Iba Hideaki

Iba Hideaki
Iba Hideaki
Born	1648; Japan
Died	1717
Native name	(伊庭秀明)
Other names	Iba Zesuiken;
Nationality	Japanese
Style	Shinkage-ryū; Shingyōtō-ryū
Teacher(s)	Unknown swordsman
Rank	Master of Shingyōtō-ryū school of swordsmanship
Years active	17th century
Occupation	Swordsman, swordmaster

Iba Hideaki (伊庭秀明, c. 1648 – 1717) was a famed swordsman during the Edo period (17th century) of Japan. Hideaki had been an adept of the Shinkage-ryū at an early age, but later concluded to himself that the school had not reflected realistic fundamentals, which is why he then chose to travel around and look for a school that would better fit him. Hideaki had then followed in a certain duel with an unknown swordsman skilled within the Enmei-ryū in the Kyūshū region. Hideaki had lost the duel, in which he chose to become a disciple under the man that had defeated him. Years later, Hideaki would change his name to Iba Zesuiken, in which Hideaki founded the Shingyōtō-ryū school of swordsmanship in 1682, which was basically a merging of the Shinkage and Enmei's way of the sword. The name of Hideaki's school had meant "School of the Sword That Shapes the Mind". What Hideaki had truly meant by having such a name was the fact that within the time of combat, one will be amongst two states of mind—that of attacking the opponent or fleeing out of fear. Through this, Hideaki employed the principle that one should always attempt to deepen their level of technical accomplishment in order to create within themselves an unshakable form.[1]

Iba Hideaki was a Zen master or had at least devoted some time to the practice of Zen for the attainment of enlightenment.[2]

In the manga Mugen no Juunin, a school inspired and named after the Shingyōtō-ryū is featured, which tried to preserve the spirit of martial arts as a mean to prepare oneself for war.

References

Tokitsu, Kenji (2004). Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 1-59030-045-9.
Kammer, Reinhard (1978). "Introduction". Zen and Confucius in the Art of Swordsmanship: The Tengu-geijutsu-ron of Chozan Shissai. Routledge & Kegan Paul PLC. p. 5. ISBN 0710087373. It is complete dedication and surrender to an action which, because it is committed unconditionally and without regard to selfish motives, assumes or is concurrent with the stature and value of the exercise of the spirit or Heart (shugyo), as defined by Zen Buddhism, for the attainment of enlightenment (satori). It is no surprise, therefore, that many of the later sword masters, e.g. Tsukahara Bokuden, Iba Hideaki, and Miyamoto Musashi, were also Zen masters or had at least devoted some time to the practice of Zen.

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[1] Tokitsu, Kenji (2004). Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 1-59030-045-9.

[2] Kammer, Reinhard (1978). "Introduction". Zen and Confucius in the Art of Swordsmanship: The Tengu-geijutsu-ron of Chozan Shissai. Routledge & Kegan Paul PLC. p. 5. ISBN 0710087373. It is complete dedication and surrender to an action which, because it is committed unconditionally and without regard to selfish motives, assumes or is concurrent with the stature and value of the exercise of the spirit or Heart (shugyo), as defined by Zen Buddhism, for the attainment of enlightenment (satori). It is no surprise, therefore, that many of the later sword masters, e.g. Tsukahara Bokuden, Iba Hideaki, and Miyamoto Musashi, were also Zen masters or had at least devoted some time to the practice of Zen.