Yamaoka Tesshū (山岡 鉄舟, June 10, 1836 – July 19, 1888), also known as Ono Tetsutarō or Yamaoka Tetsutarō, was a famous samurai of the Bakumatsu period, who played an important role in the Meiji Restoration. He is also noted as the founder of the Itto Shoden Muto-ryu school of swordsmanship.
Yamaoka was born in Edo (present-day Tokyo) as Ono Tetsutaro, where his father was a retainer of the Tokugawa shogunate and his mother was the daughter of a Shinto priest from Kashima Shrine. Yamaoka practiced swordsmanship from the age of nine, starting in the Jikishinkage-ryū tradition. After that he learned Hokushin Ittō-ryū from Inoue Hachirō, who was asked by Yamaoka Tesshū's father to teach his son. Later his family moved to Takayama where he began the Nakanishi-ha Ittō-ryū style of fencing. When he was seventeen, he returned to Edo and joined the government's Kobukan Military Institute and the Yamaoka School of Spear Fighting under Yamaoka Seizan. Not long after Yamaoka had joined the dojo, Seizan died, Yamaoka went on to marry Seizan's sister in order to carry on the Yamaoka name. From an early age, Yamaoka showed dedication and talent in the practice of martial arts. As he grew up, he became well known for several things: his swordsmanship, calligraphy, drinking and sleeping.
Careeredit
Yamaoka Tesshū at a mature age
In 1856, he became supervising instructor of swordsmanship at the Kobukan. In 1863, he became supervisor of the Roshigumi (a force of rōnin or "masterless samurai" serving as a mercenary auxiliary force to the Shogunal army). In 1868, he was appointed chief of the Seieitai, an elite bodyguard for the 15th Shōgun Tokugawa Yoshinobu. He went to Sunpu to negotiate with Saigō Takamori, and brought about Saigō's meeting with Katsu Kaishū, thereby contributing to the surrender of Edo Castle to imperial forces. After the Meiji Restoration, he became an official of the Shizuoka Domain, followed by a posting as governor of the short-lived Imari Prefecture. Later, he served in the court of Emperor Meiji as a chamberlain and close aide. Yamaoka died at the age of fifty-two on July 19, 1888, of stomach cancer. Before his death, he is said to have composed his death poem first, then sat formally and closed his eyes, slipping into death.[1]
Enlightenmentedit
Yamaoka studied the art of swordsmanship thoroughly until the morning of March 30, 1880, at the age of 45, when he became enlightened while in meditation.[2] From this point on, Yamaoka worked to maintain a dojo for his style of combat known as "no-sword" — the point in which a samurai realizes that there is no enemy and that purity of the style is all that is needed. He is famous for his range of Zen art works.
Appearance in Koanedit
Although he lived well after the "Golden Age of Zen", Yamaoka appears in a handful of modern kōan. Three popular koan featuring Yamaoka are listed below.
Nothing Exists, featuring a young and precocious Yamaoka
Children of His Majesty, featuring Yamaoka as the Emperor's teacher
^Stevens, John (2001). The Sword of No Sword: Life of Master Warrior Tesshu. Shambhala. p. 81. ISBN1-57062-050-4.
^Stevens, John (2001). The Sword of No Sword: Life of Master Warrior Tesshu. Shambhala. p. 18. ISBN1-57062-050-4.
Further readingedit
Anshin, Anatoliy. The Truth of the Ancient Ways: A Critical Biography of the Swordsman Yamaoka Tesshu. Kodenkan Institute, 2012.
Anshin, Anatoliy. Collected scholarly works on Yamaoka Tesshu (Japanese only).
External linksedit
Zenshōan (Buddhist temple established by Yamaoka Tesshū in 1883. Preserves numerous materials related to Yamaoka Tesshu and his personal items) Language: Japanese
April 16, 2024
yamaoka, tesshū, 山岡, 鉄舟, june, 1836, july, 1888, also, known, tetsutarō, yamaoka, tetsutarō, famous, samurai, bakumatsu, period, played, important, role, meiji, restoration, also, noted, founder, itto, shoden, muto, school, swordsmanship, between, 1860, 1870bo. Yamaoka Tesshu 山岡 鉄舟 June 10 1836 July 19 1888 also known as Ono Tetsutarō or Yamaoka Tetsutarō was a famous samurai of the Bakumatsu period who played an important role in the Meiji Restoration He is also noted as the founder of the Itto Shoden Muto ryu school of swordsmanship Yamaoka TesshuYamaoka Tesshu between 1860 1870Born 1836 06 10 June 10 1836Tokyo JapanDiedJuly 19 1888 1888 07 19 aged 52 NationalityJapaneseOther namesYamaoka Tetsutarō Ono TetsutarōJapanese nameKanji山岡 鉄舟Hiraganaやまおか てっしゅうTranscriptionsRomanizationYamaoka TesshuIn this Japanese name the surname is Yamaoka Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Enlightenment 4 Appearance in Koan 5 Awards 6 See also 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksEarly life editYamaoka was born in Edo present day Tokyo as Ono Tetsutaro where his father was a retainer of the Tokugawa shogunate and his mother was the daughter of a Shinto priest from Kashima Shrine Yamaoka practiced swordsmanship from the age of nine starting in the Jikishinkage ryu tradition After that he learned Hokushin Ittō ryu from Inoue Hachirō who was asked by Yamaoka Tesshu s father to teach his son Later his family moved to Takayama where he began the Nakanishi ha Ittō ryu style of fencing When he was seventeen he returned to Edo and joined the government s Kobukan Military Institute and the Yamaoka School of Spear Fighting under Yamaoka Seizan Not long after Yamaoka had joined the dojo Seizan died Yamaoka went on to marry Seizan s sister in order to carry on the Yamaoka name From an early age Yamaoka showed dedication and talent in the practice of martial arts As he grew up he became well known for several things his swordsmanship calligraphy drinking and sleeping Career edit nbsp Yamaoka Tesshu at a mature ageIn 1856 he became supervising instructor of swordsmanship at the Kobukan In 1863 he became supervisor of the Roshigumi a force of rōnin or masterless samurai serving as a mercenary auxiliary force to the Shogunal army In 1868 he was appointed chief of the Seieitai an elite bodyguard for the 15th Shōgun Tokugawa Yoshinobu He went to Sunpu to negotiate with Saigō Takamori and brought about Saigō s meeting with Katsu Kaishu thereby contributing to the surrender of Edo Castle to imperial forces After the Meiji Restoration he became an official of the Shizuoka Domain followed by a posting as governor of the short lived Imari Prefecture Later he served in the court of Emperor Meiji as a chamberlain and close aide Yamaoka died at the age of fifty two on July 19 1888 of stomach cancer Before his death he is said to have composed his death poem first then sat formally and closed his eyes slipping into death 1 Enlightenment editYamaoka studied the art of swordsmanship thoroughly until the morning of March 30 1880 at the age of 45 when he became enlightened while in meditation 2 From this point on Yamaoka worked to maintain a dojo for his style of combat known as no sword the point in which a samurai realizes that there is no enemy and that purity of the style is all that is needed He is famous for his range of Zen art works Appearance in Koan editAlthough he lived well after the Golden Age of Zen Yamaoka appears in a handful of modern kōan Three popular koan featuring Yamaoka are listed below Nothing Exists featuring a young and precocious Yamaoka Children of His Majesty featuring Yamaoka as the Emperor s teacher Storyteller s Zen showing Yamaoka using skillful meansAwards editYamaoka posthumously was a recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun 2nd class nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yamaoka Tesshu See also editTakahashi DeishuReferences edit Stevens John 2001 The Sword of No Sword Life of Master Warrior Tesshu Shambhala p 81 ISBN 1 57062 050 4 Stevens John 2001 The Sword of No Sword Life of Master Warrior Tesshu Shambhala p 18 ISBN 1 57062 050 4 Further reading editAnshin Anatoliy The Truth of the Ancient Ways A Critical Biography of the Swordsman Yamaoka Tesshu Kodenkan Institute 2012 Anshin Anatoliy Collected scholarly works on Yamaoka Tesshu Japanese only External links editZenshōan Buddhist temple established by Yamaoka Tesshu in 1883 Preserves numerous materials related to Yamaoka Tesshu and his personal items Language Japanese Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yamaoka Tesshu amp oldid 1214907077, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
