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The Eight DO

SANINDO - The Eight Roads of KOTO
   HOKI OHARA

Iwashimizu-Hachiman-Gu


O-ITAME HADA. ARARE "Hailstone" knot-like HADA has CHIKEI and 
JI-NIE. SUGUHA with YO, KO-MIDARE BA with ASHI, SUGU KO-CHOJI 
MIDARE in NIE with SUNAGASHI and KINSUJI.
________                                              
YASUTADA TEMPYO-HOJI 757       ________               
_________                      TAKEYASU DAI-DO 806   KURAYOSHI JU
YASUTSUNA "JINSHI" DAI-DO      ___|___           
__|_____               806     NICHIJO SHO-WA 834 
SANEMORI KA-SHO 848            ___|___                    _______
  |________________________    GETSUJO GEN-KEI 877        ARIKANE
__|______              ____|____                          ___|___
MORITSUNA KAN-PYO 889  SHIGENAGA NIN-WA 885     TEN-TOKU: IYEYASU
  |__________________ _____________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________|
__|______         ___|____      ___|____        ___|___   ___|___
SANETSUNA         SADAHIRA      ARITSUNA        YASUIYE   IYETOKI
  | SHO-HYO 931   KAN-KO 1004   ___|_____                 ___|___
  |                             TAMEYOSHI EI-EN 987       IYENAGA
  |                             ___|____              KAN-KO 1004
  |                             TAMESUKE KAN-KO 1004
  |____________________ __________________ _____________         
__|______           ___|____           ___|____      ___|____    
SADATSUNA O-WA 961  YASUMORI O-WA 961  TAMEKIYO      SANEMUNE    
__|______              |__________     TEN-ROKU 970  KAN-KO 1004  
YOSHIMORI           ___|____   ___|____      _______
KAN-KO 1004         TAKEYASU   TOMOYASU      ARIYUKI NIN-WA 885  
_____________       O-WA 961   CHO-TOKU 995  ____|_____          
HOKI MUNEYASU                _________       SHIGETOSHI EN-GI 901
___|____                     SADATSUGU       ____|____           
IYEMOCHI SHO-RYAKU 990       KAN-WA 985      MITSUNOBU EI-EN 987 
 
YASUTSUNA DAI-DO: His name, YOKOSE-ZABURO-DAYU has named the
        group OHARA-SABURO-DAYU. Old writing places his work to
        DAI-DO 806, when the CHOKUTO straight-sword style fades.
        On his name, the curved NIHONTO Japanese Sword is laid 
        credit. 
        Note: All dates for old schools are to be questioned. 
        Names repeatedly repeat. Appraisal constantly asks date.
        His FUNBARI is measurably strong but seems hidden to the
        eye, the power of form following the whole length. Strong
        KO-KISSAKI sits atop KOSHIZORI SUGATA - elegant. A 
        straightening of the MONOUCHI is reminiscent of KO-BIZEN.
        JI-NIE and UTSURI dress dark O-ITAME that runs. There is
        CHIKEI. The uneven, CHU-width HA-HADA YAKIBA is a complex
        KO-CHOJI MIDARE/KO-MIDARE BA where ASHI, KINSUJI and 
        INAZUMA collide. NIOI and KO-NIE are FUKASHI and long 
        KINSUJI-like SUNAGASHI variegates the line. Thin HOTSURE
        strings seem brushed or swept from the tops in places. 
        NIE becomes ARA in the MIDARE-KOMI BOSHI, which generally
        continues the YAKIBA width to a very slight KAERI. Or 
        possibly KAEN with NIE-KUZURE. Usually YAKI-OTOSHI is 
        found above a long and curved, tapering KURIJIRI NAKAGO.
        Some KIJIMOMO. SHI "Rope" radical of his TSUNA will be 
        under the YASU, while the "Mountain" side will sit to the
        right. Thick strokes. Also known as JINSHI.
     Two-character MEI: YASUTSUNA
 Tokubetsu Juyo Yasutsuna 


KOKUHO DOJI-KIRI YASUTSUNA   "Monster-Cutter"
   ~ "Five Great Swords" ~ National Treasure

Young MINAMOTO YORIMITSU gave up his bow 
         to take the head of the evil SHUTEN-DOJI with a stroke
                                             from this sword...



NAGASA: 2 SHAKU 6.4 SUN
   SORI: 8.9 BU
NAKAGO: 6.6 SUN
MOTO-HABA: 9.8 BU
SAKI-HABA: 6.3 BU

SHINOGI-TSUKURI, IHORI-MUNE TACHI. A feeling of width belies the FUNBARI to bring strength to the MONOUCHI. This play of subtlety and power creates an austere grace. Its thick KASANE and rich NIKU exemplify the powerful SUGATA. 

JI-NIE covers ITAME HADA where CHIKEI is found. 

The NIE and NIOI-FUKASHI KO-MIDARE is a KO-CHOJI MIDARE that crushes together. Dropping NIOI-ASHI are pulled and broken by the competition of SUNAGASHI and long striating KINSUJI which crevasse through the mid. - It is the jagged face of a crumbling glacier. 

BOSHI: KINSUJI runs through KO-MARU to the SAKI. 

YAKI-OTOSHI shows fire-storm UTSURI that flashes into the JI.

UBU, single MEKUGI-ANA NAKAGO with two character MEI.




HOKI YASUTSUNA School
NICHIJO SHO-WA (f: TAKEYASU): KURAYOSHI JU. TORIIZORI HEIAN TACHI
        SUGATA has raised SHINOGIs with NIKU and elongated 
        KISSAKI. CHU-width KO-CHOJI KO-MIDARE BA in ARA-NIE. 
    MEI: CHOE NICHIJO
         ICHIMIYA NICHIJO
         ICHIMIYA CHOE NICHIJO
         HOKI-no-KUNI ICHIMIYA NICHIJO

SANEMORI KA-SHO (f: YASUTSUNA): Born: EN-RYAKU 15, 796 and died 
        in JO-GAN 3, 861. He also was given the name YOKOSE. 
        SANEMORI seems a gentler hand than his father. Strong 
        KOSHIZORI (deep curve near MACHIs) mark his HEIAN TACHI
        SUGATA. Prominent FUNBARI and KO-KISSAKI. Evenly textured 
        O-ITAME that stands. CHIKEI. KO-MIDARE BA or KO-CHOJI 
        KO-MIDARE in KO-NIE. The KIJI-MOMO NAKAGO shows a 
        squarish, stylized signature near the MUNE in thick 
        strokes. 
        Secret MEI: GEKKEI UNKAKU "Emperors' Servant." He is also
        said to have signed GYO-NIN, and SHO is included.
    MEI: SANEMORI
         OHARA SANEMORI
         SANEMORI TSUKURU
         HOKI OHARA SANEMORI
         HOKI-no-KUNI OHARA SANEMORI TSUKURU

IWASHIMIZU HACHIMAN-GU
     The MINAMOTO
Seiwa Genji

Sadazumi-Shinno
Minamoto Tsunemoto
Minamoto Mitsunaka 

     |____________
_____|___     ____|___
YORIMITSU     YORINOBU           Talented Minamoto Sons 
              ____|____
              YORIYOSHI 
                  |_____________________ ________________________
__________________|___  ________________|___  ___________________|____
HACHIMAN-TARO YOSHIIYE  KAMO-JIRO YOSHITSUNA  SHINRA-SABURO YOSHIMITSU 
               1st Son               2nd Son                   3rd Son

Iwashimizu Hachiman-Gu
EI-SHO 2, 1048: Little 7 year old, MINAMOTO GENDA took his GEMBUKU Adult Initiation Ceremony at IWASHIMIZU HACHIMAN-GU, Kyoto Shrine to the Spirit of Emperor OJIN, JINGU's son (see BUZEN USA), HACHIMAN - God of War.

HACHIMAN placed favor to little GENDA and became the MINAMOTO Guardian Deity. Likewise, GENDA became MINAMOTO YOSHIIYE, HACHIMAN-TARO - "First Son," MINAMOTO prodigy and master of Military Arts.

YOSHIIYE's Grand-Uncle, YORIMITSU, slayer of SHUTEN-DOJI (see above), had rid the Imperial abode of the steely Fox with his trusted bow and placed the MINAMOTO reputation for the marksman's eye.

YOSHIIYE's father, SAGAMI no KAMI and MUTSU no KAMI MINAMOTO YORIYOSHI, had been distinguished, with his father, expelling TAIRA MURAOKA-GORO TADATSUNE from ill-seized, AWA - CHO-GEN 4, 1031.

YOSHIIYE's second brother, MINAMOTO YOSHITSUNA took his GEMBUKU with the Kyoto Guardians at KAMO, becoming KAMO-JIRO - 2nd brother.


ZEN KU-NEN no EKI - The Nine Years War
Now, ABE YORITOKI threatened the general serenity by creating an autonomous region in MUTSU and worse: failing his taxes. 

The Governors of DEWA and MUTSU set against him but were repulsed. The Emperor then called upon MINAMOTO YORIYOSHI with the commission of CHINJUFU-SHOGUN. 


Seal CHINJUFU 
YORIYOSHI set off with the 14 year-old YOSHIIYE and his younger brother. Patriarch, ABE YORITOKI was felled with a MINAMOTO arrow on the first encounter.

ABE son, SADATO, however, stood against YORIYOSHI at KAWASAKI, driving him back and stalemating the war.

 ~YOSHIIYE drawing down on SADATO~
It took four years and the 10,000 re-enforcements of DEWA standard-bearer, KIYOWARA TAKANORI, out from YAMAGATA, along with MINAMOTO father and sons to roll victories over the ABE. First at KOMAKI, again at home fortress, KOROMOGAWA and finally bringing conclusion with the death of SADATO at KURIYAGAWA, KO-HEI 5, 1062. 
  ______________________________
Last ABE, MUNETO, surrendered to YOSHIIYE and shaved his head.

       -YORIYOSHI received IYO no KAMI, soon becoming BONZE and then after known
        as IYO-NYUDO.

       -YOSHIIYE became DEWA no KAMI

       -YOSHITSUNA awarded MUTSU no KAMI

       -TAKANORI was awarded, CHINJUFU-SHOGUN


EI-HO 1081: YOSHIIYE is raised to CHINJUFU-SHOGUN to quell the disturbance from the monks of ONJO-JI laying revenge to ENRYAKU-JI.
  
Meanwhile:
YORIYOSHI SANSHI, 3rd son and YOSHIIYE brother, MINAMOTO YOSHIMITSU, came of age and took his GEMBUKU on the SHATO Precinct Grounds of the SHINRA MYOJIN "Gracious Deity" and is known from then forth as SHINRA-SABURO, the "3rd Brother of the SHINRA." YOSHIMITSU is famous as excelled in both BUGEI Martial Arts and ONGAKU Music.
GO SAN no EKI or The Later Three Years War
TAKANORI's son, SADAHIRA inherited and ruled six KORI in MUTSU. His brother, KIYOWARA IYEHIRA and Uncle, TAKAHIRA revolted, O-TOKU 3, 1086.

War raged over the entire MUTSU Province and CHINJUFU-SHOGUN MINAMOTO YOSHIIYE was sent against them.

YOSHIIYE's brother, YOSHIMITSU was SABEI no JO, "Guard of the Left" of the MINAMOTO KANKI government and received YOSHIIYE's urgent message, ordering him to proceed north and relieve their hard station in MUTSU.

 
GO SAN no EKI  
On their way, the Army stopped at DAIGO-TENNO's Ancient Gate of the ASHIGARA Road that had separated and therefore created the KANSAI of the West and the KANTO, later IYEYASU's "Rice-Basket," in the East.

There, it is said, YOSHIMITSU learned the secret reed of the mysterious SHO and that its forbidden music brought his victory against TAKAHIRA and the permanent ruination of the DEWA KIYOWARA house and blood.

On their Triumphal Return, KAN-JI 3,1089, YOSHIMITSU was awarded
                      HITACHI no KAMI and KAI no KAMI

MINAMOTO YOSHIMITSU died in DAI-JI 1127, 10th Month. He was 82.


JUYO BUNKAZAI OHARA SANEMORI
          - Sword of SHINRA SABURO MINAMOTO YOSHIMITSU

SHINRA SABURO 
MINAMOTO YOSHINITSU


JUYO BUNKAZAI OHARA SANEMORI
                   of SHINRA SABURO MINAMOTO YOSHIMITSU























NAGASA: 76.7cm

SHINOGI-TSUKURI HEIAN TACHI SUGATA. Strength and power rides to the KISSAKI from an evenly rising FUNBARI. 

Flowing and complex O-ITAME HADA runs and stands. His MIDARE of KO-CHOJI rises and falls. SUNAGASHI runs in the grain and SHIMA BA dots the line. 

BOSHI is MIDARE-KOMI of dotting SHIMA BA. 

           "Flowing Power" describes its styling in all aspects. 

KIJI-MOMO NAKAGO where multiple mounts hide in three ANAs. KURI-JIRI with his stylish, three-character MEI:
                                                                                      SANEMORI TSUKURU






Sanemori Tachi - Kokuho

Sanemori Tachi - Kokuho
Nagasa: 83cm
Moto-Haba: 3.3cm


Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, Chu-Kissaki.
Standing Ko-Itame Hada with Ji-Nie and Chikei.
Smooth Asaki-Notare holds Ko-Nie Fukashi Ko-Midare Ba of great variation. Kinsuji increases in the lower.
Ubu Kurijiri Nakago has one Mekugi-ana.

    Sanemori 

Hoki Ohara
MORITSUNA KAN-PYO (f: SANEMORI): Passes along SANEMORI's 
        KO-MIDARE of KO-NIE KO-CHOJI MIDARE BA into the future.
    MEI: MORITSUNA

SANETSUNA SHO-HYO (f: MORITSUNA): ITAME HADA. SUGUHA with ASHI. 
           KO-CHOJI MIDARE BA.
    MEI: SANETSUNA

ARITSUNA TEN-TOKU (f: MORITSUNA): O-ITAME that runs. KO-MIDARE of
        KO-NIE with SUNAGASHI and NIJUBA.
    MEI: ARITSUNA

TAMEYOSHI EI-EN (f: ARITSUNA): ITAME. GUNOME-MIDARE of KO-NIE.
    MEI: TAMEYOSHI


Aritsuna - Kokuho

Aritsuna - Kokuho
Nagasa: 83.4cm
Moto-Haba: 3.3cm

Shinogi-Tsukuri, Ihori-Mune, deeply Koshizori, Funbari Ko-Kissaki Heian Tachi.
Standing Ko-Itame Hada with Ji-Nie and Chikei.
Nie-Deki KoMidare of Ko-Choji Midare Ba with Ko-Ashi iri.
Notare Ko-Maru Boshi.
Ubu, slightly Kurijiri Nakago has one Mekugi-ana. Signed Ura-Mei.
   Aritsuna



Hoki Aritsuna
Nagasa: 2 Shaku 3 Sun 5 Bu 3 Rin (71.3cm)
Sori: 6 Bu 5 Rin (2cm)
Moto-Haba: 9 Bu 3 Rin (2.8cm)
Saki-Haba: 6 Bu 8 Rin (1.9cm)
Kissaki 9 Bu 6 Rin (2.9cm)
Nakago: 6 Sun 8 Rin (18.4cm)


      ~In Private Hands~
Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-mune, Heian tachi Sugata with elongated Chu-Kissaki.
Bo-Hi extends through the Nakago.
Itame Mokume with O-Hada has Ji-Nie, profuse Chikei and Jifu Utsuri.
Chu-Sugu Asaki-Notare of Gunome Ko-Choji-Midare Ba with vibrant Kinsuji and Yo, while Sunagashi streams through figures. Tobi-Yaki develops in the Habuchi.
Suguha with Ko-Maru Boshi.
O-Suriage Nakago has two Mekugi-ana.




HOKI OHARA School
YASUIYE EI-EN (f: IYEYASU, t: MORITSUNA): Narrow bladed, 
strong KOSHIZORI TACHI with FUNBARI. KO-KISSAKI.
Strong ITAME with CHIKEI and JI-NIE is dappled on
running HADA.        KO-CHOJI MIDARE with ASHI and YO. KINSUJI.
MIDARE-BOSHI with HAKIKAKE and KO-MARU.   MEI: YASUIYE        HOKI-no-KUNI JUNIN YASUIYE SADATSUNA:Blades with this signature  are KO-KISSAKI,
strong FUNBARI TACHI. A piece may show a deep
curve toward the MACHIs. Streaming ITAME with
dappled JI-NIE.  NIE KO-MIDARE BA or possibly CHOJI-MIDARE showing
ASHI and YO with SUNAGASHI.   MEI: SADATSUNA
 Tokubetsu Juyo Sadatsuna































Kokuho Hoki Yasuiye
Nagasa: 76cm
Sori: 4.2cm


Possession of the Kuroda.
Shinogi-tsukuri, Ihori-mune, Heian tachi Sugata with elongated Ko-Kissaki.
Itame Hada has Chikei, JiNie and Jifu Utsuri.
Ko-Midare difference in  height of Ko-Choji-Midare Ba where Kinsuji cuts and Yo is seen in the upper.
Ubu Nakago has two Ana, one for Mekugi. Signed in the Ji, above.

                   Yasuiye




Tametomo Seven-foot Archer
Chinzai Hachiro - 8th son of Tameyoshi. Carousing Bungo as a teenager, he rejoined his father for the Hogen War.
Banished to Oshima, he soon exceeded the station by taking the whole of the Izu Islands.Stirring against the Taira, they sent Kudo Shigemitsu against him. At their approach, he shot a single arrow on the lead craft, sinking it.
He then retired for his Seppuku. 1170.


"The Battles of Hogen and Heiji (57.156.4-5)". Metropolitan Museum of Art




Minamoto "Kiso" Yoshinaka took Gembuku at Iwashimizu 1167.
Rebel without a cause, he went against Minamoto elders and expelled the Taira from Kyoto. Taking success too far, his demands to raise his own candidate to the Throne were met with opposition. Yoshinaka burned the Palace, taking the Emperor hostage and calling himself Shogun. Yoritomo sent his brothers, Noriyori and the famed Yoshitsune against him.

Minamoto Yoshiiye
_______________|_______
Minamoto Yoshichika

_______________|_______
Minamoto Tameyoshi
                          |_____________________________________________
_______________|________________________                _____________|_____    
Minamoto Yoshitomo and Tokiwa Gozen           Minamoto Yoshikata    
                  See Tokiwa Gozen                                 
_________|______________________________________
                                                      Minamoto Kiso Yoshinaka and Tomoe Gozen

                                                                                                                                                      ~1184~


Lady Tomoe Gozen Last Battle at Uji

Gempei War turns for the Minamoto





Y
oshitsune drops onto Ichi-no-Tani
 

After dispatching Yoshinaka and resting in Kyoto, Yoshitsune and Noriyori were cornered on the heights by the Heike host.
Trapped along the great abyss above,
the obvious safety and weighing numbers allowed a torrent of taunts and goadish laughter from the Heike down below.
Yoshitsune angrily rode straight off the vertical drop at full gallop, his men following instantly. Noriyori attacked from around back.


     The Heike were crushed and driven into the sea.


Yoshitsune descends
            from the Heights



HOKI OHARA School
________
YASUNORI GEN-RYAKU 1184: ITAME. KO-MIDARE, KO-CHOJI KO-MIDARE HA.
_______                       _______ _________  _________  _____
ARIMUNE CHO-JI 1104           AMAHARA SANEMITSU  SADATSUNA  NISHO 
________                              - GEN-RYAKU 1184 -
SANENORI HO-GEN 1156   _________       
_________              CHIKANORI SHO-GEN 1207  
SHIGENAGA NIN-AN 1166  ____|____                 _________          
___|___                MITSUNOBU HO-JI 1247      NORITSUNE 
ARIYUKI JO-EI 1232     ____|___                  BUN-RYAKU 1234
                       NORITERU BUN-EI 1264

_______
ARIKANE
    |___________
____|____    ___|_____
MITSUMASA    YASUMITSU
SHO-AN 1299  EI-NIN 1293

________
NORIKUNI
___|_____
KUNITSUGU CHO-O 311


ARIMASA TEI-WA 1345
          O-MOKUME HADA. KO-NIE KO-MIDARE BA.
     HAKUSHU ARIMASA
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