A historical study on the changes of nogeiko
　　　　　　　　　　practiced by the Sekiguchi school of the
　　　　　　　　　　　Takeda family in the lattar Edo period

　　　　　　　　　　Tetsuya WADA (Shinsyu University)

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Abstract

　　This study investigates the nogeiko practiced by the Sekiguchi school of the Takeda family
from the second year of Bunka to the end of the Edo Era. It clarifies the changes in practical
form during that period and investigates the meaning of those changes as regards the evolution of
kenjyutsu into a competitive sport utilizing historical nogeiko materials owned by the Takeda
family.
　　The findings of this paper can be summarized as follows!
　　　(1) There had been kenjyutsu schools which had adopted shiai, a training method using
shinai (bamboo sword) and bogu (protector), before Chuzo Nakanishi, regarded as a pioneer
in the reformation of training methods, adopted shinai-uchikomi-geiko during the years of Horeki.
Such kenjyutsu schools played a leading role in the advancement of kenjyutsu-taryujiai when it
began to spread; the Sekiguchi school of the Takeda family was one such kenjyutsu school.
　　　(2) In the practical form of this school there were definite changes from the second year of
Bunka to the end of the Edo Era as follow!
　　　　　a) Kata disappeared from practice and only matches were held.
　　　　　b) The format of matches which imitated actual fighting or which utilized traditional
　　　　　　tactics was replaced by one which was simpler and more sportlike,
　　　　　c) Tosen, a duty which had been reserved for only a few kenjyutsu disciples of highest
　　　　　　rank, came to be performed by those in each rank, including the lowest rank of the
　　　　　　school.
　　　　　d) The nogeiko had been practiced by the Sekiguchi school as its own special event.
　　　　　　But later they came to be practiced by several kenjyutsu schools gathered at one place.
　　　(3) As a background to such changes in the nogeiko, there were two factors. One was that
there were qualitative changes in kenjyutsu itself, that is to say, its transformation into a com-
petitive sport. The other was gokenbun, inspection by clan officials, adopted as a policy by clan
rulers in order to promote development of the martial arts because of the tense social situation
during the latter part of the Edo period.