About MARUME KURANDONOSUKE | 兵法タイ捨流公式ページ

The founder Marume Kurando no suke

1540 Born in Yatsushiro, Yatsushiro-gun, Higo (Yatsushiro-city, Kumamoto, present day Japan).

1555 (16 years old): achieved glory in his first battle and obtained the family name of “Marume”.

1558 (19 years old): Visited Kyoto the capital of Japan at that time and trained Under Kamiizumi Isenokami Nobutsuna (also called Kamiizumi Isenokami Hidetsuna and Musashinokami Nobutsuna) the founder of Shinkage-ryu.

When the founder of Shinkage-Ryu demonstrated his swordsmanship skills in front of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, Marume Kurando performed as uchidachi – the attacking role, a role normally performed by a more senior swordsman.

1567 obtained an inkajo (full certificate) of “Satsuninto Tachi” the killing sword and “Katsujinken Tachi” the life giving sword from Nobutsuna.

He trained even harder after the death of Shinkage-Ryu’s founder and finally founded “Shinkage Taisha Ryu Kenjutsu” swordsmanship. Kurando united the philosophy of the Indian Marishiten goddess, and the way of martial arts claiming to be taken from the mythical age of the gods (Izanagi, Izanami) as well as other factors and founded this new style.

Kurando also incorporated the stronger points of Chinese martial arts and completed the foundation of this style as a comprehensive martial art, and further changed the name to “Hyoho Taisha Ryu Kenjutsu”.

He changed his personal name to Tessai in his later years, and adopted the idea of “work in the field in fine weather and stay at home reading when it is wet” a style calm retirement, this he did in Kiriharano (Nishiki-machi, Kuma-gun, Kumamoto).

It is said that he was also a man of culture who had excellent talents in: calligraphy, Waka Japanese poetry, Shimai Japanese traditional dance, Japanese flute and others.

Furthermore, he was a very skillful person who mastered a wide range of weapons, not only swordsmanship, but also skills of spears, Bo quaterstaff fighting, Jo stick fighting, Naginata glaive and others. He mastered the skills of all fields.

1629 he died at the age of 89. His Buddhist death name is Unzan Shunryu Koji. His grave is still in Dozan Kiriharano Nishiki-machi Kuma-gun, Kumamoto and can be visited today.

The latest head of Marume family is Mr Marume Hiroyuki (the 13th generation). He is also an advisor of the school.

【The last weapon of Kurando】

1605: Hikita Bungoro, who was a senior swordsman of Shinkage Ryu passed away in Osaka castle. He was 79 years old.

1606: Yagyu Sekishusai passed away. He was 78 years old

1608: Hozoin Inei in Nara also passed away. He was 87 years old.

Kurando no suke felt lonely and requested retirement when he turned age 70. He was granted an uncultivated field in the Ichibu-Kirinohara area and left the town area of Hitoyoshi castle. He also became a priest and called himself “Tessai”.

He retired to the desolate kaya with fields of grass all around him. At this time he changed his weapon from a sword to a Nata hatchet.

This is the last weapon of Marume Tessai, which has been inherited within Marume family.

The curve and shape of the “Nata hatchet” is more akin to the Katana sword.

(Owned by Mr Marume Hiroyuki)