The Book of Samurai - Fundamental Samurai Teachings: The Collected Scrolls of Natori-Ryu

281 Pages·2015·2.78 MB·English

by  Antony Cummins

Antony Cummins is the founder of the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team,
which has previously published The Book of Ninja (Watkins). Antony also works
as a consultant and co-presenter of Urban Canyon Films to produce high-end
documentaries on Japan that are distributed by National Geographic. He has
been recognized by peers as a leading expert in the discovery of military arts of
medieval Japan.
Yoshie Minami was born in Tokyo and currently lives in Saitama, Japan. She
has a BA degree in Linguistics from the International Christian University. As a
translator, she has published True Path of the Ninja, Secret Traditions of the
Shinobi, Iga and Koka Ninja Skills, Samurai War Stories and has worked with
Antony on various projects including the Japanese book True English.

CONTENTS
An Introduction to Natori-Ryū
The Military Writings of our School
Heika Jōdan no Maki
Discussions on Samurai Families
The Five Foundations
The Twelve Tools of Virtue
Skill List for the Scroll Heika Jōdan
Articles for Times of Peace
Articles on Houses
Miscellaneous Articles
Articles on Travel
Articles on Nighttime
Articles on Emergencies
Articles on Striking
Articles on Revenge
Articles on Accusations
Articles on Strength
Ippei Yōkō
Important Points for the Independent Soldier
Introduction
Chapters 1-29
Selected Glossary
AN INTRODUCTION TO NATORI-RYŪ
Natori-Ryū is a samurai school of war founded in the sixteenth century. The
school initially focused on its own military tactics, which included the
administering of medical aid; adherents were known among their allied clans for
producing a salve for sword wounds and tending to the wounded. However, the
main focus was military strategy, developed in the service of the famed warlord
Takeda Shingen of Kōshū, one of the most feared in Japan. The death of Takeda
Shingen heralded the defeat of the Takeda family and in 1582 the wellrespected
warrior vassals of Kōshu gave their allegiance to the future shōgun Tokugawa
Ieyasu. At this point the Natori family split into several divisions, one of which
settled in the area of Kishū, present-day Wakayama prefecture. Here it served
the Kishū arm of the three great Tokugawa houses, branch clans led by three
sons of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
In 1654 Natori Masazumi began his service under the Kishū-Tokugawa clan
and was to become Natori-Ryū’s most influential grandmaster, expanding the
school well beyond its existing curriculum. Being born into the generation of
children and grandchildren of experienced samurai from the age of wars, Natori
Masazumi was surrounded by peers of a much older age who had seen the great
wars first hand and their sons, a generation who had been taught directly by
these war veterans. Faced with a decline in tactical and military prowess and
with a lack of wars to refine soldiery, Natori Masazumi set about collecting a
vast array of samurai arts into an assembly of scrolls, moulding and expanding
his family traditions to create one of the most comprehensive warfare schools of
his time.
Natori-Ryū grew from its original tactical and medical traditions and was
spliced together with the teachings from one branch of Kusunoki-Ryū. Natori
Masazumi studied the skills of Kusunoki-Ryū – including the arts of the shinobi
– through the line of Kusunoki Fuden. He also studied Kōshū-Ryu on the holy
Mount Kōya and integrated those teachings into his still-evolving school.
Furthermore he undertook the colossal project of compiling a samurai
encyclopaedia, cataloguing an extensive amount of Japanese equipment, arms
and armour, including the weaponry of China and essential aspects and utensils
of samurai life. All of this was done with the aim of collecting and maintaining
the true skills of the warrior class before its members evolved from men of
prowess into bureaucrats.
Natori Masazumi became a confidant and close retainer to Lord Yorinobu
Tokugawa of the Kishū-Tokugawa clan, who ordered that Natori-Ryū should be
renamed Shin-Kusunoki-Ryū – The New School of Kusunoki. This alternative
name is used in some of the Natori documents. However, official records, castle
maps and certification point to a continued use of Natori-Ryū as an umbrella
term for all of the above collected skills and traditions. The school was well
respected and appointed as the third most important warfare school of the Kishū
domain, where it instructed a selection of the samurai of the Kishū-Tokugawa
clan in military tactics.
Known locally as Issui Sensei,1 Natori Masazumi retired from active service
in 1685 to the village of Ōno at the base of Mount Kōya and died on 5 May
1708. He was interred at Eiunji temple in Wakayama where his gravestone
stands to this day. He was given the death name Kyūgenin Tekigan Ryosui Koji.
The school continued to flourish after him, maintaining his collected
teachings with various branches being established away from the central line.
The main school finally closed its doors at the end of the samurai era.
Transcriptions of Natori Masazumi’s work found their way into various libraries
and collections, each with attached commentaries from later students of the
school.
The blessing given to Antony Cummins by members of the Natori family.
Natori-Ryū would have remained among the myriad other dead samurai
schools if it were not for the fame given to one of its scrolls, the Shōninki. This
manual is considered as one of the most important works on the arts of the
shinobi. The fame of the scroll has allowed me to diligently follow the trail of
historical documents and to rediscover the story of Natori Masazumi and his
school, Natori-Ryū. The first two scrolls have been presented here in this initial
volume and the complete school is collected within the whole series. The
translation and publication of this series of books, based on the teachings of
Natori-Ryū will encompass all of the school’s original scrolls and will be
accompanied by a reconstruction of the school itself.
On 5 May 2013 at Eiunji temple, a ceremony was held by the monk
Yamamoto Jyuhō to reconnect with the spirit of Natori Masazumi. At the end of
the ceremony the surviving members of the Natori family gave me their official
blessing to re-establish and lead the school into the next generation. Natori-Ryū
welcomes any readers to become students of the school, thereby safeguarding
the teachings of Natori Masazumi. You can discover more through the website
(www.natori.co.uk) and information can be found on major social networking
sites.
Antony Cummins
1 Also, Tōissui.
THE SECRETS OF
NATORI-RYŪ
The Collected Teachings of
NATORI SANJŪRO MASAZUMI
Tō-Ryū Gunsho no Mokuroku
THE MILITARY WRITINGS OF OUR SCHOOL
The following is a list of the titles of the writings of our school, Kusūnoki-Ryū.1
However, the titles for our secret scrolls have not been recorded.
Heika Jōdan no Maki
DISCUSSIONS ON SAMURAI FAMILIES
Containing the military ways and achievements of samurai for normal times.
Heigu Yōhō
IMPORTANT WAYS ON MILITARY TOOLS
Containing the use of armour and weapons.
Ippei Yōkō
IMPORTANT POINTS FOR THE INDEPENDENT SOLDIER
Containing military exploits for independent soldiers.
Heieki Yōhō
IMPORTANT WAYS ON MILITARY DUTIES