Myochin school

• Japanese: 明珍家 (Myouchin ke)

The Myôchin school, or family, was a lineage of renowned armorers stretching back to the 12th century. The successive heads of the Myôchin line remained prominent and famed through the Edo period, and retain a succession and a sizable collection of notable items of arms & armor today.

The lineage traces its origins to an armorer named Munesuke (宗介) who lived on Kujô-dôri in 12th century Kyoto. Attracting the attention and favor of Emperor Konoe (r. 1141-1155, Munesuke was granted the honorific art-name (gô) "Myôchin," which he then passed on to his descendants.

The 54th family head Myôchin Munesuke (1688-1735) is particularly renowned. He is buried at Kôgen-ji in the Komagome neighborhood of Tokyo along with a number of his successors.

Selected Members of the Myôchin lineage

• Myôchin Munesuke 明珍宗介 (54th family head, 1688-1735)
• Myôchin Munemasa 明珍宗正 (55th family head)
• Myôchin Munemasa 明珍宗政 (56th family head)
• Myôchin Munemasu 明珍宗益 (or Sôeki, 57th family head)
• Myôchin Sômin 明珍宗妙 (58th family head)
• Myôchin Munekuni 明珍宗邦 (or Sôhô, 59th family head)
• Myôchin Muneie 明珍宗家
• Myôchin Muneharu 明珍宗治 (60th family head)

References

• Plaque at family grave of the Myôchin line, Kôgen-ji, Tokyo.[1]