while gripping the tsuka with the right hand. Pivoting on the left knee and the toes, circle the left foot around the right until it reaches behind the right foot; twist the hips to the left as you draw and cut the enemy’s chest.
Immediately pivot on the left knee and right toes and rotate the left foot about ninety degrees to the left. Place the left hand on the mune near the kissaki, draw the right foot in near the left knee, and pull the sword to the right rear while cutting the enemy down (take care that the sword does not touch your body as it is drawn back). From this position, reverse the sword, step the right foot about one pace forwards while adding the left hand, and pivot on the right toes to rotate the left foot about ninety degrees to the right. As you turn roughly towards the shōmen, complete furikaburi and cut straight down. Thereafter, proceed as in Yokogumo.
Poem
行舟の かちとり直す 間もなきは
岩尾の浪の 強く当れば
A boat underway has no time to set its helm aright
when waves strike hard against the rocky reef.
Densho instruction
左りへふり向左の足を引刀を抜左の手切先へ添へ右の膝の外ゟ突膝の内に引あとは山下風の業に同し
Turn to the left, draw back the left foot, and draw the sword. Place the left hand on the blade near the kissaki, thrust from outside the right knee, then draw the sword back inside the knee. Thereafter, proceed as in Yamaoroshi.
Explanation
意義 吾が左側に接近して坐せる敵の季肋部（きろくぶ、肋骨の真下）を刺突し直ちに敵を引き倒して後、斬る業である。
Meaning: Thrust into the side immediately below the ribs of an enemy seated close on your left, immediately pull the enemy down, and then cut.
動作 正面に對し右向に箕坐す。上体を前に傾けると同時に左足を斜後方に引きつゝ抜刀し直ちに左手を刀尖に近き刀背に添へ、成るべく低く左向きをなしつゝ右足を左膝頭附近に踏みつけ敵の季肋部を突き刺す。この時、刀は左手を刀身の中央に至る位突き出す、次に右手を以て刀を左手が刀尖附近に来る位迄引き、左膝を軸として約九十度右向をなし、右足を左膝附近に引きつゝ両手を以て、刀を引き、敵をひき倒す。この際右臂は充分伸ばすものとす、以下、山下風に同じ。
Action: Sit in kiza facing right relative to the shōmen. Lean the upper body forwards while withdrawing the left foot diagonally to the rear and drawing. Immediately place the left hand on the mune near the kissaki; keeping as low as possible, turn to the left, set the right foot near the left knee, and thrust below the enemy’s ribs. Thrust until the left hand reaches approximately the middle of the blade. Next, use the right hand to draw the sword back until the left hand is near the kissaki. Pivoting on the left knee, turn about ninety degrees to the right; draw the right foot in near the left knee and pull the sword with both hands to pull the enemy down. The right arm should be fully extended. Thereafter, proceed as in Yamaoroshi.
Poem
瀧津なみ 瀬登る鯉の 鱗は
水関上て 落る叓なし
The carp4 ascending through the rapids
clears the weir and never falls back.
Densho instruction
右に向き居って左り廻りに向へ抜付左の足を引冠り打込み開き納る也
While seated facing right, turn to the left and perform nukitsuke. Draw back the left foot, perform furikaburi and uchikomi, then perform hiraki and sheathe the sword.
Explanation
意義 大森流左刀に同じ。
Meaning: The same as Satō of Ōmori-ryū.
動作 正面に對し右向に坐す。上體を少しく前に傾け右膝の外側より右手を以て、刀柄を握り右足蹠骨部（足の裏の指の基部の骨）を軸として約九十度左向きをすると同時に左足を後方に約二足長半乃至三足長踏み開き、初発刀の如く抜刀す。此際左膝は地に着かざるものとす。以下横雲に同じである。
Action: Sit facing right relative to the shōmen. Lean the upper body slightly forwards and grip the tsuka from outside the right knee. Pivot on the ball of the right foot and turn about ninety degrees to the left; at the same time, open the left foot to the rear by about two and a half to three foot-lengths and draw as in Shohattō. The left knee must not touch the ground. Thereafter, proceed as in Yokogumo.
Poem
あかし潟 瀬戸越波の 上にこそ
岩尾も岸も たまるものかわ
The waves that cross the strait of Akashi—
what crag or shore could ever withstand them?
Densho instruction
鱗返しに同し後へ抜付打込み開納る後ろへ廻と脇へ廻ると斗相違也
As in Urokogaeshi, but perform nukitsuke to the rear, followed by uchikomi and hiraki, then sheathe the sword. The only difference is turning to the rear rather than to the side.
Explanation
意義 敵が我が後方から斬り来るに對し後ろに振り向きつゝ初発刀の如く斬る業である。
Meaning: When an enemy cuts at you from behind, turn to the rear and cut as in Shohattō.
動作 正面に對し後ろ向きに箕坐す。鱗返しの要領にて約百八十度左に旋廻するの外、全く同じである。
Action: Sit in kiza facing away from the shōmen. Apart from turning about 180 degrees to the left in the manner of Urokogaeshi, the action is identical.
Poem
瀧津瀬の 崩るゝ叓の 深ければ
前に立添ふ 岩もなきかな
So deep is the torrent’s plunging fall
that no rock can stand before it.
Densho instruction
刀の鞘と共に左の足と一拍子に出し抜て後を突すぐに右の足を踏込み打込み開き納る此業は後ろゟこじりを取りたる處也故に抜時にこじりに当る心持有り
Extend the sheathed sword together with the left foot in a single beat, draw, and thrust to the rear. Immediately step in with the right foot and perform uchikomi and hiraki, then sheathe the sword. This waza is used when the kojiri has been seized from behind; when drawing, therefore, retain the intent of striking with the kojiri.
Explanation
意義 敵が我が鐺を握ろうとするのを、之を避けて立ち上がったが、尚ほ追ひ迫るを以て再び之を避け、遂に抜刀して振り向きつゝ敵を突き刺し、尚ほ追撃する業である。
Meaning: An enemy tries to seize your kojiri. You evade the attempt and rise; when the enemy continues to press in, evade once more, then finally draw, turn, thrust, and continue the attack.
動作 正面に對し後ろ向きに箕坐す。左手を以て刀柄を左方に開きつゝ立ち上り左足を一歩前に踏み出すと同時に左拳が概ね右肩の附近に来る位まで刀を鞘の儘、抜き出す、此際左踵は地に着かぬものとす。
次に右手を以て刀柄を握り右足を左足の稍々前側方に踏み着けると同時に左手にて、鞘を下方に押し下げつゝ體に近く抜刀し、刀尖が概ね乳の上附近に来る如くす。此際後方から見た刀及び鞘の形は、概ね〇鞘の（直角の）如くなるものとす。
右足を軸として、後ろ向きをなしつゝ左足を少しく前方に踏み出すと同時に刀刃を上にし、右片手にて敵を突き刺し、直ちに、刀を頭上に振り被り右足を左足の前方に踏み着けて、敵を斬り側方に血振をなしつゝ左膝を地につく以下横雲に同じ。
Action: Sit in kiza facing away from the shōmen. Open the tsuka to the left with the left hand while rising; as you step the left foot one pace forwards, draw the sheathed sword from the belt until the left hand reaches approximately the right shoulder. The left heel must remain off the ground.
Next, grip the tsuka with the right hand and set the right foot slightly forwards and to the side of the left. At the same time, press the saya downwards with the left hand and draw close to the body, bringing the kissaki approximately to upper-chest height. Seen from behind, the sword and saya should form approximately a right angle.
Pivoting on the right foot, turn to face the rear and step the left foot slightly forwards; at the same time turn the edge upwards and thrust the enemy one-handed with the right hand. Immediately perform furikaburi, step the right foot in front of the left, and cut the enemy. Perform lateral chiburi while lowering the left knee to the ground; thereafter, proceed as in Yokogumo.
Poem
Because Nukiuchi was appended to Eishin-ryū at a later stage, no corresponding poem is given.
Densho instruction
大森流の抜打に同し
The same as Nukiuchi of Ōmori-ryū.
Explanation
意義 大森流に全く同じ。
Meaning: Exactly the same as in Ōmori-ryū.
動作 大森流に全く同じ。
Action: Exactly the same as in Ōmori-ryū.
箕坐 (kiza) literally denotes sitting with the legs spread or extended. In this text it refers to the characteristic seated posture of Eishin-ryū, ordinarily termed tatehiza. ↩
山下風 is also historically read Yamashitakaze, a reading well attested in waka and established by the early Edo period. The original intended reading of the kata name is uncertain, but Yamashitakaze is still used by at least one branch of the mainline school, and would have been the most natural poetic reading to an Edo-era reader. Interestingly, while 山下風 is first attested in the 8th-century Man’yōshū, and the historically accepted reading yamashitakaze strongly influenced later works, modern scholarly consensus holds that it was intended to be read there as yama no arashi, “mountain storm”. ↩
Soda Torahiko’s copy (titled Eishin-ryū iai no koto (英信流居合之事)) has this as the right foot. ↩ ↩2
Actually “the scale(s) of the carp […]”, but the synecdoche does not translate well into English. Uroko (鱗) means fish scales. ↩