Kenpozu Zen

[Mekugi]

I recently stumbled upon a fascinating emaki called "Kempozu Zen". Very interesting and it apperantly has ties to Fujita Seiko. Here's a page that I found digging around. Anyone else familiar with this thing?

[Toby Threadgill]

Russ,

Takamura Sensei had a Yoshin ryu gokui densho that included drawings very similar to this with tengu executing all the waza. I also remember that it was unique because it included some incantations and doka. I wish I knew more about this particular densho but unfortunately I don't. Takamura's daughter sold his significant collection of densho to an antique dealer in Europe following his death. Needless to say several of "us" were quite miffed that these were not made available to his students before being sold off to as if they were furniture. I was very lucky to obtain two of his personal swords and one of his grandfathers Shindo Yoshin ryu menkyo.

Toby Threadgill / TSYR

[rgoad]

This looks familiar. I recall a story from many years ago of a mythological creature that would attack people unless they rendered the proper and polite salutations. The cup on his head contained water, I think, and if you bowed deeply and properly, he would bow in return and spill the water. Once spilled he had to return to the underworld.

That's all I recall of the story after all these years. It was told to children to remind them to be polite. The big nose on the man on the ground indicates a foreigner, I think.

[Gunyo Kogusoku]

Russ,

The technique depicted on the scroll is found in the higher level syllabus of Tenjin Shinyo-ryu, called the Gokui Jodan Tachiai. I won't go into the actual name of the technique itself.

[Mark Barlow]

" I recall a story from many years ago of a mythological creature that would attack people unless they rendered the proper and polite salutations. The cup on his head contained water, I think, and if you bowed deeply and properly, he would bow in return and spill the water. Once spilled he had to return to the underworld."

I think you're confusing the tengu with the kappa. The kappa is the Japanese version of the vampire. It would usually be found near water and would attack unwary travelers. It could be bribed with a cucumber (I swear I'm not making this up) or weakened by bowing low to it so that when it returned the bow, the water in the depression on its head would spill.

The tengu is portrayed as either an old man with a very long nose or as a crow. They were supreme masters of the sword and trained Yoshitsune.

[Mekugi]

Yeah Mark's right. There is confusion about the Tengu and the Kappa here. Those are Tengu in the picture.

I dunno if I would call a kappa a vampire- they seem to be a great deal different. The Japanese word for vampire is Kyūketsuki- which is referencing another thing entirely. Actually, Kappa are like a turtle man with a nasty beak and a bald head. They are famous for their sumo skills, they gain their power from a "wan" or sake bowl/depression on their head when it's wet or filled with water, which is encropped by hair. They like to drink, eat cucumbers (there is a type of "sushi" -nigiri- called kappa-maki, made with cucumbers) and are notable for their sense of humor, which is usually crass.
They are supposed to drown swimmers or pull people into the water who are careless about the edges of rivers- that is their big-bad-deed. Depending on the legend, they eat people and farm animals, sometimes drinking their blood. There is also a story of them swimming underneath people and pulling out their intestines through their anus. Nasty. There is still a tradition of putting people's names on cucumbers and floating them in a river, which is the bribe that was talked about.

Folk tales are a hobby of mine...ever since I lived in Yokkaichi and ran into the Onyudo float while riding my bicycle, which scared the snot out of me and made me wreck.




I think you're confusing the tengu with the kappa. The kappa is the Japanese version of the vampire. It would usually be found near water and would attack unwary travelers. It could be bribed with a cucumber (I swear I'm not making this up) or weakened by bowing low to it so that when it returned the bow, the water in the depression on its head would spill.

[Mekugi]

Any idea who bought them? We could track them down. O. Jun states that they are from Yoshin ryu, but as Steve pointed out they look similar to TSR, and I have seen some of the others in the Emaki that look like some other martial arts. There are two versions that are in circulation, one published/revived by Fujita Seiko and the other is on display at Tohoku Daigaku up in the NW of Japan. Many of the pictures from these documents seem to echo waza familiar to many people. I am very curious about this little book, needless to say.
Russ,

Takamura Sensei had a Yoshin ryu gokui densho that included drawings very similar to this with tengu executing all the waza. I also remember that it was unique because it included some incantations and doka. I wish I knew more about this particular densho but unfortunately I don't. Takamura's daughter sold his significant collection of densho to an antique dealer in Europe following his death. Needless to say several of "us" were quite miffed that these were not made available to his students before being sold off to as if they were furniture. I was very lucky to obtain two of his personal swords and one of his grandfathers Shindo Yoshin ryu menkyo.

Toby Threadgill / TSYR

[Toby Threadgill]

Russ,


"Any idea who bought them? We could track them down. O. Jun states that they are from Yoshin ryu, but as Steve pointed out they look similar to TSR, and I have seen some of the others in the Emaki that look like some other martial arts."

Unfortunately I do not have any idea who bought the collection. I believe the collector lived in Germany or Denmark. Some of the swords this guy also purchased were fantastic, one was a big Nombokucho katana that I use to drool over....but I digress.

Anyway, as for the similarity with TSR or Yoshin ryu, this makes perfect sense. Steve Delaney and I were comparing the waza of TSYR and TSR last year in the UK. Although a bit different in flavor the fact that both these systems descend from Akiyama lineage Yoshin ryu is quite obvious.

btw, How's the pub going Steve?

Toby Threadgill / TSYR

[Mekugi]

Russ,

Takamura Sensei had a Yoshin ryu gokui densho that included drawings very similar to this with tengu executing all the waza. I also remember that it was unique because it included some incantations and doka.
Toby Threadgill / TSYR

Was one of them standing and clapping their hands, and one seated? This picture is interesting. This may be a copy of the same document.


Anyway, as for the similarity with TSR or Yoshin ryu, this makes perfect sense. Steve Delaney and I were comparing the waza of TSYR and TSR last year in the UK. Although a bit different in flavor the fact that both these systems descend from Akiyama lineage Yoshin ryu is quite obvious.
While this may be true, I am not certain that this is a branch of Yoshin Ryu in this emaki- not without proof at least. Just on looking at some of the techiques, which are mostly artisticly inclined glimpses, doesn't tell much (well, not that one can prove, I mean).

[Toby Threadgill]

Russ,


Was one of them standing and clapping their hands, and one seated? This picture is interesting. This may be a copy of the same document.

Boy...It as a long time ago that I saw this densho. I think I would have remembered that image though and don't recall it.


While this may be true, I am not certain that this is a branch of Yoshin Ryu in this emaki- not without proof at least. Just on looking at some of the techiques, which are mostly artisticly inclined glimpses, doesn't tell much (well, not that one can prove, I mean).

Yeah...Agreed. Most illustrated densho are purposely generic and offer little technical insight unless the person holding the scroll has been initiated into its teachings. And frequently the more artistic, the more generic.....


Toby Threadgill / TSYR

[rgoad]

I think you're confusing the tengu with the kappa. The kappa is the Japanese version of the vampire. It would usually be found near water and would attack unwary travelers. It could be bribed with a cucumber (I swear I'm not making this up) or weakened by bowing low to it so that when it returned the bow, the water in the depression on its head would spill.

The tengu is portrayed as either an old man with a very long nose or as a crow. They were supreme masters of the sword and trained Yoshitsune.

You're right, Mark. Kappa. Now I remember. It has been a long time, but I remember thinking it took a lot of guts to stand still and bow to an evil spirit. Thanks.

[Mekugi]

Russ,



Boy...It as a long time ago that I saw this densho. I think I would have remembered that image though and don't recall it.

Toby Threadgill / TSYR
Hmh, I am going to call the University tomorrow and see if I can get some more copies of this.

[Gunyo Kogusoku]

Hmh, I am going to call the University tomorrow and see if I can get some more copies of this.

Russ,

If you can obtain those copies from tohodai , let us know eh? :wink2:

[Mekugi]

Russ,

If you can obtain those copies from tohodai , let us know eh? :wink2:

You bet I will. I just drafted a letter and sent it off. We'll see. Incidentally, the Fujita Seiko version is in a private collection down here in the Aichi area, the other one is a photocopy of a photocopy that came from the daigaku. I am looking for some clearer copies from them. If they let me, I would love to take a trip up there and take some snaps with a slow f-stop to get all the detail in low light conditions (that may be acceptable instead of flashing away at them and fading the color pigment in the ink).