Tachifuri in Shima

"A Study of Kuki Archives" by the late Miura Ichiro published in 1941 includes sentenses titled "explanatory notes by the writer regarding Shinden-budo (martial arts with Shinto background) as follows: 　

Today, Uesiba Moritaka from Kisyu-Kumano is praised as an authority of Kosiki Zukuri. When I[Miura] and Sir. Kuki met him in Tokyo recently, Morihei said, "My budo(martial arts) is that of Kukishinden"; he went on to say that he had some scrolls of Kukishinden-Tenshinhyoho, and worshipped Ushitora-no-Kimonkonjin that had been diefied by the Kuki family. It is obvious that his earnest efforts have brought him to the glolious position today; however, we should not pass over the fact that his school of martial arts is based on the real tradition of Shinden-budo.

"Uesiba Moritaka,"that is to say, "Ueshiba Morihei" is the founder of Aikido. But not so many people know that he learned martial arts originated in the Kuki family. And few people know the fact that the prototype of Aikido is based on "teachings of Koshinto(ancient Shintoism)" in Kukishin Ryu and Kukishinden.	A photograph taken near the premises of the Kukis on November 23,1964. Takaharu Kuki(left) and Morihei Ueshiba.
Morihei met with Kuki Takaharu for the first time at Omoto Dojo in Yotsuya, Araki Cho. It was the end of the Taisho or the beginning of Showa period, when there was still Kuki family's residence 1 at Aoyama in Tokyo.
In those days(1918), Morihei believed in Omoto-kyou religious sect 2 because he adored Deguchi Onizaburo. Onizaburo offered him to go to Ayabe and teach martial arts, where the headquarters of Omoto existed at that time. It is said that Morihei deplored there was no able martial arts teachers. When he went to Tokyo on some buisiness later on, he visited Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa-Kannon, where he happened to see a man who displayed swordplay against a young man with wonderful skills. Morihei was so surprised that he asked the man about it. He answered, "This is the martial arts of the Kuki family." Morihei was deeply impressed by the great fate that linked him with Omoto-Kyo in Ayabe and the miracurous secret art. So Morihei asked the person to allow himself to become his student right away. After which those three practiced in the corner of the temple for some period.

The man was a Saito, and the young man was Siun Goto, who was a student of medical science; he was supposedly one of the Saito's disciples. It is said that Saito's martial arts 3 was all-round ones that centered on swordsmanship. There was one thing Morihei was especially interested in --- Reijutsu (Shintoistic spiritualism). Saito seems to have called this "Kuki Reijutsu"; we can see traces of "Shinto of the Kukis" and "spiritualism in Kurama" that is the source of the school.

After Morihei learned Kukishin Ryu and various Reijutsu from Saito, he began to research more based on the words of his teacher "martial arts of the Kuki family." At long last, he came to visit Sir.Takaharu who was the Soke of Kukishin Ryu.

A distant view of Mt.Honguyama in Ayabe
(taken near Wakamiya shrine)

At their first meeting, Morihei and Sir.Takaharu became on friendly terms with each other. They established Takemusu Aikido, to be exact, Amenomurakumo Samuhara Aikido 4, which is the archetype of Aikido today.

The reason Morihei named his martial arts "Amenomurakumo Samuhara Aikido" is that revelation was revealed before him from "Amenomurakumo Samuhara Ryuo" while he was training and reached the state of unity with Deity on Mt. Hongu 5 in Ayabe. It is said that he was embraced by the golden light at the moment. In Senpo, this is the evidence that he completed "Daitan."The same phenomenon was expressed as "Shinku" in "Tenshin Hyoho." There is a detailed description in "Hyohomichishirube Shui" by Shirai Toru.

In the middle of the World WarⅡ, when Morihei built "Aiki Shrine" at Iwama-cho in Ibaragi, he implored Sir. Takaharu to be the honorary chief priest. Sir. Takaharu agreed to it, and a ceremony was held in which Takaharu himself served as the master of ceremony and recited a Shinto prayer on the Hosyukusai. On this particular occasion, Sir. Takaharu permitted to share one of a pair of "sho," which was a sacred treasure of "Kukimitama Shrine," as "Wakemitama"(part of spiritual entity). Takaharu also presented "Kura,"or saddle, which was handed down in Kukimitama Shrine. We can see their intimate relation from this fact. After the War, Morihei often visitted Kuki's residense in Kobe. Also he taught students Takemusu Aikido at Bansyu-Takamikura Dojo 6. Their close friendship continued for a long time. It is disappointing that Takemusu Aikido and the Kuki family graually became estranged after Morihei's death.

The entry of Takamikura Dojo
(A writing by Seiseki Abe used to be put on the right side of the wall.)

Notice
1	Up to 1932-1933, it was in 2 Aoyamaminami-cho 1 chome Akasaka-ku, Tokyo City. At that time, there was "Tokyo City."
2	Now this is the religious corporation "Omoto."
3	Saito's system of master is uncertain. Taking into consideration of his background, it would be the system of Edo. And it is said that Saito himself first began to practiced Takeuchi-Ryu Jyujyutu.
4	"Samuhara" was used for a charm from ancient times. The descriptions of this word often come out in Literatures of the Edo era, but almost all of them are uncertain. One opinion suggested that the origin of Samuhara is from Sanpara in Sanskrit. What do you think about it?
5	Another name is Mt.Turu or Mt. Okehuse which is located on the east of Old Ayabe Castle. It looks like a hill. On the top, there was a Shousi of Kumano Shrine, called Motokumano, built by Taira no Shigemori long time ago. Later, it was broken when this mountain became a site of the headquarters of Omotokyou called Baisyouen today.
6	In fact, a signboard reading " Amenotakemusu Aikijyuku Takamikura Dojo" once was on the wall of the entarance of Takamikura Dojo. The signboard was written by Seiseki Abe who was the latest disciple of Morihei.