[:it]Yagyū Munenori (1571 – 11 maggio 1646) era uno spadaccino giapponese, fondatore dello Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, uno dei due stili di spada ufficiali patrocinati dallo shogunato Tokugawa (l’altro era Ittō-ryū).

photo credits: wikipedia.org

Diventa un grande esperto dell’arte schermistica grazie ad un lungo percorso quasi monastico dedicato all’insegnamento presso la famiglia dello Shogun. Proprio in questo luogo scopriamo la sua vera natura: guida e consigliere politico di ben tre shogun e capo di un corpo di “intelligence” da lui creato. Yagyū Munenori guiderà il Giappone, in piena segretezza, per quasi trent’anni.

La carriera di Yagyū Munenori

Munenori iniziò la sua carriera nell’amministrazione Tokugawa come hatamoto, un diretto detentore della casa Tokugawa. In seguito il suo reddito fu aumentato a 10.000 koku, rendendolo un fudai daimyō, ovvero un signore vassallo al servizio dei Tokugawa. Successivamente, Yagyū Munenori ricevette anche il titolo di Tajima no Kami .

Munenori entrò al servizio di Tokugawa Ieyasu in giovane età, e più tardi divenne un istruttore di spada per il figlio di Ieyasu Hidetada. Divenne anche uno dei principali consiglieri del terzo shōgun Iemitsu.

photo credits: doacademytorino.wordpress.com

Poco prima della sua morte nel 1606 passò la guida dello Yagyū Shinkage-ryū a suo nipote Toshiyoshi. Dopodichè, Toshiyoshi entrò al servizio di un ramo del clan Tokugawa che controllava la provincia di Owari. La scuola di Toshiyoshi aveva sede a Nagoya e venne chiamata Owari Yagyū-ryū, mentre quella di Munenori, a Edo divenne nota come Edo Yagyū-ryū. Takenaga Hayato, il fondatore dello Yagyū Shingan-ryū, era suo discepolo e ricevette da lui degli insegnamenti segreti (gokui) dello Yagyū Shinkage-ryū.

Intorno al 1632, Munenori completò Heihô Kadenshô, un trattato sulla pratica di spada di Shinkage-ryū e su come potesse essere applicato alla vita e alla politica. Il testo è ancora in stampa oggi in Giappone ed è stato tradotto più volte in inglese. Tradotto in italiano: “La spada che dà la vita” è un’avvincente biografia di Munenori e una serie di tecniche di spada.

photo credits: www.lunieditrice.com

Anche i suoi figli, Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi e Yagyū Munefuyu erano famosi spadaccini.[:en]Yagyū Munenori (1571 – 11 May 1646) was a Japanese swordsman, founder of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, one of two official sword styles sponsored by the Tokugawa shogunate (the other was Ittō-ryū).

photo credits: wikipedia.org

He became a great expert in the fencing art thanks to a long almost monastic path dedicated to teaching in the Shogun family. It is in this place that we discover its true nature: guide and political adviser to three shogun and head of an “intelligence” body he created. Yagyū Munenori will lead Japan, in complete secrecy, for almost thirty years.

Yagyū Munenori’s career

Munenori began his career in the Tokugawa administration as a hatamoto, a direct holder of the Tokugawa clan. Later his income was increased to 10,000 koku, making him a fudai daimyo, or a vassal lord in the service of the Tokugawa. Subsequently, Yagyū Munenori also received the title of Tajima no Kami.

Munenori entered the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu at a young age, and later became a sword instructor for Ieyasu Hidetada’s son. He also became one of the main advisors of the third Igitsu shogun.

photo credits: doacademytorino.wordpress.com

Shortly before his death in 1606 he passed the guidance of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū to his nephew Toshiyoshi. After that, Toshiyoshi entered the service of a branch of the Tokugawa clan that controlled the province of Owari. Toshiyoshi’s school was based in Nagoya and was called Owari Yagyū-ryū, while that of Munenori, in Edo became known as Edo Yagyū-ryū. Takenaga Hayato, the founder of Yagyū Shingan-ryū, was a disciple of Yagyū Munenori and received from him secret teachings (gokui) of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū.

Around 1632, Munenori completed Heihô Kadenshô, a treatise on Shinkage-ryū sword practice and how it could be applied to life and politics. The text is still in print today in Japan and has been translated several times in English. Translated into Italian: “The sword that gives life” it is a compelling biography of Munenori and a series of essays regarding sword techniques.

photo credits: www.lunieditrice.com

His sons Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi and Yagyū Munefuyu were also famous swordsmen.[:ja]Yagyū Munenori (1571 – 11 May 1646) was a Japanese swordsman, founder of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, one of two official sword styles sponsored by the Tokugawa shogunate (the other was Ittō-ryū).

photo credits: wikipedia.org

He became a great expert in the fencing art thanks to a long almost monastic path dedicated to teaching in the Shogun family. It is in this place that we discover its true nature: guide and political adviser to three shogun and head of an “intelligence” body he created. Yagyū Munenori will lead Japan, in complete secrecy, for almost thirty years.

Yagyū Munenori’s career

Munenori began his career in the Tokugawa administration as a hatamoto, a direct holder of the Tokugawa clan. Later his income was increased to 10,000 koku, making him a fudai daimyo, or a vassal lord in the service of the Tokugawa. Subsequently, Yagyū Munenori also received the title of Tajima no Kami.

Munenori entered the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu at a young age, and later became a sword instructor for Ieyasu Hidetada’s son. He also became one of the main advisors of the third Igitsu shogun.

photo credits: doacademytorino.wordpress.com

Shortly before his death in 1606 he passed the guidance of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū to his nephew Toshiyoshi. After that, Toshiyoshi entered the service of a branch of the Tokugawa clan that controlled the province of Owari. Toshiyoshi’s school was based in Nagoya and was called Owari Yagyū-ryū, while that of Munenori, in Edo became known as Edo Yagyū-ryū. Takenaga Hayato, the founder of Yagyū Shingan-ryū, was a disciple of Yagyū Munenori and received from him secret teachings (gokui) of Yagyū Shinkage-ryū.

Around 1632, Munenori completed Heihô Kadenshô, a treatise on Shinkage-ryū sword practice and how it could be applied to life and politics. The text is still in print today in Japan and has been translated several times in English. Translated into Italian: “The sword that gives life” it is a compelling biography of Munenori and a series of essays regarding sword techniques.

photo credits: www.lunieditrice.com

His sons Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi and Yagyū Munefuyu were also famous swordsmen.[:]