© Copyright Robert Cole 1998 - No copying or distributing -Note: Missing graphics
The Eight DO
SAIKAIDO - The Eight Roads of KOTO
BUNGO HIKOZAN School - YUKIHIRA

HIKOZAN SANZENBO "The Three Thousand Priests" of HIKOZAN - were not all sword smiths. The SHUGEN-DO YAMABUSHI covered the mountain with Temples hearlding MASAYA-AKATSU-KACHI-HAYAHI-AMA-NO-OSHIHOMIMI no MIKOTO, 
AMATERASU's eldest See Sovereigns
                    Suplimentary history see: KAMAKURA Power Play
                 Or as Acrobat-Reader file: GOTOBApdf

                         Deeply curved FUNBARI TACHI. Moist and 
_________                 running ITAME. SUGU KO-MIDARE with YO 
MORISHIGE DAI-DO 806       in NIE. KINSUJI and INAZUMA. HOTSURE.
_________________
YAMATO SO SADANRI KAN-JI 1087
  ______                                    YUKIHIRA EI-EN 987 
  TEISHU - HIKOZAN Priest YO-WA 1181       MASATSUNE CHO-GEN 1028
    |______________________             USA TOMOYUKI TEN-NIN 1108
____|___               ____|___             ________
YUKIHIRA GEN-KYU 1204  SHIGEIYE GEN-RYAKU   KIYOHIRA GEN-RYAKU
    |______________________ ________________ ___________________
____|____               ___|____  __________|____               |
MASATSUNE SHO-KYU 1219  KANEHIRA  MUTSU YUKISHIGE KEN-KYU 1190  |
____|____               SHO-JI  ____________|____               |
YOSHIKUNI TEI-O 1222            SENJUIN SHIGEYUKI TEM-PUKU 1233 |
    |_____________             YUKIHIRA-ZABURO "Third YUKIHIRA" |
____|___      ____|____                                         |
MUNEYASU      SADAYOSHI KEN-PO 1213                             |
KAN-GEN 1243  YOSHINORI/SADANORI/SADANARI(t&f: YUKIHIRA)        |
               ___|____                                         |
               SADANORI KEN-CHO 1249                            |
               ___|____                  ________               |
               SADAHARU BUN-EI 1264      SADASUYE YO-WA 1181    |
       _________ _________ ____________________ ________________|
   ___|____  ___|____  ___|____  ________   ___|____             
   SADAHARU  YUKIZANE  YASUNORI  YASUSADA   IYESHIGE SHO-JI 1199 
     - SHO-KYU 1219 -     | -SHO-JI 1199-   ___|____             
         _________________|                 SHIGEIYE KAN-GEN 1243
   _____|__ -brothers- ___|_____  
   YASUNARI            YASUMITSU GEN-KYU 1204 
   KAN-EI 1206         ___|_____  
                       MITSUTOMO TEN-PUKU 1233                   
_________         
KUNITSUNA NIN-PYO 1151
____|____ 
SUKECHIKA SHO-JI 1199
____|__
ARIYUKITEI-O 1222

_____________                              __________     
KI MITSUTSUNE TEM-PUKU 1233                KI ARIHIRA KO-CHO 1261
_______|____                               __________        
KI KUNITSUNA BUN-RYAKU 1234                MITSUTSUNE KO-AN 1278
       |___________becomes_________        ____|____           
_______|___               KUNITSUGU        KUNITSUNA KA-REKI 1326
KI TOMOSADA KEN-CHO 1249     | SHO-O 1288     
_______|____              ___|_____            
KI MASATSUNE SHO-CHU 1324 TOMOTSUGU SHO-WA 1312 

BUNGO HIKOZAN SANZENBO - Patriarch: HIKOZAN JOSHU or SADAHIDE
TEISHU YO-WA: Forever held in priestly reverence, he was never
        called SADAHIDE, the alternate pronunciation. Long 
        reported the father of YUKIHIRA, his name was SEIKEN when
        he was head student among the HIKOZAN-SANZENBO Three 
        Thousand Priests of HIKOZAN. These true YAMABUSHI priests
        of HIKOZAN dedicated their work to the son of AMATERASU 
        "The Divine Godess of the Sun." As signatures are known 
        to vary and the work style, in his steel, differs 
        somewhat from that of YUKIHIRA, questions have arisen as 
        to their true relationship. Both, however, are leaders in
        BUNGO and exhibit YAMASHIRO sword style.
        Deeply curved HEIAN KOSHIZORI, KO-KISSAKI TACHI with deep
        FUNBARI. SORI in MONOUCHI may straighten. He also made 
        curveless TANTO. His moist steel is a drawn and running
        KO-ITAME with thick, wet JI-NIE; and the CHIKEI reveals 
        the KITAE, an old forging pattern. HOTSURE strays from 
        the HABUCHI which will be made up of particularly wet and
        deep-falling NIOI. KINSUJI and excellent KO-NIE FUKASHI 
        that seems to gather together strikes a beautiful balance
        in his swimming and brilliant YAKIBA. The range of which
        is thinning SUGU KO-MIDARE of small inlets with KO-ASHI 
        to KO-MIDARE of CHOJI BA. YAKIOTOSHI is an expected 
        feature. BOSHI: SUGU NIE-KUDZURE with KO-MARU.
     TEISHU
     SO TEISHU
     TEISHU SAKU
     BUNGOnoKUNI SO TEISHU
     BUNGOnoKUNI SO TEISHU SAKU

JUYO BIJUTSU HIN TEISHU
NAGASA: 2 SHAKU 5.9 SUN 
SORI: 8.8 BU 
NAKAGO: 6.5 SUN
MOTO-HABA: 1 SUN
SAKI-HABA: 5.4 BU

A once possession of MEIJI scholar, TAKENAKA KOKAN. SHINOGI-TSUKURI, IHORI-MUNE, KOSHIZORI TACHI. The KO-KISSAKI is abruptly curved, exaggerating an acute resolve to the point. This KISSAKI structure directs an unusual power on the very point, which is supported by the reach of the KO-SHINOGI and gentle slope of FUNBARI. 

A luminous sheet of fine JI-NIE bathes the JI while cotton-soft NIOI KO-CHOJI complicate its long HOSO-SUGU that sweeps the HA. The HABUCHI seems to break while HOTSURE feigns a brief SHIMA-BA. The lines amend and dance. KINSUJI occasions the widening YAKIBA which falls YAKIOTOSHI just above the MACHI. 

BOSHI: The NIOI-KUZURE like SUGU turns in a sharp KO-MARU, almost YAKIZUME. 

UBU NAKAGO. 

Two MEKUGI-ANA TACHI NAGA-MEI:
               BUNGO-no-KUNI JU SO TEISHU SAKU


BUNGO HIKOZAN - YUKIHIRA, KISHIN-DAYU
ICHIMONJI NI-JU YO-NIN GOBAN “24-man Goban” KAJI
        One of the most pivotal smiths in all of history

In YUKIHIRA, we have an enigma. He is called KISHIN-DAYU, 'The Great Man of the New KI. TAYU means Great Man or Big Boss. BUNGO KI is their school.

He was a priest of the HIKO YAMA-BUSHI, “Three Thousand Priests” or Temples of Mt HIKO, Imperialists all, bread to the bone.

KI appears, along with attributions to YUKIHIRA, in several characters. One, “ONI,” is used for the first GASSAN, ONIOMARU, or KIYOMARU.

The same KI is put with SHIN for “God” or KAMI, “KI-SHIN” or Devil-KAMI. YUKIHIRA is called HOSHI or “person in charge of care” as he worked, and had students, in YAMATO, MUTSU and KOZUKE. URIZANE is SHIN-DAYU, who is YUKIHIRA and also his son, YASUNORI. MUTSU SHOBUTSU is URIZANE and another listed as HOJU.

We see these names, YUKIHIRA and his students, ardent and active Imperialists, popping up all over the main style artery of Japan, that long tread track of MUTSU to YAMATO to Big City, KYOTO.

All styles of the Japanese sword trace their origins to this path.
YUKIHIRA GEN-KYU (t: SO TEISHU): 24 GOBAN KAJI - 4th month. Said 
        a priest of HIKOZAN. KISHINDAYU, - the new KI man. BIZEN,
        HEIAN style, deeply curved and narrowing to a small 
        KO-KISSAKI or wide bladed CHU-KISSAKI. KO-ITAME with 
        O-HADA that seems drawn. A delicate, UTSURI JI-NIE 
        appears like vapor. KO-MIDARE KO-CHOJI BA with ASHI in 
        KO-NIE and deep NIOI. KINSUJI and SUNAGASHI. HOTSURE.
        YAKIOTOSHI (HAMON drops away near the MACHI) is a trait.
        BOSHI can be HAKIKAKE from YAKIZUME. Believed the 
        originator of KURIKARA dragon HORIMONO in a frame. It has

        been reported that red lacquer applied to the carved 
        frame was a common expectation of the day. May sign on 
        either side. 
        Occasionally signed with his "Hidden" MEI: MUNEHIDE
     YUKIHIRA
     MUNEHIDE
     YUKIHIRA SAKU
     BUNGOnoKUNI YUKIHIRA
     BUNGOnoKUNI YUKIHIRA SAKU
 Tokubetsu Juyo Yukihira 

      History has forgotten the singular efforts of this great supporter of the Imperial House and his coordinating and securing GOTOBA’s new ICHIMONJI sword revolution and armaments supply for the coming Imperial Restoration. This Heavenly adjustment would correct the imbalance created for society when Samurai  governance imposed itself over the offices and precincts of grandfather, GO-SHIRAKAWA.
The HOJO were keeping power only by holding the vacant MINAMOTO SHOGUNAL banner, with an obscure 2 year old, following 3rd SHOGUN, MINAMOTO SANETOMO’s assassination. 

As a 12 year old, GOTOBA signed away the true right of the Imperial Throne, its power to govern, to 
MINAMOTO YORITOMO. 
Now the adult created an industry - to produce and manufacture the new, revolutionary ICHIMONJI sword - to be the “Excalibur” that he and his ICHIMONJI GOBAN smiths had invented. For this, YUKIHIRA, his far flung students and Imperialist YAMABUSHI, HIKOZAN Priests, reverers of AMATERASU’s eldest son, would give their tireless preparation. 

History has fogotten the singular efforts of this great supporter of the Imperial House and his coordinating and securing GOTOBA’s new ICHIMONJI sword revolution and armaments supply for the coming Imperial Restoration

This Heavenly adjustment would correct the imbalance created for society when Samurai governence imposed itself over the offices and precints of grandfather, GO-SHIRAKAWA

The HOJO were keeping power only by holding the vacant MINAMOTO SHOGUNAL banner, with an obscur 2 year old, following 3rd SHOGUN, SANETOMO’s assassinasion. 

GOTOBA, as a 12 year old, signed away the true right of the Imperial Throne, its power to govern, to MINAMOTO YORITOMO. He was now creating an industry to produce and manufacture his revolutionary, new ICHIMONJI-class sword, to be their “Excalabur”, he and his ICHIMONJI GOBAN smiths had invented.

It was for this, YUKIHIRA, with his Imperialist, YAMABUSHI, HIKOZAN Priests and far flung students, would work and give their tireless preparation.

YUKIHIRA’s HIKOZAN Priests were revereors of AMATERASU’s eldest son. BUNGO had been Imperial ever since SHINSOKU brought his HACHIMAN-GU in 712 AD (See BUZEN). YUKIHIRA and students appear in all the diverse provinces that contributed secrets and methodology to KYOTO and GOTOBA’s secret, Imperial manufacturing conspiracy. Swords to restore the Throne. 

BUNGO, MUTSU to YAMATO SENJUIN, - YUKIHIRA’s was the same path and style mix that led to the YAMASHIRO RAI and, later, SOSHU style waves. - The ancient road. See KAMAKURA Schoolspdf

 
SOSHU would take from this same style-river. Following the failure of the Imperial Cause in the SHOKYU-RAN war, which left FUKUOKA producing its magical ICHIMONJI proto-type, SOSHU would pass its own style record out from KAMAKURA to the North and to the South.

The HOJO's SOSHU, MASAMUNE sword style is a history that came as a wave, over the top of the paths of YUKIHIRA and their ICHIMONJI GOBAN of GOTOBA’s Imperial dream.


KOKUHO YUKIHIRA  -  National Treasure
                                       Sword of HOSOKAWA YUSAI

Hosokawa Yusai 
           NAGASA: 2 SHAKU 6.4 SUN            MOTO-HABA: 9 BU
             SORI: 9.8 BU                     SAKI-HABA: 5 BU
           NAKAGO: 5.8 SUN

        SHINOGI-TSUKURI, IHORI-MUNE TACHI. The elongated KO-KISSAKI is 
        a graceful extension of the gradual and stately KOSHIZORI, 
        FUNBARI SUGATA. The sword appears wet. HAMON is a complex MIDARE 
        of NIOI and KO-NIE FUKASHI of "Rising Smoke." HOTSURE flares 
        above ASHI, KINSUJI and SUNAGASHI creating a seething landscape, 
        tortured and burning. YAKIBA resolves in YAKIOTOSHI. 
        YAKIZUME HAKIKAKE BOSHI. 
        OMOTE KOSHI-MOTO has SAGURI-RYU "Creeping Dragon" and BONJI 
        HORIMONO, while URA is BISHAMONTEN and BONJI.
        KIJIMOMO NAKAGO is TACHI URA-MEI:
                          BUNGO-no-KUNI YUKIHIRA SAKU
                ______________________
HOSOKAWA FUJITAKA TEN-MON 4, 1535 to KEI-CHO 15, 1610. 
He championed ASHIKAGA YOSHIAKI over the ASHIKAGA infant brother, YOSHIHIDE, being backed by the MIYOSHI (See DAIHANNYA). It was he that brought NOBUNAGA into the game and which lead to the destruction of the MIYOSHI and punishing of the ASAKURA and ASAI (See ODANI & KATSUIYE). He received OTOKUNI in YAMASHIRO and fought with HIDEYOSHI against the MORI.

At the same time his son, TADAOKI, received TANGO fighting in conjunction with AKECHI MITSUHIDE's SANINDO SEIBATSU in TAMBA. He married MITSUHIDE's daughter but refused his father-in-law's call against the ODA.

Although married, he expressed his position by having her cloistered. She would be Baptized later, "Gracia." Because he sought union bewteen IYEYASU and HIDEYOSHI's favored proponent, MAEDA TOSHIIYE, ISHIDA KAZUSHIGE listed TADAOKI's family to reside as hostages in OSAKA.

Rather than be hampered with the lives of his family, TADAOKI sent word that they should die before being taken. Gracia willingly accepted. She was 38.

After 1600, he was transferred to BUZEN using the name HOSOKAWA. He was decisive in the seige at OSAKA ruining the TOYOTOMI forever.

TADAOKI's father never raised against IYEYASU and never took part in SEKIGAHARA. He died in 1610 before the OSAKA SEIBATSU.


YUKIHIRA TACHI
NAGASA: 88.8cm
  SORI:  1.8cm

A new version of the old style. 
SHINOGI-TSUKURI, IHORI-MUNE, narrow width KOSHIZORI TACHI SUGATA. 

ITAME HADA with a luminous veil of JI-NIE. 

ASAKI-NOTARE present KO-MIDARE BA of KO-ASHI IRI in NIOI and KO-NIE. SUNAGASHI sweeps through figures. 

NOTARE-KOMI to slight turnaback. The YAKIBA falls to YAKI-OTOSHI. 

There is a deeply carved 'Statue in a Niche' with a BONJI just above in the KOSHI-OMOTE. 

UBU NAKAGO with three MEKUGI-ANA.

Signed TACHI URA-MEI:
               BUNGO-no-KUNI YUKIHIRA SAKU


KISHIN-DAYUICHIMONJI YUKIHIRA
The greatest master of the
  HIKOZAN SANZENBO “The Three-Thousand Priests” of HIKOZAN

        MUNEHIDE - the “Hidden Hand” or secret MEI of YUKIHIRA, 
                                    the KI-SHIN DAYU Great Man of the BUNGO KI

NAGASA:
SORI:
KISSAKI-NAGA:
SAKI-HABA:
MOTO-HABA:
NAKAGO:
NAKAGO-ZORI:
NAKAGO-MOTOHABA:
NAKAGO-KURIJIRI:
2 SHAKU 5.7 SUN
9 BU
8 BU
5.1 BU
1 SUN
7.1 SUN
3 RIN
8.5 BU
4 BU
- or 77.6cm
- or  2.7cm
- or  2.5cm
- or  1.7cm
- or  3.0cm
- or 21.5cm
- or   .5cm
- or  2.6cm
- or  1.2cm
    Gift of a grateful Japan... 
    A great and unique collection for literally saving the Japanese 
    sword NIHONTO, select pieces from their personal collections by 
    
    the country’s political, social and cultural leaders, and creators of the NBTHK
                Dr Homma - Mr Hosokawa - Mr Asano 
              -BUNGO YUKIHIRA / MUNEHIDE
              -BIZEN IYESUKE  -RAI KUNITOSHI TACHI  -ENJU KUNITOKI TACHI  -KO-BIZEN NARITAKA TACHI  -SHINTOGO TANTO  -KANESADA BONJI WAKIZASHI  -HOJOJI KUNIMITSU NAGINATA  -KYO NOBUKUNI O-TANTO
    Closing the gasping grasp of MacArthur’s furnace, he marshalled the 
    occupation and all powers that be... A mini-Marshell Plan to save 
    the Japanese sword and create the NBTHK.
HEIAN TACHI SUGATA. Running ITAME HADA is well-knit and without KIZU, its steel-health remaining un-robbed. Swimming MIDARE UTSURI plays a dynamic counter-point down the entire JI.

Deep NIOI-GUCHI marks a YAKIBA that hangs closely on the HA but for the rising arguement of complex tempests, forever frozen. The smallest KO-NIE cling in the HABUCHI where HATARAKI of KINSUJI and SUNAGASHI ploy the constant change of varying KO-GUNOME and KO-CHOJI. Large KOSHIBA rise on both sides through the lower and resolve in his expected and famous YAKI-OTOSHI.

BOSHI follows the FUKURA around to the SAKI where a slight HAKIKAKE of his fine KO-NIE is discerned.

YUKIHIRA's “hidden” name is signed TACHI URA-MEI:
                                       MUNEHIDE

The NAKAGO SUGATA is unargueable.  Munehide (Yukihira) 


BUNGO HIKOZAN
YASUNORI SHO-JI (t: YUKIHIRA): To GEN-NIN 1224. ITAME MASAME,
        "running HADA" with SUGU, MIDARE and NOTARE-MIDARE HAMON
        patterns. Also signed URIZANE
     YASUNORI
     URIZANE

MASATSUNE SHO-KYU (grf: YUKIHIRA): Styled after BIZEN MASATSUNE.
        ITAME. HOSO-SUGUHA with ASHI, NOTARE-MIDARE and 
        NIE-FUKASHI KO-CHOJI MIDARE with ASHI.

SADAYOSHI (f: YOSHIKUNI, grf: MASATSUNE, t: YUKIHIRA): KOZUKE JU.
        KI smith. GUNOME KO-MIDARE in NIE. Other signatures were
        YOSHINORI, SADANORI and SADANARI.
     BUNGO-no-KUNI SADAYOSHI SAKU

IYESHIGE SHO-JI (t: YUKIHIRA): Defined MOKUME. SUGU KO-MIDARE and
        NOTARE BA.

___________
BUNGO CHOEN
  CHOEN smiths from BUNGO produced rough MASAME furrowed ITAME.
                                             More CHOEN in BUZEN 
____________
NA-RYO-HOSHI GEN-RYAKU:KO-MASAME. HOSO-SUGU KO-GUNOME MIDARE.

BUNGO CHOEN line heads to fortify the CHIKUZEN coast: KAMAKURA.
______
RYOSAI BUN-RYAKU 1234
   |____________________________________________
___|__________________________               ___|__
KUNIYOSHI (Priest name: SAIREN) KO-AN 1278   NYUSAI EI-NIN 1293
___|__
JITSUA(2) KA-GEN 1303 
(Father of CHIKUZEN SA) See CHIKUZEN 
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