Isshin (一真 ) was born in Kyôto on November 11, 1814 and he died on December4, 1882. His father, Baba Hachitahei Hidemasa, was a country Samurai retainer for the Okada family in Tajima Province. Isshin (一真) was born in Kyôto where he was adopted by, and became the student of, Fujiki Kyûbi. A sword dealer by the name of Sawada Chûbei made the introduction for him to become a student of Gotô Ichijô. After his studies with Ichijô (一乗), he was given the name of Isshin (一真).
Imai Nagatake was a student of Ichijô (一乗) at the same time as Isshin (一真), and later Isshin attached himself to Nagatake and his group for a time. His hobbies were tanka poetry and playing the koto. One of his art names was Gekkindô (月琴堂). This name came from his playing the koto as the “kin” kanji (琴) is also the kanji for koto. For the most part, he worked in the classic Gotô style of the Ichijô school.
Isshin’s family name was Wada. His art names were Bisan (眉山), Daishin (大進), Daishinhô (大進房), Gekkindô (月琴堂), Masataka (政隆), Masatatsu (政龍), Tennensha (天然社), Yûsai (幽斎), Yasunoshin (安之進).
