The founder of Eishin Ryu was Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu, who lived between 1546 and 1621 in present-day Kanagawa Prefecture. He grew up during a time of constant warfare in Japan and was exposed to various sword-fighting methods from an early age. It is said that he went to Yamagata Prefecture to pray for guidance and receive divine inspiration for a new way of drawing the sword. However the circumstances came about, at some point he established his own style of swordsmanship, calling it Shinmei Muso-ryu; "divinely inspired, unparalleled style."
Hayashizaki's iaido has had many names since then. It is considered the foundation for the two major styles of iaido practiced today: Eishin-ryu; and Muso Shinden-ryu. In each generation a headmaster, or soke, has been appointed to guide the practice of the art, and each soke has had his own influence on the development of iaido. As an example, Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu was originally developed for the tachi, a slightly longer and more deeply curved predecessor of the katana. Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Eishin, from whom the style's name is derived, adapted the style to the newly developed katana.
One of the most important soke in the system is the 17th soke, Oe Masamichi. Political issues caused by his actions caused a split of many styles that all claim Eishin-ryu lineage, as well as the division between Muso Shinden-ryu and Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu. However, Oe is the one who combined the teachings of the Shimomura-ha and Tanimura-ha branches, and organized Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu into the system of seiza (shoden), tatehiza (chuden), and okuiai (okuden) waza sets we know today. |
