| A running-away of martial arts teacher, the Kuki family's practice of
adopting sons that lasted for several generations and the ban on martial
arts exercises---these were factors that led to the declination of the
Kuki family after 1649. It was Kuki Takaharu 1,
who was the 9th head of Ayabe han /the 24th Soke, and the heads of
the Kukis over the next three generations that devoted themselves to
mastering martial arts in an effort to restore the family heritage.
Takahiro is recorded as the wisest ruler in the history of Ayabe han. When
Tahahiro headed the han, he got down to the business of reformation.
Getting rid of wrongdoers and promoting able people, Takahiro got trust of
the people and even got the nickname "the Thunder." After
meeting with scholars of fame and having broadened his views, Takahiro
invited Sato Shinen and had him instruct agriculture. It is a well-known
story that Shinen made an inspection tour in the region and wrote a book
with detailed information and analysis "A record of an Inspection
Tour" in three volumes. The policy of increasing productivity helped
those deprived of means of sustenance, and it laid foundations for Gunze
Sangyo (Gunze Inc. now). In addition to the reform in agricultural and
fiscal policy, where his ability were remarkably displayed, Takahiro
invited Yamaga Sosui and learned military science of Yamaga Ryu (Yamamoto
Kansuke Ryu) from him; he recommended his men to learn it. |
Ryukoji temple in Ayabe |
the family grave of the Kukis in Ryukoji temple |
| Takahiro was appointed second head of Kobusho in the Shogunate on
February 5, 1855. He was good at martial arts, especially hoarse riding
and Spear. "The Genealogical Table of the Kuki family" records
that Takaharu peformed his Spear techniques before the Emperor on March 7,
1844 and hoarse riding on April 3, 1844, which confirm the level of
his skills. It was Takahiro who presented "ten volumes of book on
Shintoism" to the then noted scholar Ninomiya
Sontoku 2. |
| Kuki Takatomo 3, who became the last head of
Ayabe han, made approaches to the Court from early on under a Confucian
Kondo Katsunao's advice. After the Restoration to the Emperor took place,
Takatomo was wise enough to side with anti-Togugawa shogunate forces made
up of soldiers mainly from Chosyu han(Yamaguchi prefecture). Takatomo was
appointed the guard of the Imperial palace in Kyoto in March, 1863, which
made it easier for him to make approaches to the Emperor. Takatomo
performed Taijutsu techniques (Kihon Kata consisting of 9 techniques),
which were devised by Takatomo himself, before the Emperor on February 18,
1864. Around 1854, Takatomo learned "Kukishin Ryu handed down in the
Ooguchi family" under Ooguchi Izuminokami, a personal attendant for
the Nakyama family. Because Kukishin Ryu had techniques such as arm
twisting, punching and kicking, practicing them involved a lot of danger
for beginners. This is why Takatomo devised nine basic techniques called
Kihon Kata. Ooguchi Izuminokami 4 was a firm
believer in the Emperor and contributed a lot for the formation of an
anti-Tokugawa shogunate group "Tenchugumi" to the wishes of Sir
Nakayama Tadamitsu, serving as mediator among royalists like Hirai Shujiro
and Takeichi Zuizan(Hanpeita). In a time when many han were divided
between pro-Tokugawa and pro-Emperor, Ayabe han sided with the Court from
early on. In addition to the fact that the Kukis had been trying to
restore the family heritage 5, the
influence of Ooguchi was supposedly not little over the policy. It was Kuki
Takaharu 6, the 26 head of the Kuki family, who
materialized the efforts of "getting
back to the family legathy"started by
Kuki Takatomo and Kuki Takaharu in
the form of Kodosen'yokai. |
the 26th Soke of Kukishin Ryu, Kuki Takaharu
| Notice |
| 1 |
In fact, he was the second son of the 7th head Shikibushoyu
Takasato. Because his brother Takamori did not have a son, Takahiro was
adopted in order to become the next head of the Kukis. His name was
Sennosuke in childhood. He was granted the junior grade of the fifth rank
of honor/ Osuminokami. He died on January 25, 1882 at the age of 82. |
| 2 |
It was in August, 1848 when Takahiro gave
books on Shintoism (supposedly "Jindainomaki") to Sontoku.
Sontoku, however, dismissed the books as "these books are for Shinto
priests who need to know the knowledge. But they do not teach the way of
Kami(Deity) itself." (From the vol. 2 of Ninomiya Okina Yawa) |
| 3 |
One of the sons of Takahiro. His name in childhood was
Wnnosuke. He was granted the rank Osuminokami. He became governor of Ayabe
han in 1880 and conferred the senior grade of the fifth rank of honor /
viscount. He died on July 13, 1897 at the age of 64. |
| 4 |
In addition to being a vassal of the
Nakayama family, Ooguchi is said to have taught martial arts to Nakayama
Tadamitsu, head of Tenchugumi; however, Ooguchi himself did not take part
in the rise in arms against pro-Tokugawa shogunate in Yamato(Nara). |
| 5 |
The Kukis have been connected with the South Court since the
founder Yakushimaru Ryujin. |
| 6 |
The oldest son of Takatomo whose rank was the junior grade of
the third rank of honor / viscount. After his death on March 25, 1980 at
the age of 96, he was conferred the senior grade of the third rank of
honor. |
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