Matsura Seizan

Template:Japanese name Matsuura Seizan (松浦 静山), born Matsuura Kiyoshi (松浦 清, March 7, 1760 - August 15, 1841) a famed swordsman during the Edo period of Japan. Seizan was a practitioner of Iba Hideaki's Shingyōtō-ryū school of swordsmanship, in which Seizan was considered as an adept. Seizan adopted the name Joseishi after receiving the final transmission of the Shingyōtō ryu school. Seizan wrote many essays on the art of the sword, such as the Joseishi Kendan, Kenko and the Kasshiyawa. Seizan's works are considered as important documents in the history Japanese swordsmanship. In Josieshi Kendan he mentions Miyamoto Musashi's Enmei ryu, but denies personal knowledge of the style.

Seizan was born in Edo, at the Hirado-han (Hirado domain) residence, as the oldest son of the lord of Hirado. When his father died, he took over as head of the clan and became Lord of Hirado at the age of 16. (He later retired in favor of his younger brother). He applied himself seriously to his official duties, encouraging farming and fishing in his domain and making financial reforms. He also realized the importance of education, and founded the Ishinkan, a school promoting both academic and martial studies. Within the school, a variety of different styles were studied, including Shingyōtō ryu kenjutsu, Enmei ryu kenjutsu, Itto ryu kenjutsu and several schools of sojutsu.

Seizan himself studied a number of styles of martial arts during his life as well as the Shingyōtō ryu, including Heki ryu archery, Tamiya ryu iaijutsu, Koshin ryu sojutsu, Sekiguchi ryu jujutsu, as well as horsemanship and gunnery. He did not confine his studies to the martial side, however. He was a student of the noted eclectic Neo-Confucian scholar, Minagawa Kien, and had many contacts in the artistic and literary worlds. His writings on the sword display a strong Neo-Confucian flavor; however they are not merely academic but reflect his extensive experience in swordsmanship.

While his writing illustrates the disciplined, academic side of his nature, there are several anecdotes, both in his own writing and from elsewhere, that reveal other facets of his character. Two such examples are given below.

Meeting with Minagawa Kien

His first meeting with the man who would become his teacher in philosophy was less than auspicious - over-hearing Kien talking about swordsmanship, Seizan interrupted and questioned whether Kien was even capable of using the swords he carried at his waist. Kien replied that if Seizan had any doubts on the matter, he should draw his sword and attack him right there and then; if not he should keep quiet, going on to say that whenever he took up his swords, it was always with the determination to use them should it prove necessary. Seizan was impressed, writing that this attitude was at the heart of swordsmanship. (From the Joseishi Kendan).

The Old Man of Edo

During the Tempo Era (1830-44) there were reports of an old man traveling around the outskirts of Edo, using a broken bow stave as a cane. He successfully fought all challengers, giving the losers a sound thrashing and confiscating their swords. These incidents ran into the dozens, and the losers included several people who were later to become famous swordsmen.