1960年に初代宗家・松木錦凰によって創流。
流派会詩は「桐の花」、「錦凰流会詩」、「錦凰一門茲に有り」の三作で、いずれも「龍虎」の作詞で有名な大野恵造作。
当時、吟剣詩舞の世界は吟詠（歌）と剣詩舞（舞い）に分かれていたが、松木錦凰により吟と舞が統合され、吟詠吟舞錦凰流が誕生した。また、社会的に男性優位の時代、山梨県初の女性宗家として、活動の場を広める。その功績を称えられ、山梨県甲府市より名誉市民に認定され、文化功労賞を受賞。
1985年、荒井惠凰に宗家継承。
流派の拠点を東京都に移し、吟詠、剣舞、詩舞だけでなく、朗読や脚本、舞台演出なども手掛けるようになる。
2000年に三代目後継者に荒井龍凰認定。
伝統の技を海外へ広げるため、イギリスではオックスフォード大学、オーストラリアではシドニー大学で日本の伝統芸能特別授業開催。
Kin’ou school history
The school was founded in 1960 by Matsuki Kinou, the first generation head of the Ryuou family. Back in the 1960s, Ginei (Japanese traditional singing ) and Kenshibu (Japanese sword dancing) were known to be individual genres of their own and were taught separately. It was Matsuki Kinou who unified both Ginei and Kenshibu which resulted in the birth of the “Ginei Ginbu Ryuou Style”. In addition, Matsuki Kinou was also actively involved in spreading the beauty of Ginei and Kenshibu in an era where Japan was still largely a patriarchal society. She was recognized as a honorary citizen of Kofu, the capital city of Yamanashi Prefecture and awarded an award for distinguished cultural service for her efforts and contribution.
In 1985, Arai Keiou, the eldest daughter of Matsuki Kinou became the second generation head of the Ryuou family and shifted the operations of the Ryuou family to Tokyo. She not only specializes in Ginei and Kenshibu, but has also dabbled in theatrical direction and recitation while also being a performer. In efforts to spread Ginei and Kenshibu, Arai Keiou has performed overseas in locations such as Carnegie Hall in New York and Nice in France. Arai Keiou is currently the group representative.
In 2010, Arai Ryuou was selected to be the third generation successor of the Ryuou family.
In efforts to spread the beauty and awareness of traditional Japanese culture to the world, Arai Ryuou has held special lectures on traditional Japanese culture in Oxford University in England and the University of Sydney in Australia.