Hozoin Inei

Hozoin Inei was a monk who served as abbot of the Hōzōin, a subtemple of Kōfuku-ji in Nara, and is regarded as the founder of the Hōzōin school (Kama Hōzōin) of spear arts. He called himself Kakuzenbō Hōin. He was born in Taiei 1 (1521) and died on the 26th day of the 8th month of Keichō 12 (1607), at the age of 87. He is said to have been the second son of a Kōfuku-ji shūto of the Nakamikado family.

Spear arts

He is said to have studied the Shintō-ryū martial arts under Ōnishi Mokushiken. He is also said to have received instruction in swordsmanship from Kamiizumi Nobutsuna. He is said to have refined the handling of the jūmonji kama spear and to have created a set of fifteen forms (omote).

Later years

In his later years, holding that martial arts were not the true purpose of the Buddhist path, he is said to have removed the weapons and forbidden the monks who followed him from training in martial arts. He is said to have given his arms to his disciple Nakamura Ichiemon Naomasa. His successor Inshun developed the Hōzōin spear school. Konparu Shichirō Ujikatsu, a Noh performer, also studied under him.