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| {{Short description|Japanese swordsman, philosopher, strategist, writer, artist, and rōnin}} | |||
| ], by ] (1798-1861).]] | |||
| {{About|the Japanese swordsman|the protagonist of '']'' with the same name|Musashi Miyamoto (Vagabond)}} | |||
| {{Cleanup|reason=Article contains significant spelling, grammatical, formatting, and stylistic errors throughout.|date=June 2024}} | |||
| {{EngvarB|date = November 2024}} | |||
| {{Use dmy dates|date = January 2019}} | |||
| {{family name hatnote|Miyamoto|lang=Japanese}} | |||
| {{Infobox martial artist | |||
| | native_name = 宮本武蔵 | |||
| | name = Miyamoto Musashi | |||
| | native_name_lang = jp | |||
| | residence = Japan | |||
| | other_names = Niten Dōraku; Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu | |||
| | image = Miyamoto Musashi-Portrait-Edo-period.png | |||
| | caption = Contemporaneous portrait of Miyamoto Musashi (Edo period) | |||
| | birth_name = Shinmen Bennosuke | |||
| | birth_date = {{circa|1584}} | |||
| | birth_place = ] or ], Japan | |||
| | death_date = {{death date and age|1645|6|13|1584|df=y}} | |||
| | death_place = ], Japan | |||
| | martial_art = ''] ]'' (二天一流), Enmei-ryu (圓明流), (二天流) | |||
| | students = ]; ]; ]; ] | |||
| | children = ] (adopted)<br>Kurōtarō (adopted)<br>] (adopted)<br>] (adopted) | |||
| | module = {{Infobox Chinese |child =yes | |||
| | kanji = 宮本 武蔵 | |||
| | romaji = Miyamoto Musashi | |||
| }} | |||
| }} | |||
| {{Nihongo|'''Miyamoto Musashi'''|宮本 武蔵|}}, born {{Nihongo|'''Shinmen Takezō'''|新免 武蔵||{{Circa|1584}} – 13 June 1645}},<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Tokitsu, Kenji|title=Miyamoto Musashi: 17th century Japanese saber master: man and work, myth and reality; Miyamoto Musashi : maître de sabre japonais du XVIIe siècle : l'homme et l'œuvre, mythe et réalité|publisher=Editions désiris|year=1998|isbn=978-2907653541|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/41259596|pages=19, 20|oclc=41259596 }},</ref> also known as '''Miyamoto Bennosuke''' and by his ], '''Niten Dōraku''',<ref>Toyota Masataka. "Niten Ki (A Chronicle of Two Heavens)", in ''Gorin no Sho'', ed. Kamiko Tadashi (Tokyo: Tokuma-shoten, 1963), 239.</ref> was a Japanese ], strategist, artist, and writer who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 62 duels (next is 33 by ]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miyamoto Mushashi: Samurai Legend |url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/miyamoto-mushashi-samurai-legend/ |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Warfare History Network |language=en-US}}</ref> Musashi is considered a '']'' (sword saint) of Japan.<ref>Miyamoto Musashi, trans.S. F. Kaufman (1994), ''Book Of Five Rings'', Tuttle Publishing.</ref> He was the founder of the ], or Nito Ichi-ryū, style of swordsmanship, and in his final years authored {{Nihongo|'']''|五輪の書|''Go Rin No Sho''}} and '']'' (獨行道, ''The Path of Aloneness''). | |||
| '''Miyamoto Musashi''' (宮本 武蔵 c.], ] or ], ]), prior to adulthood known as '''Miyamoto Bennosuke''' or '''Miyamoto Musana''', was a famous ] ]. He is believed to have been one of the most skilled swordsmen in history. Musashi, as he is often simply known, became legendary through his outstanding swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age. He is the founder of the ], or Nito Ryu style of swordsmanship and wrote ''Go Rin No Sho'', '']'', a book on strategy, tactics, and philosophy still studied by martial artists, businesspeople, and others even today. | |||
| Both documents were given to ], the most important of Musashi's students, seven days before Musashi's death. ''The Book of Five Rings'' deals primarily with the character of his Niten Ichi-ryū school in a concrete sense, i.e., his own practical martial art and its generic significance; ''The Path of Aloneness'', on the other hand, deals with the ideas that lie behind it, as well as his life's philosophy in a few short aphoristic sentences. | |||
| ==Biography== | |||
| ].]] | |||
| It is believed that Musashi was a friend of a ] general named ] and fought together with him in the ], ], and ] as part of the Tokugawa army. | |||
| ===Birth=== | |||
| Much of Miyamoto Musashi's early life is shrouded in mystery; his early life is fairly well-documented, but the sources conflict. His place and date of birth are uncertain. The most generally accepted possibility is that his elder brother, Sirota, was born in 1578 (dying in 1660), and Musashi himself was born into a ] family called the Hiratas, in either the village of ] (in present-day ] (then Sakushu, west of ]), in the province of ]. Banshu village has also been suggested. <!-- I suspect that there are some duplicates in this list of villages. --> His family owed allegiance to the Shinmen clan; Musashi later alluded to this relationship in the formal introduction to the ''Go Rin No Sho'', that his full name was ''Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Genshin''. | |||
| The ] training center, located in ] (]), ], Japan was erected to honor his name and legend. | |||
| His father is generally given as Hirata Munisai (or Miyamoto Munisai, or Miyamoto Muninosuke), a vassal to Lord Shinmen, and a skilled martial artist in his own right; he was renowned as an master of the ] and a sword adept. In his youth, he won 2 out of 3 bouts against a master swordsman named Yoshioka in front of the then-] ]; the shogun granted him the title "Best in Japan". Munisai also taught in a local dojo his family jitte techniques. Mysteriously, his tomb says he died in 1580, which obviously conflicts with the accepted birth date of 1584 for Musashi. Further muddying the waters, the family ] of the extant Miyamoto family, Musashi was born in 1583. ] has suggested that the accepted birth date of 1584 for Musashi is wrong, as it is primarily based on a literal reading of the introduction to the ''Go Rin No Sho'' where Musashi states that the years of his life "add up to 60" (yielding the twelfth year of the Tensho era, or 1584, when working backwards from the well-documented date of composition), when it should be taken in a more literary and imprecise sense, indicating not a specific age but merely that Musashi was in his sixties when he wrote it. | |||
| ==Biography== | |||
| Because of the uncertainty centering around Munisai (when he died, whether he was truly Musashi's father, etc.), Musashi's mother is known with even less confidence. Here are a few possibilities: | |||
| #Munisai's tomb was correct. He died in 1580, leaving two daughters; his wife adopted a recently born child, from the Akamatsu clan, intended to succeed Munisai at his jitte school. Omasa, Munisai's widow, was not truly Musashi's mother. | |||
| #The tomb was wrong. Munisai lived a good deal longer, later than 1590 possibly. Musashi, then, was born to Munisai's first wife, Yoshiko (daughter to Bessho Shigeharu, who formerly controlled Hirafuku village until he lost a battle in 1578 to Yamanaka Shikanosuke). Munisai divorced her after Musashi's birth, whereupon she decamped for her father's house, leaving Musashi with Munisai. Musashi grew up treating Munisai's second wife, Omasa (daughter to Lord Shinmen) as his mother. This second scenario is laid out in a entry to the Tasumi family's genealogy: | |||
| #::''"The daughter of Bessho Shigeharu first married Hirata Muni and was divorced from him a few years later. After that she married Tasumi Masahisa.'' | |||
| #::''The second wife of Tasumi Masahisa was the mother of Miyamoto Musashi.'' | |||
| #::''Musashi's childhood name was Hirata Den. He later became famous on account of his swordsmanship. During his childhood, he went to Hirafuku to find his real mother. He moved in with the Tasumi family."'' <ref name="tokitsu">{{cite book | author = ] | title = ] | publisher = Shambhala | year = 2004 }}</ref> | |||
| #A variant of this second theory is based on the fact that the tombstone states that Omasa gave birth to Musashi on 4 March 1584, and died of it. Munisai then remarried to Yoshiko. They divorced, as in the second theory, but Yoshiko took Musashi with her, and married Tasumi Masahisa. | |||
| #Kenji Tokitsu prefers to assume a birth date of 1580, which avoids the necessity of assuming the tombstone to be erroneous (although this poses the problem of whom then Musashi received the transmission of the family martial art from). | |||
| The details of Miyamoto Musashi's early life are difficult to verify. Musashi himself simply states in ''The Book of Five Rings'' that he was born in ].<ref>Miyamoto Musashi. "Go Rin No Sho", in ''Gorin no Sho'', ed. Kamiko Tadashi (Tokyo: Tokuma-shoten, 1963), 13.</ref> ''Niten Ki'' (an early biography of Musashi) supports the assertion that Musashi was born in 1584: " was born in ], in Tenshō 12 , the Year of the Monkey."<ref>Toyota, p. 239</ref> The historian Kamiko Tadashi, commenting on Musashi's text, notes: "Munisai was Musashi's father ... he lived in Miyamoto village, in the Yoshino district ]]. Musashi was most probably born here."<ref name="Miyamoto p 18ff">Miyamoto, p. 18ff.</ref> | |||
| ===Upbringing=== | |||
| Regardless of the truth about Musashi's ancestry, when Musashi was seven years old, the boy was raised as a ] by his uncle, ] (or Dorin), in Shoreian temple, three kilometers (~1.8 mi.)from Hirafuku. Both Dorin and Musashi's uncle by marriage - Tasumi - educated him in Buddhism and basic skills such as writing and reading. This education is possibly the basis for Yoshikawa Eiji's fictional education of Musashi by the historical Zen monk ]. He was apparently trained by Munisai in the sword, and in the family art of the jitte. This training did not last for a very long time, as in 1589, Munisai was ordered by Shinmen Sokan to kill Munisai's student, Honiden Gekinosuke. The Honiden family was displeased, and so Munisai was forced to move four kilometers (~2.5 mi.) away to the village of Kawakami. | |||
| Musashi gives his full name and title in ''The Book of Five Rings'' as '''Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu''' (新免武蔵守藤原玄信).<ref>Miyamoto, 13.</ref> His father, ] (新免無二斎) was an accomplished martial artist and master of the sword and '']'' (also ''jitte'').<ref name="Miyamoto p 18ff"/> Munisai, in turn, was the son of Hirata Shōgen (平田将監), a vassal of Shinmen ''Iga no Kami'', the lord of ] in the Yoshino district of Mimasaka Province.<ref>Miyamoto, p. 17ff.</ref> Hirata was relied upon by Lord Shinmen and so was allowed to use the Shinmen name. As for "Musashi", ''Musashi no Kami'' was a court title, making him the nominal governor of Musashi Province. "]" was the lineage from which Musashi claimed descent.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Musashi|first=Miyamoto|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1076236783|title=Complete Musashi : the Definitive Translations of the Complete Writings of Miyamoto Musashi – JapanÆs Greatest Samurai.|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|others=Alexander Bennett|year=2018|isbn=978-1-4629-2027-3|location=La Vergne|oclc=1076236783}}</ref> | |||
| It has been suggested that in 1592, Munisai died, although Tokitsu believes that the person who died at this time was really Hirata Takehito. | |||
| Musashi's ] developed in his infancy, and this adversely affected his appearance.<ref>{{cite book|editor=Rosemary Brant |first=Miyamoto|last= Musashi|title=The Book of Five Rings: the classic text of Samurai sword strategy|year=2006|publisher=Barnes & Noble|location=New York|isbn=978-0-7607-8457-0|edition= }} Translated by Ashikaga Yoshiharu.</ref> Another story claims that he never bathed himself because he did not want to be surprised unarmed.<ref>Harris, Victor, p. 10, Miyamoto pp. 16ff. The latter footnote by Kamiko reads: "For his entire life, Musashi never took a wife, cut his hair, or entered a bath".</ref> | |||
| It is said that Musashi contracted ] in his infancy, and this adversely affected his appearance. {{fact}} Another story claims that he never took a bath because he did not want to be surprised unarmed. While the former claim may or may not have some basis in reality, the latter seems improbable. An unwashed member of the warrior caste would not have been received as a guest by such famous houses as ], ] and ]. These and many other details are likely embellishments that were added to his legend, or misinterpretations of literature describing him. | |||
| According to ], Musashi testified that his first duel occurred when he was still 13 years old, against a swordsman named Arima Kihei who practiced ] martial arts that were created by ]; Musashi was victorious. The second duel happened when Musashi was 16 years old, when he won another victory against a swordsman named ], a native of ]. His third duel came when he was aged 21, in ], where he defeated several students of a famous sword fighting school.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} | |||
| The literature leaves one unsure of his father's fate, but he may have died at the hands of one of Musashi's later adversaries, who was punished or even killed for treating Musashi's father badly. This, however, is uncertain, as there are no exact details of Musashi's life, since Musashi's only writings are those related to strategy and technique. | |||
| === |
===Travels 1599-1613=== | ||
| In 1599, Musashi left his village, apparently at the age of 15 (according to the ''Tosakushi'', "The Registry of the Sakushu Region", although the ''Tanji Hokin Hikki'' says he was 16 years old in 1599, which agrees time-wise with the age reported in Musashi's first duel).<ref name="tokitsu">{{cite book | author = Kenji Tokitsu | author-link = Kenji Tokitsu | title = Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings | publisher = Shambhala | year = 2004 }}</ref> His family possessions such as furniture, weapons, genealogy, and other records were left with his sister and her husband, Hirao Yoemon. He spent his time ]. | |||
| The name "Musashi" was thought to be taken from the name of a warrior monk named ] who served under ], but this is unconfirmed. In any case, the name seems fitting, particularly when comparing the level of mastery of weaponry - both being able to masterfully use nine or more weapons. | |||
| In 1600, Musashi is said to have participated in the ]. For a long time, the prevailing opinion has been that Musashi participated in the Sekigahara battle on the Western Army side due to the fact that Shinmen clan was longtime vassal to the ]. However, recent research by modern Japanese historians such as Masahide Fukuda and Watanabe Daimon about Musashi has opined that Musashi and his father, Shinmen Munisai, actually sided with The Eastern army during the war, based on the historical records that Munisai no longer served the Ukita clan, and the clan records of ], ally of Tokugawa Ieyasu during the war, had recorded the name of Shinmen Munisai among their vassals who participated in the war.<ref name="musashiTokugawasekigahara">{{cite web |author1=Watanabe Daimon |title=牢人・宮本武蔵の関ヶ原合戦事情…東軍西軍のどちらに属し、主君は存在したのか |trans-title=Prisoner Miyamoto Musashi's Battle of Sekigahara...Which side did he belong to, East or West, and did he have a master? |url=https://sengoku-his.com/238 |website=sengoku-his.com |access-date=26 May 2024 |language=Ja |year=2023 |quote=Yumekashi Harada, "The True Story of Miyamoto Musashi" (Ashi Shobo, 1984); Masahide Fukuda "Miyamoto Musashi's Summer Siege" ("Rekishi Kenkyu" No. 400, 1994); Masahide Fukuda, "Proof of Musashi's Sekigahara Eastern Army" (Miyamoto Musashi Research Paper Collection, Rekiken, 2003); Eiji Yoshikawa, "Miyamoto Musashi, 6 volumes" (Dainippon Yubenkai Kodansha, 1936-39)}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=大阪經大論集, Issues 282-284 |date=2005 |publisher=大阪經濟大學 |page=55 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fzYSAQAAMAAJ |access-date=25 May 2024 |language=Ja}}</ref> Daimon, who quoted the ''"Matsui clan Document"'', has opined that the notion that Musashi fought on the losing side of Western Army, both in Sekigahara and in Osaka siege 14 years later, were only based on legendary romanticism about Musashi being a ronin. While the primary history records indicated that Musashi always fought on the side of Tokugawa, who emerged victorious in both conflicts.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Watanabe Daimon |title=宮本武蔵に関する史料は、なぜ極端に少ないのか。その理由を考える |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/d328fe8083b6003c2dd086986e298724f1b0b6c5 |website=yahoo.co.jp/expert |publisher=渡邊大門 無断転載を禁じます。 LY Corporation |access-date=2 June 2024 |language=Ja}}</ref> The main issue debated, was if Musashi fought in the Sekigahara battle with the Eastern Army main forces, under Tokugawa, or did he fight in Ishigakibaru of western province theater under the Eastern Army commander Kuroda Yoshitaka.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Kengo Tominaga (富永堅吾) |title=忠実宮本武蔵 |date=1972 |publisher=百泉書房 |page=29 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R3gwAAAAMAAJ |access-date=10 June 2024 |language=Ja}}</ref> Daimon more leaned to the opinion that Musashi fought in Ishigakibaru instead of Sekigahara, by historical record of "''The Transmission of Military Art to Master Bushu Genshin''"<ref name="musashiTokugawasekigahara" /> Meanwhile, Fukuda has pointed out that the name of Munisai appeared in Kuroda clan record under the category of "''Kogofudai''", or Kuroda clan vassals who had entered service before 1586. Based on this fact, Fukuda concluded it was natural that Munisai and Musashi were on the Tokugawa side during the war, just as the Kuroda clan which they served.<ref name="musashiTokugawasekigahara" /> | |||
| ] | |||
| Furthermore, Japanese History novelist Kengo Tominaga proposed a theory that Musashi during the ] did not fight in the main battle of Sekigahara, but instead he fought under ] against ] loyalists from the western provinces in the battle of Ishigakibaru, ].<ref>{{cite book |title=忠実宮本武蔵 |date=1972 |publisher=百泉書房 |page=29 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R3gwAAAAMAAJ |access-date=27 May 2024 |language=Ja}}</ref> | |||
| It is said that he may have studied at the ] ], which was also said to be a school Musashi defeated single-handedly during his later years, although this is uncertain. | |||
| In December 1608, It was reported that Musashi met with Mizuno Katsunari, a Tokugawa general. Musashi taught Katsunari the secret techniques of his swordstyle.<ref>『宮本武蔵奥伝（与水野日向守）』（小田原市立図書館蔵）、『兵道鏡』（高知城歴史博物館 山内文庫所蔵）</ref> | |||
| ===First duel=== | |||
| :''"I have trained in the way of strategy since my youth, and at the age of thirteen I fought a duel for the first time. My opponent was called Arima Kihei, a sword adept of the Shinto ryu, and I defeated him. At the age of sixteen I defeated a powerful adept by the name of Akiyama, who came from the prefecture of Tajima. At the age of twenty-one I went up to Kyoto and fought duels with several adepts of the sword from famous schools, but I never lost."'' -Musashi Miyamoto, ''Go rin no sho'' | |||
| ] | |||
| According to the introduction of '']'', Musashi states that his first successful duel was at the age of thirteen, against a lesser-skilled Samurai named ] who fought using the ] style, founded by ] (b. 1489, d. 1571). The main source of the duel is the ''Hyoho senshi denki'' ("Anecdotes about the Deceased Master"). Summarized, its account goes as follows: | |||
| In 1611, Musashi learned ] at ] ] after the Sekigahara battle. Musashi introduced to ] an official of daimyo lord named ]. At sometimes in unclear circumstances, Musashi was challenged to a duel by a swordsman named ]. Musashi agreed to the challenge, and it was scheduled for them to fight on one year later, on 13 April, at Ganryūjima Island. When the date arrived, the island was filled with spectators intending to spectate the duel. Kojirō was known for fighting with a '']'', a sword with a long blade.<ref name="lowry"/><ref name="Kodansha International">{{cite book|last1=Wilson|first1=William Scott|title=The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi|date=2004|publisher=Kodansha International|location=Tokyo|isbn=978-4770029423|page=19|edition=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0p0C7Y8lkH8C&q=musashi+came+late+and+unkempt&pg=PA18}}</ref> | |||
| In 1596, Musashi was 13, and Arima Kihei, who was travelling to hone his art, posted a public challenge in Hirafuku-mura. Musashi wrote his name on the challenge. A messenger came to Dorin's temple, where Musashi was staying, to inform Musashi that his duel had been accepted by Kihei. Dorin was shocked by this, and tried to beg off in Musashi's name, but when he asked Kihei to drop the duel, he was adamant that the only way Kihei's honor could be cleared was if Musashi apologized to him when the duel was scheduled. So when the time set for the duel arrived, the monk began apologizing for Musashi, who merely leaped into the ring with a piece of wood shaped like a sword, shouting a challenge to Kihei. Kihei attacked with a wakizashi, but Musashi ] Kihei, and while Kihei tried to get up, Musashi struck him between the eyes and then beat him to death. | |||
| Musashi, it is said, deliberately arrived late. During his journey to the island by boat, he had carved an ] into a '']'', or wooden practice sword. Kojirō had lost his patience while waiting, and he taunted Musashi for his late arrival, though the latter remained composed.<ref name="lowry">{{cite book |last=Lowry |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Lowry (martial arts) |date=1986 |title=Bokken: Art of the Japanese Sword |publisher=Ohara Publications |pages=21–27 |isbn=978-0-89750-104-0}}</ref><ref name="Kodansha International"/> The duel ended when Musashi quickly and fatally struck Kojirō, crushing his skull with a vertical stroke aimed to his head.<ref name="lowry" /> | |||
| The duel is odd for a number of reasons, not least of which is why Musashi was permitted to duel Arima, whether the apology was a ruse, and why Arima was there in the first place. | |||
| === |
===Serving under Shogunate army=== | ||
| In 1614, during the ], it was believed that Musashi participated in Tokugawa army under the command of Musashi's personal friend, ] or also known as Katsunari. Musashi were reportedly carrying the banner of Katsunari,<ref>{{cite book |author1=William de Lange |title=The Siege of Osaka Castle |date=2019 |publisher=William de Lange |url=http://www.miyamotomusashi.eu/battles/the-siege-of-osaka-castle/index.html |access-date=26 May 2024}}</ref> and also acted as bodyguard of Mizuno Katsutoshi, son of Katsunari.<ref>{{cite web |author1=William de Lange |title=Mizuno Katsunari (1564–1651) |url=http://www.miyamotomusashi.eu/patrons/mizuno-katsunari-15641651.html |website=miyamotomusashi.eu |publisher=William de Lange |access-date=22 May 2024 |language=En |year=2019}}</ref> It was said in a later era, during the Shimabara Rebellion, that Musashi once told a commander of the Tokugawa army that he had served under Mizuno Katsunari's command during the Osaka siege and knew the military system very well.<ref name="Musashidocument">{{cite web |author1=Masahide Fukuda |title=【寄稿17】宮本武蔵と水野勝成 『宮本武蔵の大坂夏の陣』１／２ |url=https://mizunoclan.exblog.jp/14496991/ |access-date=27 May 2024 |language=Ja |year=2011}}</ref> ], the adopted son of Musashi, also served under Katsunari during this battle.<ref name=ancestry>{{Cite book|title=Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings|last=Kenji|first=Tokitsu|publisher=Shambhala Publications|year=2006|isbn=9780834824881|pages=95|chapter=Introduction}}</ref> | |||
| In 1599, three years later, Musashi left his village, apparently at the age of 15 (according to the ''Tosakushi'', "the registry of the Sakushu region", although the ''Tanji Hokin hikki'' says he was 16 years old in 1599)<ref name="tokitsu" />. His family possessions such as furniture, weapons, genealogy, and other records were left with his sister and her husband, one Hirao Yoemon. | |||
| In 1633, Musashi began staying with ], '']'' of ], who had moved to the ] fief and Kokura, to train and paint.<ref>{{Cite web|year=2009|title=Art of Miyamoto Musashi|url=http://www.ecole-miyamoto-musashi.com/liens.html|access-date=12 August 2020|website=Miyamoto Musashi Dojo}}</ref> While he engaged in very few duels during this period, one occurred in 1634 at the arrangement of Lord Ogasawara, in which Musashi defeated a lance specialist named ]. Musashi officially became the retainer of the Hosokawa lords of Kumamoto in 1640. The ''Niten Ki'' records " received from Lord Tadatoshi: 17 retainers, a stipend of 300 ], the rank of ''ōkumigashira'' 大組頭, and Chiba Castle in Kumamoto as his residence."<ref>Toyota, p. 250</ref> | |||
| He spent his time travelling and engaging in duels, such as with an adept called Akiyama from the Tajima province. | |||
| ], ]<ref>{{Cite web|year=2009|title=宮本武蔵 – Musashi|url=http://www.ecole-miyamoto-musashi.com/musashi_jp.html|access-date=August 13, 2020|website=Miyamoto Musashi dojo}}</ref>]] | |||
| In 1638, Musashi allegedly participated in the suppression of ]. In ''Munekyu (Katsunari)-sama'' journal, which is a collection of things that Katsunari Mizuno said after his retirement in 1639, there is a story about Mizuno's army during the Shimabara Rebellion, where a man named Miyamoto Musashi entered the camp of general Ogasawara Nagatsugu, and Musashi has said, "Last time (In Siege of Osaka), (]) Hyuga-no-Kamidono's clan had this, and i knew the military system very well."<ref name="Musashidocument" /> Musashi continues by saying, "He is a great general that no one can match."<ref name="MusashiKatsunari">{{cite book |author1=Uozumi Takashi |title=宮本武蔵: 日本人の道 |trans-title=Miyamoto Musashi: The Japanese Way |date=2002 |publisher=ぺりかん |isbn=4831510114 |pages=93, 95, 111 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8W0yAQAAIAAJ |access-date=27 May 2024 |language=Ja}}</ref> | |||
| In 1600, a war began between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa. Musashi apparently fought on the side of the Toyotomi's "Army of the West", as the Shinmen clan (to which his family owed allegiance) had allied with them. Specifically, he participated in the attempt to take Fushimi castle by assault in July 1600, in the defense of the besieged Gifu castle in August of the same year, and finally in the famed ]. Some doubt has been cast on this final battle, as the ''Hyoho senshi denki'' has Musashi saying he is "no lord's vassal" and refusing to fight with his father (in Lord Ukita's battalion) in the battle. Omitting the Battle of Sekigahara from the list of Musashi's battles would seem to contradict the ''Go rin no sho'''s statement that Musashi fought in six battles, however. | |||
| ===Later life=== | |||
| Regardless, the Army of the West lost decisively, and Shinmen Sokan fled to ] province. It has been suggested that Musashi fled as well, and spent some time training on Mt. ]. | |||
| In the second month of 1641, Musashi wrote a work called the ''Hyoho Sanju Go'' ("Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy") for ]. This work overlapped and formed the basis for the later '']''. This was the year that his adopted son, ], became Master of Arms for the Owari fief. In 1642, Musashi suffered attacks of ], foreshadowing his future ill-health. | |||
| In 1643 he retired to a cave named '']'' as a hermit to write ''The Book of Five Rings''. He finished it in the second month of 1645. On the twelfth of the fifth month, sensing his impending death, Musashi bequeathed his worldly possessions, after giving his manuscript copy of ''The Book of Five Rings'' to the younger brother of Terao Magonojo, his closest disciple. He died in Reigandō cave around 13 June 1645 (''] 2, 19th day of the 5th month''). The ''Hyoho senshi denki'' described his death: | |||
| After the Battle of Sekigahara, Musashi disappears from the records; the next mention of him has him arriving in Kyoto at the age of 20 (or 21), where he famously began a series of duels against the Yoshioka school. | |||
| {{blockquote|At the moment of his death, he had himself raised up. He had his belt tightened and his wakizashi put in it. He seated himself with one knee vertically raised, holding the sword with his left hand and a cane in his right hand. He died in this posture, at the age of sixty-two. The principal vassals of Lord Hosokawa and the other officers gathered, and they painstakingly carried out the ceremony. Then they set up a tomb on Mount Iwato on the order of the lord.}} | |||
| Musashi's father had fought against an adept of the Yoshioka school in his youth, receiving the title of "Best in Japan" as mentioned earlier. The Yoshioka school (descended from either the Shinto ryu or the Kyo hachi ryu) was the foremost of the eight major schools of martial arts in Kyoto, the "Kyo ryu"/"schools of Kyoto". Legendarily, these eight schools were founded by eight monks taught by a nigh-mythical martial artist resident on the sacred mountain ]. At some point the Yoshioka family also began to make a name for itself not merely in the art of the sword but also in the ] business and for a ] peculiar to them. They gave up teaching swordsmanship in 1614 when they were in the Army of the West against ], in the ], which they lost. But in 1604, when Musashi began dueling them, they were still preeminent. There are various accounts of the duels- the Yoshioka family documents claim that there was only one, against Yoshioka Kenpo, which Musashi lost. | |||
| Miyamoto Musashi died in 1645 after allegedly suffering from lung cancer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kendo.com/miyamotomusashi|title=Musashi Miyamoto – the Legend|last=Almo|first=Leif|website=Kendo.com|publisher=Scandnet AB|access-date=4 March 2017|archive-date=26 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226185621/http://kendo.com/miyamotomusashi|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
| Musashi challenged Yoshioka Seijuro, master of the Yoshioka school, to a duel. Seijuro accepted, and they agreed to a duel outside Rendaji Temple on 8 March 1604. Musashi arrived late, greatly irritating Seijuro. They faced off, and Musashi struck a single blow, per their agreement. This blow struck Seijuro on the left shoulder, knocking him out, and crippling his left arm. He apparently passed on the headship of the school to his equally accomplished brother, Yoshioka Denshichiro, who promptly challenged Musashi to get revenge. The duel variously took place outside Kyoto or in a temple called Sanjusangen-do. Denshichiro wielded a staff reinforced with steel rings (or possibly with a ball-and-chain attached), while Musashi arrived late a second time. Musashi disarmed Denshichiro and defeated him. This second victory outraged the Yoshioka clan, whose head was now the 12 year old Yoshioka Matashichiro. They assembled a force of archers, riflemen, and swordsmen, and challenged Musashi to a duel outside Kyoto, near Ichijoji temple. Musashi broke his previous habit of arriving late, and came to the temple hours early. Hidden, Musashi assaulted the force, killing Matashichiro, and escaping while being attacked by dozens of their supporters. With the death of Matashichiro, that branch of the Yoshioka school was destroyed. | |||
| ==Timeline== | |||
| After Musashi left Kyoto, some sources recount that he travelled to ] in ], to duel with and learn from the monks there, widely known as experts with lance weapons. There he settled down at Enkoji Temple in ], where he taught the head monk (one ]'s) brother. Hanzaburo's grandson would found the Ensu ryu based on the Enmei Ryu teachings and ]. | |||
| The following timeline of Musashi biography in chronological order (of which is based on the most accurate and most widely accepted information). | |||
| {| class="wikitable" | |||
| From 1605 to 1612 he traveled extensively all over Japan in ''Musha-Shugyo'', a warrior pilgrimage during which he honed his skills with duels. He was said to have used ] in actual duels. Most of the duels from these times did not try to take the opponent's life unless both agreed, but in most duels it is known that Musashi did not care which weapon the other was using - such was his mastery of the way of strategy. | |||
| |- style="background:#efefef;" | |||
| ! Date | |||
| ! Age | |||
| ! Occurrence | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1578 | |||
| | −6 | |||
| | Musashi's brother, Shirota, is born. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1584 | |||
| | 0 | |||
| | Miyamoto Musashi is born. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1591 | |||
| | 6–7 | |||
| | Musashi is taken and raised by his uncle as a ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1596 | |||
| | 11–12 | |||
| | Musashi duels with Arima Kihei in Hirafuku, ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1599 | |||
| | 14–15 | |||
| | Duels with a man named ] in the northern part of ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1600 | |||
| | 16 | |||
| | Believed to have fought in the ] (21 October) as part of the Western army. However, recent researches has suggested he was on the Eastern army along with his father. Whether he actually participated in the battle is currently in doubt. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1604 | |||
| | 19–20 | |||
| | Musashi has three matches with the Yoshioka clan in ].<br>(1) Match with Yoshioka Seijuro in ], outside the city at Rendai Moor (west of Mt. Funaoka, ]).<br>(2) Match with Yoshioka Denshichiro outside the city.<br>(3) Match with Yoshioka Matashichiro outside the city at the pine of ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | | |||
| | | |||
| | Visits ], ] and ends up dueling with Okuzōin Dōei, the Buddhist priest trained in the style of ].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kagita|first=Chūbei|title=The sickle-spear of the Hōzōinryū (7) {{!}} SojutsuDE|url=http://www.sojutsu.de/en/home/texte-vom-20-soke/der-sichelspeer-der-hozoinryu-7|access-date=2021-05-05|website=www.sojutsu.de|language=en}} First published in the Nara town magazine ''Ubusuna'' on 8 July 2009.</ref> | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1605–1612 | |||
| | 20–28 | |||
| | Begins to travel again. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1607 | |||
| | 22–23 | |||
| | Munisai (Musashi's father) passes his teachings onto Musashi. | |||
| |- | |||
| | | |||
| | | |||
| | Duels with the ] expert ] in the western part of ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1608 | |||
| | 23–24 | |||
| | Duels ], master of the five-foot staff in ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1610 | |||
| | 25–26 | |||
| | Fights Hayashi Osedo and Tsujikaze Tenma in ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1611 | |||
| | 26–27 | |||
| | Begins practicing ] ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1612 | |||
| | 28 | |||
| | Duel with ] takes place on 13 April, on ] off the coast of ] in which Kojiro is defeated. | |||
| |- | |||
| | | |||
| | | |||
| | Briefly opens a ] school. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1614–1615 | |||
| | 30–31 | |||
| | Believed to have joined the troops of ] in the ], under the command of ] (8 November 1614 – 15 June 1615) at ], but no significant contributions are documented. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1615–1621 | |||
| | 30–37 | |||
| | Comes into the service of Ogasawara Tadanao in ] as a construction supervisor. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1621 | |||
| | 36–37 | |||
| | Duels ] in ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1622 | |||
| | 37–38 | |||
| | Sets up temporary residence at the ] of ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1623 | |||
| | 38–39 | |||
| | Travels to ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | | |||
| | | |||
| | Adopts a son named ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1626 | |||
| | 41–42 | |||
| | Adopted son ] commits ] following in the tradition of ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1627 | |||
| | 42–43 | |||
| | Travels again. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1628 | |||
| | 43–44 | |||
| | Meets with ] in ], Owari Province. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1630 | |||
| | 45–46 | |||
| | Enters the service of Lord ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1633 | |||
| | 48–49 | |||
| | Begins to extensively practice the arts. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1634 | |||
| | 49–50 | |||
| | Settles in ], ] for a short time with son Iori as a guest of ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1637–1638 | |||
| | 53–54 | |||
| | Serves a major role in the ] (17 December 1637 – 15 April 1638) and is the only documented evidence that Musashi served in battle. Was knocked off his horse by a rock thrown by one of the peasants. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1641 | |||
| | 56–57 | |||
| | Writes ''Hyoho Sanju-go''. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1642 | |||
| | 57–58 | |||
| | Suffers severe attacks from ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1643 | |||
| | 58–59 | |||
| | Migrates into ] where he lives as a ]. | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1645 | |||
| | 61 | |||
| | Finishes ]. Dies from what is believed to be lung cancer. | |||
| |} | |||
| ==Personal life== | |||
| In 5th of the 9th month of 1607, a document purports to be a transmission by Miyamoto Munisai of his teachings, suggesting Munisai lived at least to this date. In this year, Musashi departed Nara for Edo, in the meanwhile dueling (and killing) a ] practitioner named Shishido Baiken. In Edo, Musashi defeated ], who would found an influential staff school, the ]. | |||
| It was said that Musashi practiced the way of the warrior and warfare strategy, which entailed the mastery of many art forms beyond that of the sword, such as tea ceremony (sadō), laboring, writing, and painting, all of which Musashi pursued throughout his life.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life: Five Lessons from Miyamoto Musashi's 'Way of the Warrior' – The Objective Standard|url=https://theobjectivestandard.com/2020/05/ancient-wisdom-for-modern-life-five-lessons-from-miyamoto-musashis-way-of-the-warrior/|access-date=2021-07-08|website=theobjectivestandard.com|date=28 May 2020}}</ref> | |||
| Writings on Musashi's life rarely mention his relationship with women, and often when they do, Musashi is regularly depicted as rejecting sexual advances in favor of focusing on his swordsmanship.<ref name=Daughter>{{Cite book|title=The Five Rings: Miyamoto Musashi's Art of Strategy|last=K. Groff|first=David|publisher=Book Sales|year=2016|isbn=978-0785834007|pages=21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Classics of Strategy and Counsel: Thunder in the sky|last=Thomas F.|first=Cleary|publisher=Shambhala|year=2000|isbn=978-1570627286|pages=269}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi|last=William Scott|first=Wilson|publisher=Shambhala Publications|year=2013|isbn=978-1590309872|pages=78}}</ref> Alternative interpretations have taken his lack of interest as an indication of homosexuality.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings|last=Tokitsu|first=Kenji|publisher=Shambhala|year=2004|isbn=978-1590300459|pages=222}}</ref> In contrast, many legends feature Musashi in trysts with women, some of which also reflect the view that he eventually chose to forego physical or emotional investments to attain further insight into his work.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nakasendoway.com/miyamoto-musashi/|title=Miyamoto Musashi|website=Nakasendoway}}</ref> | |||
| Musashi is said to have fought over 60 duels and was never defeated, although this is a conservative estimate, most likely not accounting deaths by his hand in major battles. Japanese historians seem to believe that he could not have won all of them alone, without some assistance from his students; although this is unlikely because of the sheer mastery Musashi had above his students, particularly noting that most students found his techniques difficult, even as he states in his own books. | |||
| This predominant cultural view of Musashi is somewhat contradicted by old texts such as ''Dobo goen'' (1720) which relay his intimacy with the courtesan Kumoi in his middle age.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi|last=William Scott|first=Wilson|publisher=Shambhala Publications|year=2013|isbn=978-1590309872|pages=79}}</ref> The ''Bushu Denraiki'' details Musashi fathering a daughter by a courtesan. It is uncertain if this courtesan and Kumoi were the same person.<ref name=Daughter/> A rumor also connected Musashi with the '']'' {{Interlanguage link|Yoshino Tayu|Ja|吉野太夫}}.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Women of the Pleasure Quarters: The Secret History of the Geisha|last=Downer|first=Lesley|publisher=Broadway Books|year=2002|isbn=978-0767904902|pages=}}</ref> | |||
| In 1611, Musashi began practicing ] at the Myoshinji Temple, where he met Nagaoka Sado, vassal to Lord Hosokawa Tadaoki; Tadaoki was a powerful lord who had received the fief of northern Kyushu after the Battle of Sekigahara. Munisai had moved to northern Kyushu and became Tadaoki's teacher, leading to the possibility that Munisai introduced the two. Nagaoka proposed a duel with a certain adept named Sasaki Kojiro. Tokitsu believes that the duel was politically motivated, a matter of consolidating Tadaoki's control over his fief. | |||
| ] by Musashi]] | |||
| ====Duel with Sasaki Kojiro==== | |||
| {{main|Sasaki Kojiro}} | |||
| ===Niten Ichi Ryu=== | |||
| In ], 1612 aged approximately 28, Musashi had his most famous duel with ] who wielded a ] (a type of long two-handed sword). Musashi came late to the appointed place — the remote island ], north of Kysuhu, and unkempt — possibly as an attempt to unnerve his opponent — and killed him with a ] that he had made from an oar (this may be related to the ] weapon known as the ]{{fact}}) to be longer than the nodachi, an impressive feat by the standards of any samurai or swordsman. | |||
| {{Main|Niten Ichi-ryū}} | |||
| Musashi created and refined a two-sword '']'' technique called ''niten'ichi'' (二天一, "two heavens as one") or ''nitōichi'' (二刀一, "two swords as one") or ']' (A Kongen Buddhist Sutra refers to the two heavens as the two guardians of ]). In this technique, the swordsman uses ''both'' a large sword, and a "companion sword" at the same time, i.e. a ] with a ].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Ratti|first1=Oscar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y47TAgAAQBAJ&q=Musashi+created+and+refined+a+two-sword+kenjutsu+technique&pg=PA241|title=Secrets of the Samurai: The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan|last2=Westbrook|first2=Adele|date=2011|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|isbn=978-1-4629-0254-5|pages=241|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| The two-handed movements of temple drummers may have inspired him, although it could be that the technique was forged through Musashi's combat experience. '']'' techniques were taught to him by his father—the ''jitte'' was often used in battle paired with a sword; the ''jitte'' would parry and neutralize the weapon of the enemy while the sword struck or the practitioner grappled with the enemy. Today Musashi's style of swordsmanship is known as ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://niten.org/english/instituto/miyamoto_musashi/musashi-biografia|title=The life of Miyamoto Musashi|author=Niten Institute|website=Instituto Cultural Niten|language=en|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref> | |||
| He briefly established a fencing school that same year. | |||
| Musashi was also an expert in throwing weapons. He frequently threw his short sword, and ] believes that ] methods for the wakizashi were the Niten Ichi Ryu's secret techniques.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hyakutake-Watkin|first1=Colin |last2=Masayuki|first2=Imai |last3=Norikazu |first3=Iwata|title=Hyōhō.com |url=http://www.hyoho.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040615033613/http://www.hyoho.com/ |archive-date=15 June 2004}}</ref> | |||
| ====Service==== | |||
| In 1614 - 1615 Musashi participated in the war between the Toyotomis and Tokugawas. The war had broken out because Ieyasu saw the Toyotomi family as a threat to his rule of Japan; most scholars believe that as in the previous war, Musashi fought on the Toyotomi side. ] was the central place of battle. The first battle (the Winter Battle of Osaka; Musashi's fourth battle) ended in a truce, and the second one (the Summer Battle of Osaka; Musashi's fifth battle) resulted in the total defeat in May 1615 by Ieyasu's Army of the East Toyotomi of Hideyori's Army of the West. Some reports go so far as to say that Musashi entered a duel with Ieyasu, but was recruited after Ieyasu sensed his defeat was at hand. Although this seems unlikely, it is unknown how Musashi came into Ieyasu's good graces. | |||
| Within the book, Musashi mentions that the use of two swords within strategy is equally beneficial to those who use the skill for individual duels or large engagements. The idea of using two hands for a sword is an idea that Musashi opposes because there is no fluidity in movement with two hands: "If you hold a sword with both hands, it is difficult to wield it freely to left and right, so my method is to carry the sword in one hand." He also disagrees with the idea of using a sword with two hands on a horse and/or riding on unstable terrain, such as muddy swamps, rice fields, or within crowds of people. | |||
| Other accounts claim he actually served on the Tokugawa side, but such a claim is unproven, although Musashi had a close relationship with some Tokugawa vassals through his duel with Sasaki Kojiro, and in the succeeding years, he did not drop out of sight as might be expected if he were being persecuted for being on the losing side. In his later years, Lords Ogasawara and Hosokawa supported Musashi greatly — an atypical course of action for these Tokugawa loyalists, if Musashi had indeed fought on behalf of the Toyotomis. | |||
| To learn the strategy of Ni-Ten Ichi Ryū, Musashi asserts that by training with two long swords, one in each hand, one will be able to overcome the cumbersome nature of using a sword in both hands. Although it is difficult, Musashi agrees that there are times in which the long sword must be used with two hands, but one skillful enough should not need it. | |||
| In 1615 he entered the service of Lord ] of the ] province, at Ogasawara's invitation, as a ] or "Construction Supervisor", after previously gaining skills in craft. He helped construct ], and to lay out the organization of the town of Himeji (this last in 1621). He also taught the martial arts during his stay, specializing in instruction in the art of sword-throwing, or the ]. During his service, he adopted a boy. | |||
| After using two long swords proficiently enough, mastery of a long sword, and a "companion sword", most likely a wakizashi, will be much increased: "When you become used to wielding the long sword, you will gain the power of the Way and wield the sword well." | |||
| In 1621, Musashi defeated Miyake Gunbei and three other adepts of the ] in front of the lord of Himeji; it was after this victory that he helped plan Himeji. | |||
| Around this time, Musashi developed a number of disciples for his ''Enmei Ryu'' although he had developed the school considerably earlier; at the age of 22, Musashi had already written a scroll of Enmei Ryu teachings called "Writings on the Sword Technique of the Enmei Ryu" (''Enmei ryu kenpo sho''). "En" meant "circle" or "perfection"; "mei" meant "light"/"clarity", and "ryu" meant "school"; the name seems to have been derived from the idea of holding the two swords up in the light so as to form a circle. The school's central idea is given as training to use the twin swords of the samurai as effectively as a pair of sword and jitte. | |||
| In short, it could be seen, from the excerpts from ''The Book of Five Rings'', that real strategy behind Ni-Ten No Ichi Ryu, is that there is no real iron-clad method, path, or type of weaponry specific to the style of Ni-Ten No Ichi Ryu: | |||
| In 1622, Musashi's adoptive son, named Miyamoto Mikinosuke became a vassal to the fief of Himeji. Possibly this prompted Musashi to leave, embarking on a new series of travels, winding up in Edo in 1623, where he became friends with a Confucian scholar named ]. Musashi applied to become a swordmaster to the Shogun, but as he already had two swordmasters (Ono Jiroemon and Yagyu Munenori- the latter also a political advisor to the shogun, in addition to his position as the head of the Shogunate's secret police), his application was denied. Musashi left Edo in the direction of ], ending up in ], where he adopted a second son, Miyamoto Iori. The two then travelled, eventually stopping in Osaka. | |||
| {{blockquote|You can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size.}} | |||
| In 1626, Miyamoto Mikinosuke, following the custom of ], committed ] because of the death of his lord. In this year, Miyamoto Iori entered Lord Ogasawara's service. Musashi's attempt to become a vassal to the Lord of Owari, like other such attempts, failed. | |||
| ===Religion=== | |||
| In 1627, Musashi began to travel again. In 1634 he settled in ] with Iori, and later entered the service of ] ], taking a major role in the ]. Iori served with excellence in putting down the rebellion and gradually rose to the rank of ] - a position equal to a ]. Musashi, however was reputedly injured by a thrown rock while scouting in the front line, and was thus unable to accrue any form of merit. | |||
| Even from an early age, Musashi separated his religion from his involvement in swordsmanship. Excerpts such as the one below, from ''The Book of Five Rings'', demonstrate a philosophy that is thought to have stayed with him throughout his life: | |||
| {{blockquote|There are many ways: Confucianism, Buddhism, the ways of elegance, rice-planting, or dance; these things are not to be found in the way of the warrior.<ref>Miyamoto, p. 57.</ref>}} | |||
| ===Later life and death=== | |||
| Six years later, in 1633, Musashi began staying with ], daimyo of ], who had moved to the Kumamoto fief and Kokura, to train and paint. While there he engaged in very few duels; one would occur in 1634 at the arrangement of Lord Ogasawara, in which Musashi defeated a lance specialist by the name of Takada Matabei. | |||
| However, the belief that Musashi disliked ] is inaccurate, as he criticises the ] style of swordsmanship, not Shinto, the religion. In Musashi's '']'', his stance on religion is further elucidated: "Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/education/hinokuni/isan/siteijoukyou/2003.9.12/dokoudou.html|title= 獨行道 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218202853/http://www.pref.kumamoto.jp/education/hinokuni/isan/siteijoukyou/2003.9.12/dokoudou.html |archive-date=18 December 2008}}</ref> | |||
| In 1637, the ] began. Musashi's sixth and final battle would have him supporting his son Iori and Ogasawara as a strategist, directing their troops. As a reward, Iori became Ogasawara's principal vassal. | |||
| ===As an artist=== | |||
| In the second month of 1641, Musashi wrote a work called the ''Hyoho sanju go'' ("Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy") for Hosokawa Tadatoshi; this work overlapped and formed the basis for the later ''Go rin no sho''. This was the year that his third son, Hirao Yoemon, became Master of Arms for the Owari fief. In 1642, Musashi suffered attacks of ], foreshadowing his future ill-health. In 1643 he retired to a cave named ''Reigandō'' as a hermit to write ''The Book of Five Rings''. He finished it in the second month of 1645. On the twelfth of the fifth month, sensing his impending death, Musashi bequeathed his worldly possessions, after giving his manuscript copy of the ''Go Rin No Sho'' to his closest disciple (Terao Magonojo)'s younger brother. He died in Reigandō cave around the nineteenth of the fifth month, or possibly ], 1645. The ''Hyoho senshi denki'' described his passing thusly: | |||
| ] | |||
| In his later years, Musashi said in his ''The Book of Five Rings'': "When I apply the principle of strategy to the ways of different arts and crafts, I no longer have need for a teacher in any domain." He proved this by creating recognized masterpieces of ] and classic ]. His paintings are characterized by skilled use of ]es and an economy of brush stroke. He especially mastered the "broken ink" school of landscapes, applying it to other subjects, such as his ''Kobokumeikakuzu'' ("] Perched on a Withered Branch"; part of a ] whose other two members were "] Walking" and "Sparrow on Bamboo"), his ''Hotei Watching a Cockfight'', and his ''Rozanzu'' ("Wild Geese Among Reeds"). The Book of Five Rings advocates involvement in calligraphy and other arts as a means of training in the art of war.<ref name="nippon-musashi">{{cite web |title=Master Swordsman Miyamoto Musashi: The Man Behind The Book of Five Rings |website=Nippon.com |author=Uozumi Takashi |date=25 July 2019 |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00689/master-swordsman-miyamoto-musashi-the-man-behind-the-book-of-five-rings.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305121209/https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00689/master-swordsman-miyamoto-musashi-the-man-behind-the-book-of-five-rings.html |archive-date= 5 March 2020}}</ref> | |||
| Musashi also known as talented ] who produced several paintings such as: "Shrike Perched in a Dead Tree" (''Koboku Meigekizu'', 枯木鳴鵙図) and "Wild Geese Among Reeds" (''Rozanzu'', 魯山図).{{citation needed|date=June 2024}} | |||
| :''"At the moment of his death, he had himself raised up. He had his belt tightened and his wakizashi put in it. He seated himself with one knee vertically raised, holding the sword with his left hand and a cane in his right hand. He died in this posture, at the age of sixty-two. The principal vassals of Lord Hosokawa and the other officers gathered, and they painstakingly carried out the ceremony. Then they set up a tomb on Mount Iwato on the order of the lord."'' | |||
| ==In Japanese and global culture== | |||
| It is notable that Musashi died of what is believed to be ], and was not killed in combat. He died peacefully after finishing the '']'' ("The Way of Walking Alone", or "The Way of Self-Reliance"), 21 precepts on self-discipline to guide future generations. | |||
| ===Miyamoto Musashi Budokan=== | |||
| His body was interred in armor within the village of Yuge, near the main road near Mount Iwato, facing the direction the Hosokawas would travel to Edo; his hair was buried on Mount Iwato itself. | |||
| {{Further|Miyamoto Musashi Budokan}} | |||
| ] in ] (]), ], Japan<ref>{{Cite web|year=2009|title=Budokan|url=http://www.ecole-miyamoto-musashi.com/budokan_uk.html|access-date=August 12, 2020|website=Miyamoto Musashi school}}</ref>]] | |||
| On 20 May 2000, at the initiative of Sensei Tadashi Chihara<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 April 2020|title=the 10 th, Tadashi Chihara, hyouhou niten ichiryū musashi seitannochi|url=https://54369d1c-e4d2-4025-8e17-8bf19b68e412.filesusr.com/ugd/c7032e_aab689e3cf384be28fbad53526b96dbd.pdf}}</ref> the ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dojo-miyamoto-musashi.com/budokan_uk.html|title=Dojo Miyamoto Musashi|website=dojo-miyamoto-musashi.com}}</ref> was inaugurated.<ref name=":0" /> It was built in ] in the ], the birthplace of the ]. Inside the building, the life and journey of Miyamoto Musashi are remembered everywhere. Dedicated to martial arts, the Budokan is the source for all of Japan's official traditional saber and ] schools. Practically, historically and culturally it is a junction for martial disciplines in the heart of traditional Japan dedicated to Musashi. | |||
| The inauguration of the Miyamoto Musashi Budokan perpetuated the twinning established on 4 March 1999, between the inhabitants of Ōhara-Chō (Japanese province of Mimasaka) and the inhabitants of ]. It was formalized in the presence of Sensei Tadashi Chihara, guarantor and tenth in the lineage of Miyamoto Musashi carrying a mandate from the mayor of Ōhara-Chō, and in the presence of the mayor of Gleizé ].<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 1999|title=Reportage – Dojo – France3 – Miyamoto Musashi School|url=https://vimeo.com/387165059}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|year=2018|title=Heiho Niten Ichi Ryu Memorial|url=https://www.memorial-heiho-niten-ichi-ryu.com/reconnaissance}}</ref> This event was extended during the mandate of the new mayor of Ōhara-Chō Fukuda Yoshiaki, by the official invitation from Japan and the consequent visit of the mayor of Gleizé for the inauguration of the Miyamoto Musashi Budokan on 10 May 2000, in the presence of personalities and Japanese authorities. | |||
| Nine years later, a major source about his life- a monument with a funereal eulogy to Musashi- was erected in Kokura by Miyamoto Iori; this monument was called the Kokura ''hibun''. | |||
| == |
===Monuments=== | ||
| <gallery> | |||
| ] (1798-1861).]] | |||
| File:Memorial Heiho Niten Ichi Ryu.jpg|Memorial Lyon-Japan Japan-France Heiho Niten Ichi Ryu (]). | |||
| File:Stèle de la Mémoire du Japon à Jarnioux et Liergues.jpg|Memorial Lyon-Japan Japan-France Heiho Niten Ichi Ryu (]). | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| ===In popular culture=== | |||
| Musashi created and perfected a two-sword kenjutsu technique called ''niten'ichi'' (二天一, "two heavens as one") or ''nitōichi'' (二刀一, "two swords as one") or "Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu" (A ] Buddhist Sutra refers to the two heavens as the two guardians of ]). In this technique, the swordsman uses ''both'' a large sword, and a "companion sword" at the same time, such as a ] and ]. | |||
| {{unreferenced section|date=March 2024}} | |||
| {{in popular culture|date=March 2024}} | |||
| It is said the two-handed movements of temple drummers inspired him, although it seems more likely that the technique was forged by a means of natural selection through Musashi's combat experience, or from ] techniques which were taught to him by his father- the jitte was often used in battle paired with a sword; the jitte would parry and neutralize the weapon of the enemy whilst the sword struck or the practitioner grappled with the enemy. In his time a long sword in the left hand was referred to as ''gyaku nito''. Today Musashi's style of swordsmanship is known as ]. | |||
| {{Further|Miyamoto Musashi in fiction}} | |||
| In Musashi's time, there were fictional texts resembling comic books and it is difficult to separate fact from fiction when discussing his life. There have been works of fiction made about or featuring Musashi. ]'s ] (originally a 1930s daily newspaper serial) has greatly influenced successive fictional depictions (including the ] '']'' by ]) and is often mistaken for a factual account of Musashi's life. In 2012, writer ] and Japanese artist Chie Kutsuwada published an attempt at a more historically accurate manga entitled ''The Book of Five Rings: A Graphic Novel'', based on research and translations by William Scott Wilson. | |||
| Musashi was also an expert in throwing weapons. He frequently threw his short sword, and ] believes that ] methods for the wakizashi were the Niten Ichi Ryu's secret techniques. In fact before the ] multi-faceted skills were a necessity, so the likelihood of such information is accurate. (see Hayakutake-Watkin: ) | |||
| '']'', a video game series by ], features Musashi as a secret playable character in '']''. | |||
| Musashi was a loner. He spent many years studying Buddhism and swordsmanship. He was an accomplished artist, sculptor, and calligrapher. Records also show that he had architectural skills. Also, he had a rather straightforward approach to combat, with no additional frills or aesthetic considerations. This was probably due to his real-life combat experience. | |||
| The 1994 video game '']'' and its 2022 remake feature Musashi as a boss in the game's Twilight of Edo Japan chapter. | |||
| Especially in his later life Musashi also followed the more artistic side of ]. He made various ] brush paintings and ] and sculpted wood and metal. Even in '']'' he emphasizes that samurai should understand other professions as well. It should be understood that Musashi's writings were very ambiguous. Translating them into English make them even more so. That is why we find so many copies of ''Gorin no Sho''. One needs to read this work, ''Dokkodo'' and ''Hyoho Shiji ni Kajo'' to get a better idea of what he was about and understand his transformation from Setsuninto (the sword that takes life) to Katsujinken (the sword that gives life). | |||
| The 2008 video game '']'' was based on his life and personality. | |||
| ===Legends=== | |||
| After his death, various legends began to appear. Most talk about his feats in kenjutsu and other martial arts, some describing how he was able to hurl men over 5 ] backwards, other about his speed and technique. Other legends, tell of how Musashi killed giant lizards in ], as well as ]s in various other prefectures. He gained the stature of '']'', a "sword saint" for his mastery in swordsmanship. Some believed he could run at super-human speed, walk on air, water and even fly through the clouds. | |||
| He also appeared in the manga '']'' as a revived clone of himself with his real soul intact as one of the strongest fighters in the series, and used his two-sword style in most combat in which he was shown. | |||
| ==Philosophy== | |||
| Throughout Musashi's last book, ''Go Rin No Sho'' (五輪の書, '']''), Musashi seems to take a very philosophical approach to looking at the "Craft of War"; "''There are four Ways in which men pass through life: as ], ], ]s and ]s.''" | |||
| these falling into one of the few profession groups that could be observed in Musashi's time. | |||
| The card game '']'' has a card based on him, Isshin, Two Heavens as One, named for his two swords as one technique. | |||
| Throughout the book, Musashi employs that the way of the Warrior, as well as the meaning of a "True strategist" is that of somebody who has made mastery of many art forms away from that of the sword, such as ] drinking (]), ]ing, ], and painting as Musashi practiced throughout his life. Musashi was hailed as an extraordinary ] artist in the use of ink monochrome as depicted in two such famous paintings: "Shrike Perched in a Dead Tree" (''Koboku Meikakuzu'', 古木明確図) and "Wild Geese Among Reeds" (''Rozanzu'', 魯山図). | |||
| In the 2017 video game '']'', the "Aramusha" hero is loosely inspired by Musashi. The character is a ronin who wields two swords. | |||
| He makes particular note of ] and ]. In the time in which he writes the book, the majority of houses in Japan were made of wood. In the use of building a house, foremen have to employ strategy based upon the skill and ability of their workers. | |||
| The 2023 anime ] was based loosely on the video game franchise of the same name and produced by Netflix. The series portrays a fictional version of an aging Musashi who embarks on a journey to defeat supernatural forces of evil using the Oni Gauntlet. | |||
| In comparison to warriors and soldiers, Musashi notes the ways in which the artisans thrive through events; the ruin of houses, the splendor of houses, the style of the house, the tradition and name or origins of a house. These too, are similar to the events which are seen to have warriors and soldiers thrive; the rise and fall of prefectures, countries and other such events are what make uses for Warriors, as well as the literal comparisons of the: "''The carpenter uses a master plan of the building, and the Way of strategy is similar in that there is a plan of campaign''". | |||
| In Japanese live action series ], Musashi is the first of many Luminary Eyecons that Takeru Tenkuuji uses as ]. | |||
| ===The Way of Strategy=== | |||
| Throughout the book, ''Go Rin No Shō'', the idea which Musashi pushes is that the "Way of the Strategist" is similar to how a carpenter and his tools are mutually inclusive, e.g. - A carpenter can do nothing without his tools, and ''vice versa''. This too, he compares to skill, and tactical ability in the field of battle. | |||
| The song "Sun and Steel" by heavy metal band ] off the album ] is based off Miyamoto's life. | |||
| Initially, Musashi notes that throughout China and Japan, there are many "sword fencers" who walk around claiming they are Strategists, but are in fact, not - this may be due to the fact that Musashi had defeated some such Strategists, such as ]. | |||
| ==Gallery== | |||
| The idea is that by reading his writings, you can become a true strategist from ability and tactical skill that Musashi had learned in his lifetime. He pushes that Strategy and Virtue are something which can be earned by knowing the ways of life, the professions that are around, to perhaps learn the skills and knowledge of people and the skills of their particular professions. | |||
| <gallery mode="traditional"> | |||
| File:Miyamoto musashi LCCN2002700026.jpg|"Miyamoto Musashi on the banks of the Isagawa in Kawachi Province meets a remarkable man who shows him a magnifying glass", from a series Thirty-six Famous Battles by ], 1847 | |||
| File:Miyamoto Musashi 宮本 武蔵 (BM 2008,3037.15507).jpg|"The swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, armed with two wooden swords, sparring with the old master Tsukahara Bokuden, who defends himself using two wooden pot-lids" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, c. 1845-46 | |||
| File:Statue of Hosokawa Tadatoshi.jpg|A statue of ] within ] | |||
| File:Hidari mitsudomoe.svg|] of Miyamoto Musashi born in ] ] | |||
| File:Statue of Musashi & Kojirō battle.jpg|Statue of Musashi & Kojiro Battle | |||
| File:Miyamoto_Musashi_killing_a_giant_nue.jpg|Miyamoto Musashi kills a shark fish (Yamazame) in the mountains across the border of ], by ] | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| However, Musashi seems to state that the value of Strategy seems to be ]. He notes that: | |||
| {{Portal|Asia|Japan|History|Biography|Buddhism}} | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==Appendix== | |||
| :''The attendants of the Kashima Kantori shrines of the province Hitachi received instruction from the gods, and made schools based on this teaching, travelling from country to country instructing men. This is the recent meaning of strategy.'' | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| ===Essays=== | |||
| As well as noting that Strategy is destined to die; | |||
| * {{cite book | first = Kenji | last = Tokitsu | title = Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings | publisher = Shambhala Publications, Inc. | year=2004 | isbn = 978-1-59030-045-9}} | |||
| * {{cite book | first = Stephen R. | last = Turnbull | author-link = Stephen Turnbull (historian) | title = The Lone Samurai and the Martial Arts | publisher = Arms and Armour Press | location = London | isbn = 978-0-85368-967-6 | year = 1990 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/lonesamuraimarti0000turn }} | |||
| * {{cite book | first = William Scott | last = Wilson | title = The Lone Samurai | publisher = Kodansha International | year=2004 | isbn = 978-4-7700-2942-3 | title-link = The Lone Samurai }} | |||
| * {{cite book | first = William | last = De Lange | title = The Real Musashi: The Bushu denraiki | publisher = Floating World Editions | year=2010 | isbn = 978-1-891640-56-8}} | |||
| * {{cite book | first = William | last = De Lange | title = The Real Musashi: The Bukoden | publisher = Floating World Editions | year=2011 | isbn = 978-1-891640-60-5}} | |||
| * {{cite book | first = William | last = De Lange | title = The Real Musashi: A Miscellany | publisher = Floating World Editions | year=2016 | isbn = 978-1-891640-86-5}} | |||
| * {{cite book | first = William | last = De Lange | title = Miyamoto Musashi: A Life in Arms | publisher = Floating World Editions | year=2014 | isbn = 978-1-891640-629}} | |||
| ===Testimony=== | |||
| :''Of course, men who study in this way think they are training the body and spirit, but it is an obstacle to the true Way, and its bad influence remains for ever. Thus the true Way of strategy is becoming decadent and dying out.'' | |||
| * Iwami Toshio Harukatsu soke (11th successor to Miyamoto Musashi), "Musashi's teachings – philosophy first: translation in English" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720223316/http://lakischool.free.fr/IWAMI%20dragon%20interview%20english.pdf |date=20 July 2011 }}, ''Dragon'' n°7, January 2005, ed. Mathis; French original text: | |||
| * Iwami Toshio Harukatsu soke (11th successor to Miyamoto Musashi), "Musashi's principles" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720223734/http://lakischool.free.fr/interview%20niten%202006.pdf |date=20 July 2011 }}, ''Dragon'' n°13, January 2006, ed. Mathis; French original text: ''Les principes de Musashi'' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720223459/http://lakischool.free.fr/DRAGON%2001%202006-INTERVIEW%20IWAMI.pdf |date=20 July 2011 }} | |||
| ===Primary sources=== | |||
| As a form, strategy was said to be one of "Ten Abilities and Seven Arts" that a Warrior should have, but Musashi disagrees that one person can gain Strategy by being confined to one particular style, which seems particularly fitting as he admits " I practice many arts and abilities - all things with no teacher" - this perhaps being one of the reasons he was so highly-regarded a swordsman. | |||
| * ''Hyodokyo'' (The Mirror of the Way of Strategy) | |||
| * ''Hyoho Sanjugo Kajo'' (Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy) | |||
| * ''Hyoho Shijuni Kajo'' (Forty-two Instructions on Strategy) | |||
| * '']'' (The Way to be Followed Alone) | |||
| * '']'' (The Book of Five Rings; a reference to the Five Rings of Zen Buddhism). Translated into English by Victor Harris as ''A Book of Five Rings'', London: ], 1974; Woodstock, New York: The Overlook Press. | |||
| ===Fiction=== | |||
| Musashi's metaphor for Strategy is that of the Nut and the flower, similar to ] philosophy of "The chicken or the egg", the "nut" being the student, the "flower" being the technique. He also notes that most places seem to be mostly concerned with their technique and its beauty. Musashi writes, "In this kind of Way of strategy, both those teaching and those learning the way are concerned with coloring and showing off their technique, trying to hasten the bloom of the flower" (as opposed to the actual harmony between strategy and Skill.) | |||
| * {{cite book | first = Wilson | last = Sean Michael| author-link = Sean Michael Wilson| title = Musashi (A Graphic Novel) | publisher = Shambhala | year=2014 }} (]/historical fiction) | |||
| * {{cite book | first = Wilson | last = Sean Michael| author-link = Sean Michael Wilson| title = The Book of Five Rings: a graphic novel | publisher = Shambhala | year=2012 }} (]/historical fiction) | |||
| With those who are concerned with becoming masters of strategy, Musashi points out that as a carpenter becomes better with his tools and is able to craft things with more expert measure, so too can a warrior, or strategist become more skilled in his technique. However, just as a carpenter needs to be able to use his tools according to plans, so too must a strategist be able to adapt his style or technique to the required strategy of the battle he is currently engaged in. | |||
| * {{cite book | first = Takehiko | last = Inoue| author-link = Takehiko Inoue| title = Vagabond | publisher = Viz Communications | year=1998 | title-link = Vagabond (manga)}} (]/historical fiction) | |||
| * {{cite book | first = Eiji | last = Yoshikawa| author-link = Eiji Yoshikawa | title = Musashi | publisher = Kodansha International | year = 1995 | edition = reprint | isbn = 978-4-7700-1957-8| title-link = Musashi (novel)}} (Historical fiction) | |||
| This description also draws parallels between the weapons of a trooper (or soldier) and the tools of a carpenter; The idea of "the right tool for the right job" seems to be implied a lot throughout the book, Go Rin No Shō. Musashi also puts into motion the idea that when a Carpenter is skilled enough in aspects of his job, and creates them with expert measure, then he can become a foreman. | |||
| * {{cite book | first = J.S.| last = Moore | title = Under the Sun: The Miyamoto Musashi Story | publisher = Understanding Apples Press | year=2014 | isbn = 978-1-5028-0491-4}} | |||
| Although it is not expressly mentioned, it may be seen that Musashi indicated that when you have learned the areas in which your craft requires, be it carpentry, farming, fine art or battle, and are able to apply them to any given situation, then you will be experienced enough to show others the wisdom of your ways, be it as a foreman of craftsmen, or as a general of an army. | |||
| From further reading into the book, the idea of "Weapons within strategy," as well as Musashi referring to the power of the Writer, may seem that the Strategy which Musashi refers to does not exclusively reside within the domain of weaponry and duels, but within the realm of war and battles with many men: | |||
| :''Just as one man can beat ten, so a hundred men can beat a thousand, and a thousand can beat ten thousand. In my strategy, one man is the same as ten thousand, so this strategy is the complete warrior's craft.'' | |||
| ====Of Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu==== | |||
| Within the book, Musashi mentions that the use of Two swords within strategy is mutually beneficial between those who utilise this skill. The idea of using two hands for a sword is an idea which Musashi disagrees with, in that there is not fluidity in movement when using two hands - "''If you hold a sword with both hands, it is difficult to wield it freely to left and right, so my method is to carry the sword in one hand''", as well as the idea of using a sword with two hands on a horse, and/or riding on unstable terrain , such as muddy swamps, rice fields, or within crowds of people. | |||
| In order to learn the strategy of Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu, Musashi employs that by training with two long swords, one in each hand, you will be able to overcome the cumbersome nature of using a sword in both hands. Although difficult, Musashi agrees that there are times in which the Longsword must be used with two hands, but if your skill is good enough, you should not need it. The idea of using two long swords is that you are starting with something to which you are unaccustomed, and that you will find difficult, but will adapt to after much use. | |||
| After using two long swords proficiently enough, Musashi then states that your mastery of a Longsword, and a "Companion Sword", most likely a ], will be much increased - "''When you become used to wielding the long sword, you will gain the power of the Way and wield the sword well.''". | |||
| In short, it could be seen that from the excerpts from ''Go Rin No Shō'', the real strategy behind Ni-Ten No Ichi Ryu, is that there is no real iron-clad method, path, or type of weaponry that is specific to the style of Ni-Ten No Ichi Ryu: | |||
| :''You can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size.'' | |||
| ====Of the Long Sword==== | |||
| The strategy of the long sword is different than other strategies, in that is much more straightforward. In the strategy of the longsword, it seems that Musashi's ideal was, that by mastering gripping the sword with two fingers, it could become a platform used for moving onto the mastery of Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu, as well as being able to use two broadswords, or more masterfully use a companion sword. | |||
| However, just because the grip is to be light, it does not mean that the attack or slash from the sword will be weak. Like with any other technique in the Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu, he notes: | |||
| :''"If you try to wield the long sword quickly you will mistake the Way. To wield the long sword well you must wield it calmly. If you try to wield it quickly, like a folding fan or a short sword, you will err by using "short sword chopping". You cannot cut down a man with a long sword using this method."'' | |||
| Like with most disciplines in martial arts, Musashi notes that the movement of the sword after the cut is made must not be superfluous; instead of quickly returning to a stance or position, one should allow the sword to come to the end of its path from the force used. In this manner, the technique will become freely flowing, as opposed to abrupt; this principle is also taught in ]. | |||
| ===Religion=== | |||
| Even from an early age, Musashi separated his religion from his involvement in swordsmanship. Excerpts such as the one below demonstrate a philosophy that is thought to have stayed with him throughout his life: | |||
| :''"The Way of the warrior does not include other Ways, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, certain traditions, artistic accomplishments or dancing. But even though these are not part of the Way, if you know the Way broadly you will see it in everything. Men must polish their particular Way."'' {{fact}} | |||
| The idea that Musashi hated ] is a somewhat inaccurate translation, since he only notes differences in its style of swordsmanship (which he refers to as "strategy") when speaking on Shinto, and their "alien" practices, is believed by many to be completely false. The argument that Musashi was biased against Shintoists finds much of its basis in the fact that he duelled with a great many followers of that religion. However, since Shintoism is the native religion of Japan and adherents of that religion were in the majority at that time, the prevalence of Shintoists as opponents hardly seems unreasonable. According to other sources, Musashi was really an atheist but he never expressed it in public when Japanese society was extremely uptight about atheism. Most historians have tried to delete atheism from popular celebrities´ biographies, and includes Musashi's. | |||
| ==Musashi as an artist== | |||
| In his later years, Musashi claimed in his ''Go Rin no Sho'' that "When I apply the principle of strategy to the ways of different arts and crafts, I no longer have need for a teacher in any domain." He proved this by creating recognized masterpieces of ] and classic ]. His paintings are characterized by skilled use of ]es and a economy of brush stroke. He especially mastered the "broken ink" school of landscapes, applying it to other subjects, such as his "Koboku meikakuzu" ("Kingfisher Perched on a Withered Branch"; part of a ] whose other two members were "] Walking" and "Sparrow on Bamboo"), his "Hotei Watching a Cockfight", and his "Rozanzu" ("Wild Geese Among Reeds"). | |||
| ==Partial bibliography== | |||
| #''The 35 Articles of Swordsmanship'' | |||
| #'']'' (The Path of Self-Reliance) | |||
| #''Go Rin No Shō'' ('']''; a reference to the Five Rings of Zen Buddhism) | |||
| ==Myth and legends== | |||
| *It was said that Musashi always "grasped his swords tightly" by many people reading information about him. However, he categorically states that your grip must not be too tight as it restricts your movement with a sword. | |||
| *It has also been said that Musashi used nothing but a ] and a ]. This is untrue; one of Musashi's signature peculiarities was that he would prefer a wooden sword (bokken) over a katana in duels. In fact, the ''Book of Five Rings'' talks much about how the warrior should not have a favorite weapon, the true way is to be acquainted with all weapons. | |||
| *Legends state that Musashi never bathed, for fear of being caught without his swords. Since he was a frequent visitor in the courts of nobles, and the dojos of renowned masters, this is unlikely. | |||
| *It has been suggested by some historians that Musashi created the two swords style after seeing a European ] in the ] area. European ] at the time would have used a long sword with a short one - ]s and ]s. From certain documents, however, it seems that he naturally pulled out his wakizashi during a duel because he felt he needed it. He won and after the fight he began to refine his technique. | |||
| ==Musashi in fiction== | |||
| {{details|Miyamoto Musashi in fiction}} | |||
| There have been thirty six ]s made about Musashi, including six with the title of "Miyamoto Musashi" and a ] series about his life. Even in Musashi's time there were fictional texts resembling ]s. It is therefore quite difficult to separate ] from ] when discussing Musashi; this is especially true on the internet. Eiji Yoshikawa's novelization has greatly influenced successive fictional depictions and is often mistaken for a factual account of Musashi's life. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| ==Further reading== | |||
| *{{cite book | first = William Scott | last = Wilson | title = ] | publisher = Kodansha International | year=2004 | id = ISBN 4-7700-2942-X }} | |||
| *{{cite book | author = Eiji Yoshikawa | title = ]| publisher = Kodansha International | year = 1995 | edition = reprint edition }} (fictional accounts) | |||
| ==Reference== | |||
| <references /> | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| {{commons}} | |||
| {{wikiquote}} | {{wikiquote}} | ||
| {{Library resources box|by=yes|onlinebooks=yes}} | |||
| * | |||
| * {{in lang|fr}} | |||
| * () | |||
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| |NAME=Musashi, Miyamoto | |||
| |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Hirata; Takemura; Masana, Musashi; Masanobu, Musashi; no Kami Fujiwara no Genshin; Shinmen Musashi; Genshin; Miyamoto, Bennosuke; Den, Hirata | |||
| |SHORT DESCRIPTION=Japanese martial artist, writer, artist. | |||
| |DATE OF BIRTH=c. 1584 | |||
| |PLACE OF BIRTH=Village of Miyamoto-Sanomo in the Mimasaka region of Japan. | |||
| |DATE OF DEATH=19th of the 5th month of 1645 | |||
| |PLACE OF DEATH=Mount Iwato, Japan | |||
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Latest revision as of 14:08, 14 January 2025
Japanese swordsman, philosopher, strategist, writer, artist, and rōnin This article is about the Japanese swordsman. For the protagonist of Vagabond with the same name, see Musashi Miyamoto (Vagabond). | This article may require cleanup to meet Misplaced Pages's quality standards. The specific problem is: Article contains significant spelling, grammatical, formatting, and stylistic errors throughout. Please help improve this article if you can. (June 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
In this Japanese name, the surname is Miyamoto.
| Miyamoto Musashi | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Contemporaneous portrait of Miyamoto Musashi (Edo period) | |||||
| Born | Shinmen Bennosuke c. 1584 Harima Province or Mimasaka Province, Japan | ||||
| Died | 13 June 1645(1645-06-13) (aged 60–61) Higo Province, Japan | ||||
| Native name | 宮本武蔵 | ||||
| Other names | Niten Dōraku; Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu | ||||
| Residence | Japan | ||||
| Style | Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū Kenjutsu (二天一流), Enmei-ryu (圓明流), (二天流) | ||||
| Other information | |||||
| Children | Mikinosuke (adopted) Kurōtarō (adopted) Iori (adopted) Yoemon (adopted) | ||||
| Notable students | Takemura Yoemon; Terao Magonojō; Terao Motomenosuke; Furuhashi Sōzaemon | ||||
| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 宮本 武蔵 | ||||
| |||||
Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵), born Shinmen Takezō (新免 武蔵, c. 1584 – 13 June 1645), also known as Miyamoto Bennosuke and by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese swordsman, strategist, artist, and writer who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 62 duels (next is 33 by Itō Ittōsai). Musashi is considered a kensei (sword saint) of Japan. He was the founder of the Niten Ichi-ryū, or Nito Ichi-ryū, style of swordsmanship, and in his final years authored The Book of Five Rings (五輪の書, Go Rin No Sho) and Dokkōdō (獨行道, The Path of Aloneness).
Both documents were given to Terao Magonojō, the most important of Musashi's students, seven days before Musashi's death. The Book of Five Rings deals primarily with the character of his Niten Ichi-ryū school in a concrete sense, i.e., his own practical martial art and its generic significance; The Path of Aloneness, on the other hand, deals with the ideas that lie behind it, as well as his life's philosophy in a few short aphoristic sentences.
It is believed that Musashi was a friend of a Tokugawa shogunate general named Mizuno Katsunari and fought together with him in the Battle of Sekigahara, Siege of Osaka, and Shimabara Rebellion as part of the Tokugawa army.
The Miyamoto Musashi Budokan training center, located in Ōhara-chō (Mimasaka), Okayama Prefecture, Japan was erected to honor his name and legend.
Biography
The details of Miyamoto Musashi's early life are difficult to verify. Musashi himself simply states in The Book of Five Rings that he was born in Harima Province. Niten Ki (an early biography of Musashi) supports the assertion that Musashi was born in 1584: " was born in Banshū, in Tenshō 12 , the Year of the Monkey." The historian Kamiko Tadashi, commenting on Musashi's text, notes: "Munisai was Musashi's father ... he lived in Miyamoto village, in the Yoshino district . Musashi was most probably born here."
Musashi gives his full name and title in The Book of Five Rings as Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu (新免武蔵守藤原玄信). His father, Shinmen Munisai (新免無二斎) was an accomplished martial artist and master of the sword and jutte (also jitte). Munisai, in turn, was the son of Hirata Shōgen (平田将監), a vassal of Shinmen Iga no Kami, the lord of Takayama Castle in the Yoshino district of Mimasaka Province. Hirata was relied upon by Lord Shinmen and so was allowed to use the Shinmen name. As for "Musashi", Musashi no Kami was a court title, making him the nominal governor of Musashi Province. "Fujiwara" was the lineage from which Musashi claimed descent.
Musashi's eczema developed in his infancy, and this adversely affected his appearance. Another story claims that he never bathed himself because he did not want to be surprised unarmed.
According to Go Rin No Sho, Musashi testified that his first duel occurred when he was still 13 years old, against a swordsman named Arima Kihei who practiced Kashima Shintō-ryū martial arts that were created by Tsukahara Bokuden; Musashi was victorious. The second duel happened when Musashi was 16 years old, when he won another victory against a swordsman named Tadashima Akiyama, a native of Tajima Province. His third duel came when he was aged 21, in Kyoto, where he defeated several students of a famous sword fighting school.
Travels 1599-1613
In 1599, Musashi left his village, apparently at the age of 15 (according to the Tosakushi, "The Registry of the Sakushu Region", although the Tanji Hokin Hikki says he was 16 years old in 1599, which agrees time-wise with the age reported in Musashi's first duel). His family possessions such as furniture, weapons, genealogy, and other records were left with his sister and her husband, Hirao Yoemon. He spent his time traveling and engaging in duels.
In 1600, Musashi is said to have participated in the Battle of Sekigahara. For a long time, the prevailing opinion has been that Musashi participated in the Sekigahara battle on the Western Army side due to the fact that Shinmen clan was longtime vassal to the Ukita clan. However, recent research by modern Japanese historians such as Masahide Fukuda and Watanabe Daimon about Musashi has opined that Musashi and his father, Shinmen Munisai, actually sided with The Eastern army during the war, based on the historical records that Munisai no longer served the Ukita clan, and the clan records of Kuroda clan, ally of Tokugawa Ieyasu during the war, had recorded the name of Shinmen Munisai among their vassals who participated in the war. Daimon, who quoted the "Matsui clan Document", has opined that the notion that Musashi fought on the losing side of Western Army, both in Sekigahara and in Osaka siege 14 years later, were only based on legendary romanticism about Musashi being a ronin. While the primary history records indicated that Musashi always fought on the side of Tokugawa, who emerged victorious in both conflicts. The main issue debated, was if Musashi fought in the Sekigahara battle with the Eastern Army main forces, under Tokugawa, or did he fight in Ishigakibaru of western province theater under the Eastern Army commander Kuroda Yoshitaka. Daimon more leaned to the opinion that Musashi fought in Ishigakibaru instead of Sekigahara, by historical record of "The Transmission of Military Art to Master Bushu Genshin" Meanwhile, Fukuda has pointed out that the name of Munisai appeared in Kuroda clan record under the category of "Kogofudai", or Kuroda clan vassals who had entered service before 1586. Based on this fact, Fukuda concluded it was natural that Munisai and Musashi were on the Tokugawa side during the war, just as the Kuroda clan which they served.
Furthermore, Japanese History novelist Kengo Tominaga proposed a theory that Musashi during the Sekigahara Campaign did not fight in the main battle of Sekigahara, but instead he fought under Kuroda Yoshitaka against Ishida Mitsunari loyalists from the western provinces in the battle of Ishigakibaru, Ōita Prefecture.
In December 1608, It was reported that Musashi met with Mizuno Katsunari, a Tokugawa general. Musashi taught Katsunari the secret techniques of his swordstyle.
In 1611, Musashi learned zazen at Myōshin-ji Kyūshū after the Sekigahara battle. Musashi introduced to Nagaoka Sado an official of daimyo lord named Hosokawa Tadaoki. At sometimes in unclear circumstances, Musashi was challenged to a duel by a swordsman named Sasaki Kojirō. Musashi agreed to the challenge, and it was scheduled for them to fight on one year later, on 13 April, at Ganryūjima Island. When the date arrived, the island was filled with spectators intending to spectate the duel. Kojirō was known for fighting with a nodachi, a sword with a long blade.
Musashi, it is said, deliberately arrived late. During his journey to the island by boat, he had carved an oar into a bokken, or wooden practice sword. Kojirō had lost his patience while waiting, and he taunted Musashi for his late arrival, though the latter remained composed. The duel ended when Musashi quickly and fatally struck Kojirō, crushing his skull with a vertical stroke aimed to his head.
Serving under Shogunate army
In 1614, during the Siege of Osaka, it was believed that Musashi participated in Tokugawa army under the command of Musashi's personal friend, Mizuno Katsushige or also known as Katsunari. Musashi were reportedly carrying the banner of Katsunari, and also acted as bodyguard of Mizuno Katsutoshi, son of Katsunari. It was said in a later era, during the Shimabara Rebellion, that Musashi once told a commander of the Tokugawa army that he had served under Mizuno Katsunari's command during the Osaka siege and knew the military system very well. Miyamoto Mikinosuke, the adopted son of Musashi, also served under Katsunari during this battle.
In 1633, Musashi began staying with Hosokawa Tadatoshi, daimyō of Kumamoto Castle, who had moved to the Kumamoto fief and Kokura, to train and paint. While he engaged in very few duels during this period, one occurred in 1634 at the arrangement of Lord Ogasawara, in which Musashi defeated a lance specialist named Takada Matabei. Musashi officially became the retainer of the Hosokawa lords of Kumamoto in 1640. The Niten Ki records " received from Lord Tadatoshi: 17 retainers, a stipend of 300 koku, the rank of ōkumigashira 大組頭, and Chiba Castle in Kumamoto as his residence."
In 1638, Musashi allegedly participated in the suppression of Shimabara Rebellion. In Munekyu (Katsunari)-sama journal, which is a collection of things that Katsunari Mizuno said after his retirement in 1639, there is a story about Mizuno's army during the Shimabara Rebellion, where a man named Miyamoto Musashi entered the camp of general Ogasawara Nagatsugu, and Musashi has said, "Last time (In Siege of Osaka), (Mizuno Katsunari) Hyuga-no-Kamidono's clan had this, and i knew the military system very well." Musashi continues by saying, "He is a great general that no one can match."
Later life
In the second month of 1641, Musashi wrote a work called the Hyoho Sanju Go ("Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy") for Hosokawa Tadatoshi. This work overlapped and formed the basis for the later The Book of Five Rings. This was the year that his adopted son, Hirao Yoemon, became Master of Arms for the Owari fief. In 1642, Musashi suffered attacks of neuralgia, foreshadowing his future ill-health.
In 1643 he retired to a cave named Reigandō as a hermit to write The Book of Five Rings. He finished it in the second month of 1645. On the twelfth of the fifth month, sensing his impending death, Musashi bequeathed his worldly possessions, after giving his manuscript copy of The Book of Five Rings to the younger brother of Terao Magonojo, his closest disciple. He died in Reigandō cave around 13 June 1645 (Shōhō 2, 19th day of the 5th month). The Hyoho senshi denki described his death:
At the moment of his death, he had himself raised up. He had his belt tightened and his wakizashi put in it. He seated himself with one knee vertically raised, holding the sword with his left hand and a cane in his right hand. He died in this posture, at the age of sixty-two. The principal vassals of Lord Hosokawa and the other officers gathered, and they painstakingly carried out the ceremony. Then they set up a tomb on Mount Iwato on the order of the lord.
Miyamoto Musashi died in 1645 after allegedly suffering from lung cancer.
Timeline
The following timeline of Musashi biography in chronological order (of which is based on the most accurate and most widely accepted information).
| Date | Age | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|
| 1578 | −6 | Musashi's brother, Shirota, is born. |
| 1584 | 0 | Miyamoto Musashi is born. |
| 1591 | 6–7 | Musashi is taken and raised by his uncle as a Buddhist. |
| 1596 | 11–12 | Musashi duels with Arima Kihei in Hirafuku, Hyōgo Prefecture. |
| 1599 | 14–15 | Duels with a man named Tadashima Akiyama in the northern part of Hyōgo Prefecture. |
| 1600 | 16 | Believed to have fought in the Battle of Sekigahara (21 October) as part of the Western army. However, recent researches has suggested he was on the Eastern army along with his father. Whether he actually participated in the battle is currently in doubt. |
| 1604 | 19–20 | Musashi has three matches with the Yoshioka clan in Kyoto. (1) Match with Yoshioka Seijuro in Yamashiro Province, outside the city at Rendai Moor (west of Mt. Funaoka, Kita-ku, Kyoto). (2) Match with Yoshioka Denshichiro outside the city. (3) Match with Yoshioka Matashichiro outside the city at the pine of Ichijō-ji. |
| Visits Kōfuku-ji, Nara and ends up dueling with Okuzōin Dōei, the Buddhist priest trained in the style of Hōzōin-ryū. | ||
| 1605–1612 | 20–28 | Begins to travel again. |
| 1607 | 22–23 | Munisai (Musashi's father) passes his teachings onto Musashi. |
| Duels with the kusarigama expert Shishido in the western part of Mie Prefecture. | ||
| 1608 | 23–24 | Duels Musō Gonnosuke, master of the five-foot staff in Edo. |
| 1610 | 25–26 | Fights Hayashi Osedo and Tsujikaze Tenma in Edo. |
| 1611 | 26–27 | Begins practicing zazen meditation. |
| 1612 | 28 | Duel with Sasaki Kojirō takes place on 13 April, on Ganryū-jima off the coast of Shimonoseki in which Kojiro is defeated. |
| Briefly opens a fencing school. | ||
| 1614–1615 | 30–31 | Believed to have joined the troops of Tokugawa Ieyasu in the Winter and Summer campaigns, under the command of Mizuno Katsushige (8 November 1614 – 15 June 1615) at Osaka Castle, but no significant contributions are documented. |
| 1615–1621 | 30–37 | Comes into the service of Ogasawara Tadanao in Harima Province as a construction supervisor. |
| 1621 | 36–37 | Duels Miyake Gunbei in Tatsuno, Hyōgo. |
| 1622 | 37–38 | Sets up temporary residence at the castle town of Himeji, Hyōgo. |
| 1623 | 38–39 | Travels to Edo. |
| Adopts a son named Iori. | ||
| 1626 | 41–42 | Adopted son Mikinosuke commits seppuku following in the tradition of Junshi. |
| 1627 | 42–43 | Travels again. |
| 1628 | 43–44 | Meets with Yagyū Hyōgonosuke in Nagoya, Owari Province. |
| 1630 | 45–46 | Enters the service of Lord Hosokawa Tadatoshi. |
| 1633 | 48–49 | Begins to extensively practice the arts. |
| 1634 | 49–50 | Settles in Kokura, Fukuoka Prefecture for a short time with son Iori as a guest of Ogasawara Tadazane. |
| 1637–1638 | 53–54 | Serves a major role in the Shimabara Rebellion (17 December 1637 – 15 April 1638) and is the only documented evidence that Musashi served in battle. Was knocked off his horse by a rock thrown by one of the peasants. |
| 1641 | 56–57 | Writes Hyoho Sanju-go. |
| 1642 | 57–58 | Suffers severe attacks from neuralgia. |
| 1643 | 58–59 | Migrates into Reigandō where he lives as a hermit. |
| 1645 | 61 | Finishes Go Rin No Sho/The Book of Five Rings. Dies from what is believed to be lung cancer. |
Personal life
It was said that Musashi practiced the way of the warrior and warfare strategy, which entailed the mastery of many art forms beyond that of the sword, such as tea ceremony (sadō), laboring, writing, and painting, all of which Musashi pursued throughout his life.
Writings on Musashi's life rarely mention his relationship with women, and often when they do, Musashi is regularly depicted as rejecting sexual advances in favor of focusing on his swordsmanship. Alternative interpretations have taken his lack of interest as an indication of homosexuality. In contrast, many legends feature Musashi in trysts with women, some of which also reflect the view that he eventually chose to forego physical or emotional investments to attain further insight into his work.
This predominant cultural view of Musashi is somewhat contradicted by old texts such as Dobo goen (1720) which relay his intimacy with the courtesan Kumoi in his middle age. The Bushu Denraiki details Musashi fathering a daughter by a courtesan. It is uncertain if this courtesan and Kumoi were the same person. A rumor also connected Musashi with the oiran Yoshino Tayu [Ja].
Niten Ichi Ryu
Main article: Niten Ichi-ryūMusashi created and refined a two-sword kenjutsu technique called niten'ichi (二天一, "two heavens as one") or nitōichi (二刀一, "two swords as one") or 'Niten Ichi-ryū' (A Kongen Buddhist Sutra refers to the two heavens as the two guardians of Buddha). In this technique, the swordsman uses both a large sword, and a "companion sword" at the same time, i.e. a katana with a wakizashi.
The two-handed movements of temple drummers may have inspired him, although it could be that the technique was forged through Musashi's combat experience. Jitte techniques were taught to him by his father—the jitte was often used in battle paired with a sword; the jitte would parry and neutralize the weapon of the enemy while the sword struck or the practitioner grappled with the enemy. Today Musashi's style of swordsmanship is known as Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū.
Musashi was also an expert in throwing weapons. He frequently threw his short sword, and Kenji Tokitsu believes that shuriken methods for the wakizashi were the Niten Ichi Ryu's secret techniques.
Within the book, Musashi mentions that the use of two swords within strategy is equally beneficial to those who use the skill for individual duels or large engagements. The idea of using two hands for a sword is an idea that Musashi opposes because there is no fluidity in movement with two hands: "If you hold a sword with both hands, it is difficult to wield it freely to left and right, so my method is to carry the sword in one hand." He also disagrees with the idea of using a sword with two hands on a horse and/or riding on unstable terrain, such as muddy swamps, rice fields, or within crowds of people.
To learn the strategy of Ni-Ten Ichi Ryū, Musashi asserts that by training with two long swords, one in each hand, one will be able to overcome the cumbersome nature of using a sword in both hands. Although it is difficult, Musashi agrees that there are times in which the long sword must be used with two hands, but one skillful enough should not need it.
After using two long swords proficiently enough, mastery of a long sword, and a "companion sword", most likely a wakizashi, will be much increased: "When you become used to wielding the long sword, you will gain the power of the Way and wield the sword well."
In short, it could be seen, from the excerpts from The Book of Five Rings, that real strategy behind Ni-Ten No Ichi Ryu, is that there is no real iron-clad method, path, or type of weaponry specific to the style of Ni-Ten No Ichi Ryu:
You can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size.
Religion
Even from an early age, Musashi separated his religion from his involvement in swordsmanship. Excerpts such as the one below, from The Book of Five Rings, demonstrate a philosophy that is thought to have stayed with him throughout his life:
There are many ways: Confucianism, Buddhism, the ways of elegance, rice-planting, or dance; these things are not to be found in the way of the warrior.
However, the belief that Musashi disliked Shinto is inaccurate, as he criticises the Shintō-ryū style of swordsmanship, not Shinto, the religion. In Musashi's Dokkōdō, his stance on religion is further elucidated: "Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help."
As an artist
In his later years, Musashi said in his The Book of Five Rings: "When I apply the principle of strategy to the ways of different arts and crafts, I no longer have need for a teacher in any domain." He proved this by creating recognized masterpieces of calligraphy and classic ink painting. His paintings are characterized by skilled use of ink washes and an economy of brush stroke. He especially mastered the "broken ink" school of landscapes, applying it to other subjects, such as his Kobokumeikakuzu ("Shrike Perched on a Withered Branch"; part of a triptych whose other two members were "Hotei Walking" and "Sparrow on Bamboo"), his Hotei Watching a Cockfight, and his Rozanzu ("Wild Geese Among Reeds"). The Book of Five Rings advocates involvement in calligraphy and other arts as a means of training in the art of war.
Musashi also known as talented sumi-e who produced several paintings such as: "Shrike Perched in a Dead Tree" (Koboku Meigekizu, 枯木鳴鵙図) and "Wild Geese Among Reeds" (Rozanzu, 魯山図).
In Japanese and global culture
Miyamoto Musashi Budokan
Further information: Miyamoto Musashi Budokan
On 20 May 2000, at the initiative of Sensei Tadashi Chihara the Miyamoto Musashi Budokan was inaugurated. It was built in Ōhara-Cho in the province of Mimasaka, the birthplace of the samurai. Inside the building, the life and journey of Miyamoto Musashi are remembered everywhere. Dedicated to martial arts, the Budokan is the source for all of Japan's official traditional saber and kendo schools. Practically, historically and culturally it is a junction for martial disciplines in the heart of traditional Japan dedicated to Musashi.
The inauguration of the Miyamoto Musashi Budokan perpetuated the twinning established on 4 March 1999, between the inhabitants of Ōhara-Chō (Japanese province of Mimasaka) and the inhabitants of Gleizé. It was formalized in the presence of Sensei Tadashi Chihara, guarantor and tenth in the lineage of Miyamoto Musashi carrying a mandate from the mayor of Ōhara-Chō, and in the presence of the mayor of Gleizé Élisabeth Lamure. This event was extended during the mandate of the new mayor of Ōhara-Chō Fukuda Yoshiaki, by the official invitation from Japan and the consequent visit of the mayor of Gleizé for the inauguration of the Miyamoto Musashi Budokan on 10 May 2000, in the presence of personalities and Japanese authorities.
Monuments
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Memorial Lyon-Japan Japan-France Heiho Niten Ichi Ryu (Gleizé).
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Memorial Lyon-Japan Japan-France Heiho Niten Ichi Ryu (Jarnioux).
In popular culture
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In Musashi's time, there were fictional texts resembling comic books and it is difficult to separate fact from fiction when discussing his life. There have been works of fiction made about or featuring Musashi. Eiji Yoshikawa's novelization (originally a 1930s daily newspaper serial) has greatly influenced successive fictional depictions (including the manga Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue) and is often mistaken for a factual account of Musashi's life. In 2012, writer Sean Michael Wilson and Japanese artist Chie Kutsuwada published an attempt at a more historically accurate manga entitled The Book of Five Rings: A Graphic Novel, based on research and translations by William Scott Wilson.
Onimusha, a video game series by Capcom, features Musashi as a secret playable character in Onimusha Blade Warriors.
The 1994 video game Live A Live and its 2022 remake feature Musashi as a boss in the game's Twilight of Edo Japan chapter.
The 2008 video game Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! was based on his life and personality.
He also appeared in the manga Baki the Grappler as a revived clone of himself with his real soul intact as one of the strongest fighters in the series, and used his two-sword style in most combat in which he was shown.
The card game Magic: The Gathering has a card based on him, Isshin, Two Heavens as One, named for his two swords as one technique.
In the 2017 video game For Honor, the "Aramusha" hero is loosely inspired by Musashi. The character is a ronin who wields two swords.
The 2023 anime Onimusha was based loosely on the video game franchise of the same name and produced by Netflix. The series portrays a fictional version of an aging Musashi who embarks on a journey to defeat supernatural forces of evil using the Oni Gauntlet.
In Japanese live action series Kamen Rider Ghost, Musashi is the first of many Luminary Eyecons that Takeru Tenkuuji uses as Kamen Rider Ghost.
The song "Sun and Steel" by heavy metal band Iron Maiden off the album Piece of Mind is based off Miyamoto's life.
Gallery
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"Miyamoto Musashi on the banks of the Isagawa in Kawachi Province meets a remarkable man who shows him a magnifying glass", from a series Thirty-six Famous Battles by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1847
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"The swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, armed with two wooden swords, sparring with the old master Tsukahara Bokuden, who defends himself using two wooden pot-lids" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, c. 1845-46
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A statue of Hosokawa Tadatoshi within Suizen-ji Jōju-en
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Mon of Miyamoto Musashi born in Ōhara-chō province of Mimasaka
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Statue of Musashi & Kojiro Battle
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Miyamoto Musashi kills a shark fish (Yamazame) in the mountains across the border of Echizen Province, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
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See also
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- Yagyū Munenori
- Gosho Motoharu
- Hōjō Akinokami
- Sasaki Kojiro
- Takuan Soho
- Terao Magonojō
- Eiji Yoshikawa
- Bizen
- Mimasaka
- Ōhara-chō
- Miyamoto Musashi Budokan
- Miyamoto Musashi Station
- Philosophy of war
- List of military writers
Appendix
- ^ Tokitsu, Kenji (1998). Miyamoto Musashi: 17th century Japanese saber master: man and work, myth and reality; Miyamoto Musashi : maître de sabre japonais du XVIIe siècle : l'homme et l'œuvre, mythe et réalité. Editions désiris. pp. 19, 20. ISBN 978-2907653541. OCLC 41259596.,
- Toyota Masataka. "Niten Ki (A Chronicle of Two Heavens)", in Gorin no Sho, ed. Kamiko Tadashi (Tokyo: Tokuma-shoten, 1963), 239.
- "Miyamoto Mushashi: Samurai Legend". Warfare History Network. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
- Miyamoto Musashi, trans.S. F. Kaufman (1994), Book Of Five Rings, Tuttle Publishing.
- Miyamoto Musashi. "Go Rin No Sho", in Gorin no Sho, ed. Kamiko Tadashi (Tokyo: Tokuma-shoten, 1963), 13.
- Toyota, p. 239
- ^ Miyamoto, p. 18ff.
- Miyamoto, 13.
- Miyamoto, p. 17ff.
- Musashi, Miyamoto (2018). Complete Musashi : the Definitive Translations of the Complete Writings of Miyamoto Musashi – JapanÆs Greatest Samurai. Alexander Bennett. La Vergne: Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-2027-3. OCLC 1076236783.
- Musashi, Miyamoto (2006). Rosemary Brant (ed.). The Book of Five Rings: the classic text of Samurai sword strategy. New York: Barnes & Noble. ISBN 978-0-7607-8457-0. Translated by Ashikaga Yoshiharu.
- Harris, Victor, p. 10, Miyamoto pp. 16ff. The latter footnote by Kamiko reads: "For his entire life, Musashi never took a wife, cut his hair, or entered a bath".
- Kenji Tokitsu (2004). Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings. Shambhala.
- ^ Watanabe Daimon (2023). "牢人・宮本武蔵の関ヶ原合戦事情…東軍西軍のどちらに属し、主君は存在したのか" [Prisoner Miyamoto Musashi's Battle of Sekigahara...Which side did he belong to, East or West, and did he have a master?]. sengoku-his.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 May 2024.
Yumekashi Harada, "The True Story of Miyamoto Musashi" (Ashi Shobo, 1984); Masahide Fukuda "Miyamoto Musashi's Summer Siege" ("Rekishi Kenkyu" No. 400, 1994); Masahide Fukuda, "Proof of Musashi's Sekigahara Eastern Army" (Miyamoto Musashi Research Paper Collection, Rekiken, 2003); Eiji Yoshikawa, "Miyamoto Musashi, 6 volumes" (Dainippon Yubenkai Kodansha, 1936-39)
- 大阪經大論集, Issues 282-284 (in Japanese). 大阪經濟大學. 2005. p. 55. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- Watanabe Daimon. "宮本武蔵に関する史料は、なぜ極端に少ないのか。その理由を考える". yahoo.co.jp/expert (in Japanese). 渡邊大門 無断転載を禁じます。 LY Corporation. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
- Kengo Tominaga (富永堅吾) (1972). 忠実宮本武蔵 (in Japanese). 百泉書房. p. 29. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- 忠実宮本武蔵 (in Japanese). 百泉書房. 1972. p. 29. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- 『宮本武蔵奥伝（与水野日向守）』（小田原市立図書館蔵）、『兵道鏡』（高知城歴史博物館 山内文庫所蔵）
- ^ Lowry, Dave (1986). Bokken: Art of the Japanese Sword. Ohara Publications. pp. 21–27. ISBN 978-0-89750-104-0.
- ^ Wilson, William Scott (2004). The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi. Tokyo: Kodansha International. p. 19. ISBN 978-4770029423.
- William de Lange (2019). The Siege of Osaka Castle. William de Lange. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- William de Lange (2019). "Mizuno Katsunari (1564–1651)". miyamotomusashi.eu. William de Lange. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ Masahide Fukuda (2011). "【寄稿17】宮本武蔵と水野勝成 『宮本武蔵の大坂夏の陣』１／２" (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- Kenji, Tokitsu (2006). "Introduction". Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings. Shambhala Publications. p. 95. ISBN 9780834824881.
- "Art of Miyamoto Musashi". Miyamoto Musashi Dojo. 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- Toyota, p. 250
- "宮本武蔵 – Musashi". Miyamoto Musashi dojo. 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- Uozumi Takashi (2002). 宮本武蔵: 日本人の道 [Miyamoto Musashi: The Japanese Way] (in Japanese). ぺりかん. pp. 93, 95, 111. ISBN 4831510114. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- Almo, Leif. "Musashi Miyamoto – the Legend". Kendo.com. Scandnet AB. Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
- Kagita, Chūbei. "The sickle-spear of the Hōzōinryū (7) | SojutsuDE". www.sojutsu.de. Retrieved 5 May 2021. First published in the Nara town magazine Ubusuna on 8 July 2009.
- "Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life: Five Lessons from Miyamoto Musashi's 'Way of the Warrior' – The Objective Standard". theobjectivestandard.com. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ K. Groff, David (2016). The Five Rings: Miyamoto Musashi's Art of Strategy. Book Sales. p. 21. ISBN 978-0785834007.
- Thomas F., Cleary (2000). Classics of Strategy and Counsel: Thunder in the sky. Shambhala. p. 269. ISBN 978-1570627286.
- William Scott, Wilson (2013). The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi. Shambhala Publications. p. 78. ISBN 978-1590309872.
- Tokitsu, Kenji (2004). Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings. Shambhala. p. 222. ISBN 978-1590300459.
- "Miyamoto Musashi". Nakasendoway.
- William Scott, Wilson (2013). The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi. Shambhala Publications. p. 79. ISBN 978-1590309872.
- Downer, Lesley (2002). Women of the Pleasure Quarters: The Secret History of the Geisha. Broadway Books. ISBN 978-0767904902.
- Ratti, Oscar; Westbrook, Adele (2011). Secrets of the Samurai: The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan. Tuttle Publishing. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-4629-0254-5.
- Niten Institute. "The life of Miyamoto Musashi". Instituto Cultural Niten. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- Hyakutake-Watkin, Colin; Masayuki, Imai; Norikazu, Iwata. "Hyōhō.com". Archived from the original on 15 June 2004.
- Miyamoto, p. 57.
- "獨行道". Archived from the original on 18 December 2008.
- Uozumi Takashi (25 July 2019). "Master Swordsman Miyamoto Musashi: The Man Behind The Book of Five Rings". Nippon.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020.
- "Budokan". Miyamoto Musashi school. 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- "the 10 th, Tadashi Chihara, hyouhou niten ichiryū musashi seitannochi" (PDF). 11 April 2020.
- "Dojo Miyamoto Musashi". dojo-miyamoto-musashi.com.
- "Reportage – Dojo – France3 – Miyamoto Musashi School". February 1999.
- "Heiho Niten Ichi Ryu Memorial". 2018.
Essays
- Tokitsu, Kenji (2004). Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings. Shambhala Publications, Inc. ISBN 978-1-59030-045-9.
- Turnbull, Stephen R. (1990). The Lone Samurai and the Martial Arts. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 978-0-85368-967-6.
- Wilson, William Scott (2004). The Lone Samurai. Kodansha International. ISBN 978-4-7700-2942-3.
- De Lange, William (2010). The Real Musashi: The Bushu denraiki. Floating World Editions. ISBN 978-1-891640-56-8.
- De Lange, William (2011). The Real Musashi: The Bukoden. Floating World Editions. ISBN 978-1-891640-60-5.
- De Lange, William (2016). The Real Musashi: A Miscellany. Floating World Editions. ISBN 978-1-891640-86-5.
- De Lange, William (2014). Miyamoto Musashi: A Life in Arms. Floating World Editions. ISBN 978-1-891640-629.
Testimony
- Iwami Toshio Harukatsu soke (11th successor to Miyamoto Musashi), "Musashi's teachings – philosophy first: translation in English" Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Dragon n°7, January 2005, ed. Mathis; French original text: L'enseignement de Musashi est d'abord une philosophie
- Iwami Toshio Harukatsu soke (11th successor to Miyamoto Musashi), "Musashi's principles" Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Dragon n°13, January 2006, ed. Mathis; French original text: Les principes de Musashi Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
Primary sources
- Hyodokyo (The Mirror of the Way of Strategy)
- Hyoho Sanjugo Kajo (Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy)
- Hyoho Shijuni Kajo (Forty-two Instructions on Strategy)
- Dokkōdō (The Way to be Followed Alone)
- Go Rin No Sho (The Book of Five Rings; a reference to the Five Rings of Zen Buddhism). Translated into English by Victor Harris as A Book of Five Rings, London: Allison & Busby, 1974; Woodstock, New York: The Overlook Press.
Fiction
- Sean Michael, Wilson (2014). Musashi (A Graphic Novel). Shambhala. (Manga/historical fiction)
- Sean Michael, Wilson (2012). The Book of Five Rings: a graphic novel. Shambhala. (Manga/historical fiction)
- Inoue, Takehiko (1998). Vagabond. Viz Communications. (Manga/historical fiction)
- Yoshikawa, Eiji (1995). Musashi (reprint ed.). Kodansha International. ISBN 978-4-7700-1957-8. (Historical fiction)
- Moore, J.S. (2014). Under the Sun: The Miyamoto Musashi Story. Understanding Apples Press. ISBN 978-1-5028-0491-4.
External links
Library resources aboutMiyamoto Musashi
By Miyamoto Musashi
- miyamotomusashi.eu
- Miyamoto Musashi Dojo (in French)
- Some artwork by Miyamoto Musashi (archive link)
- The samurai warrior and Zen Buddhism (website of the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco)
- Complete texts in English by Miyamoto Musashi
- Miyamoto Musashi; his Swordsmanship and Book of Five Rings
- Profile on Shambhala Publications website
- Miyamoto Musashi, Dokkodo:The Path I Walk Is Mine Alone (2023) Sour Street Publishing
- Miyamoto Musashi
- 1580s births
- 1645 deaths
- 17th-century Japanese calligraphers
- 17th-century Japanese philosophers
- 17th-century martial artists
- Artist authors
- Japanese Buddhists
- Japanese duelists
- Japanese military writers
- Japanese non-fiction writers
- Japanese painters
- Japanese swordfighters
- Kendo
- Martial arts school founders
- Martial arts writers
- Samurai