AMATSU TATARA

In the Bujinkan Dojo one of the schools that is possibly studied the most is the Kukishinden Ryu. This is mainly through the weapons that we practice. The Taikai over the past few years have been proof of this. 1991 we studied the Jutte, 1992 the sword, 1993, the Bo, 1994 the Yari, and Kodachi, and 1995 Naginata. So just were does the skills of the Kukishinden Ryu come from? They are linked to the Kukishin Ryu of Kumano Prefecture in Japan. Some time around 1688 the Kukishinden Ryu was created as a branch of the Kukishin Ryu, by Okuni Onihei. Okuni held the Menkyo Kaiden in the Kukishin Ryu, and Chosui Ryu, and also later became Soke of the Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu. Ohkuni called his school Hon Tai Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu, with the DEN being attached to the end at some later date. Different theories as tot he meaning to the 'DEN' that was added to the end of Kukishin, one of these means Transmission (as in teachings of the Kukishin Ryu), while others say it means a Branch of .... (e.g. Kukishin Ryu). All in all it is still the same as the Kukishin Ryu, but with it's own personal little taints, and querks. The Kukishin Ryu developed during the warring states Era in the 1330's. The Kuki family, a branch family of the Nakatomi, were at the time one of the few families in possession of the Amatsu Tatara Hibumi Hiden Makimono (Amatsu Tatara secret scroll). They took the skills of the Amatsu Tatara and fully adapted them to there personal style, and thus the Kukishin Ryu was born. Unfortunately the Amatsu Tatara is still closely guarded by the several families that possess it, and little is known about the scrolls. However, long before the Kuki family received their set of scrolls, the Amatsu Tatara, had been around a long time. It was in around 550BC in Japan, the Yamato area imperialists were invaded by Buddhist Malays. The imperialist army defeated these Buddhists at Mount Miwa, and after being pardoned the Buddhists moved to the Iki area of Japan. The imperial war council met again to discuss how best to protect their country against future invasions. They decided to compile a book of war strategies, containing the history of Japan, defensive-offensive strategies, martial arts techniques, weaponry, spying, political policies, weather prediction, and astrology. In 10BC the book was finally completed, and was named the Amatsu Tatara Hibumi no maki Fujiwara no Kamatari worked for 38th Tenno, Tenchi (Emperor Tenchi). In 645AD in the name of the Emperor he quelled a rebellion. For doing this, Emperor Tenchi made him