Shinmeiryuu
神鳴流
Way of the Gods’ Cry. ‘The blade of exorcism that defends the people and defeats the demon’. The “most powerful combat organisation”, a swordsmanship school based in Kyoto and headed by founding family Aoyama (青山). Deeply connected to the Kansai Magic Association – Shinmeiryuu swordsmen frequently serve as guards to the Association’s onmyoujutsushi (陰陽術師).
The core techniques focus on the oodachi (大太刀, large greatsword) for the exorcising of great demons, but other weapons and forms of fighting – including qi-based training, martial arts, and onmyoudou techniques – are also taught.
Known practitioners:
- Sakurazaki Setsuna
- Tsukuyomi
- Konoe Eishun
- Kuzunoha Touko
- Kurt Gödel
Swordmanship
Zanganken
奥義、斬岩剣 – Esoterica, Rock-cleaving Sword
Zanmaken
奥義、斬魔剣 – Esoterica, Demon-cleaving Sword
Raimeiken
奥義、雷鳴剣 – Esoterica, Crying Thunder Sword
奥義、極大雷鳴剣 – Esoterica, Greatest Crying Thunder Sword
Slashing attack performed when the blade is charged with electricity.
Raikouken
奥義、雷光剣 – Esoterica, Lightning Sword
決戦奥義、真・雷光剣 – Decisive Esoterica, True Lightning Sword
Highly destructive slashing attack performed when the blade is charged with electricity.
Hyakuretsu Oukazan
奥義、百烈桜華斬 – Esoterica, Hundred Raging Cherry Blossoms Slash
A 360-degree slashing attack performed by tracing a circle with the sword.
Zankuusen
奥義、斬空閃 – Esoterica, Air-cleaving Flash
Releasing qi in a curved wave, slashing the opponent.
Zantetsusen
奥義、斬鉄閃 – Esoterica, Steel-cleaving Flash
二刀連撃斬鉄閃 – Dual Swords Successive Strike, Steel-cleaving Flash
Releasing qi in a spiral, slashing the opponent.
Hyakka Ryouran
秘剣、百花繚乱 – Secret Blade, Profusion of a Hundred Flowers
Releasing qi in a straight line along the blade, blowing the opponent away.
Martial
“Shinmeiryuu does not choose its weapon.”
Zankuushou, San
奥義、斬空掌・散 – Esoterica, Air-cleaving Palm, Scatter
A sweeping barrage of qi ’shots’ launched from the hand.
Ukigumo, Tsumuji Issen
浮雲・旋一閃 – Floating Cloud, Spiral Flash
Throwing technique. Using the shoulder to shove the opponent backwards and upwards into a mid-air spin.
Ukigumo, Sakura Sanka
浮雲・桜散華 – Floating Cloud, Descending Cherry Blossoms
Throwing technique. Using both legs to hold the opponent’s head, followed by a jumping backflip.
Ourougekka
桜楼月華 – Moonlit Cherry Blossoms Tower
A release of qi from the hand to counter an opponent’s attack.
Craft
Shiten Kekkai Dokko Rengaku
退魔戦術絶待防御、四天結界独鈷錬殻 – Exorcistic Technique Supreme Protection, Four Heavens Bounded Field, Vajra-tempered Shell
A defensive pyramid-shaped bounded field created by five single-pronged Vajras, or tokko, four thrown to the ground in a square around the user and one suspended above the head.
Inatsurubi no Katama
退魔戦術、稲交尾籠 – Exorcistic Technique, Thunderclaps’ Cage
An offensive bind, a bounded field created by thrown daggers or Vajras, isolating and stunning the target in an electrified ‘cage’.
The obscure term inatsurubi (稲交尾) is another name for inazuma (稲妻, bolt of lightning). Inazuma literally means “rice-plant’s spouse” as it was believed that the ripening of rice-plants was related to the spiritual power of lightning. Inatsurubi is thus literally “rice-plant’s fertilisation”. Thus the rendition to ‘Thunderclap’ (sudden, violent offsprings of lightning).
Setsuna can perform this with Sica Sisicusiro.
Tsukimi no Yozakura
月見乃夜桜 – Evening Cherry Blossoms of a Moon-viewing
A ‘wave’ of cherry blossoms that surrounds the target in a pillar and causes him to lose consciousness.
Performed by Tsukuyomi by reversing the grip on her dagger.
Souke
“Submit now, to my bladed art of exorcism.”
High-level techniques only taught to those connected to the Aoyama family.
Zanganken Ni-no-tachi
奥義、斬岩剣 弐の太刀 – Esoterica, Rock-cleaving Sword, Second Slash
Zanmaken Ni-no-tachi
奥義、斬魔剣 弐の太刀 – Esoterica, Demon-cleaving Sword, Second Slash
The ultimate Shinmeiryuu exorcistic technique, a sword attack that began as a method to cut down only evil spirits without harming the person being possessed. The user can basically choose what the attack ‘hits’.
