Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "Miyamoto Musashi" - New World

From New World Encyclopedia
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[[Image:Miyamoto Musashi killinga giant nue.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Miyamoto Musashi killing a [[nue]], by [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]] (1798-1861).]]
 
[[Image:Miyamoto Musashi killinga giant nue.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Miyamoto Musashi killing a [[nue]], by [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]] (1798-1861).]]
  
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'''Miyamoto Musashi''' (宮本 武蔵 ''Miyamoto Musashi'', c.[[1584]] - [[June 13]], [[1645]]), prior to adulthood known as '''Miyamoto Benosuke''', was a famous [[Japan|Japanese]] [[kenjutsu|swordsman]], who is claimed to have been one of the most skilled swordsmen in the history of [[Japan]]. The name "Musashi" was thought to be taken from the name of a warrior monk called [[Saito Musashibo Benkei|Musashibō Benkei]] who served under [[Minamoto no Yoshitsune]], although this is still unconfirmed by historians studying Musashi's past. 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.
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'''Miyamoto Musashi''' (宮本 武蔵 ''Miyamoto Musashi'', c.1584 - June 13,1645), (childhood name Miyamoto Bennosuke or Miyamoto Musana), was a famous Japanese swordsman. 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 Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu, or Nito Ryu style of swordsmanship and wrote Go Rin No Sho, The Book of Five Rings, a book on strategy, tactics, and philosophy still studied today by martial artists and business people. Especially in his later life, Musashi also developed the more artistic side of bushido. He made various Zen brush paintings, practiced calligraphy and sculpted wood and metal. Even in The Book of Five Rings he emphasizes that samurai should understand other professions as well.
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
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=== Birth ===
 
=== Birth ===
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Much of Miyamoto Musashi's early life is shrouded in mystery. His place and date of birth are uncertain, and three different places lay claim to his birthplace. Apparently he was born into a [[samurai]] family in the village of [[Miyamoto, Japan|Miyamoto]] (in present-day [[Mimasaka, Okayama]]) in the province of [[Mimasaka Province|Mimasaka]]. As a member of the Shinmen Family, his full referred to name was ''Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Genshin'', which literally translates as "adult name Genshin, of the clan Fujiwara". (The word ''kami'' is different from the word meaning "god" in the [[Shinto]] religion.)
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Miyamoto Musashi's early life is fairly well-documented, but the sources conflict. The place and date of his birth are uncertain. It is  generally accepted that his elder brother, Shirota, was born in 1578 (dying in 1660), and that Musashi himself was born into a samurai family called the Hirata, in the village of Miyamoto (in present-day Okayama (then Sakushu, west of Kyoto), in the province of Mimasaka. The village of Banshu has been suggested as another possible birthplace. His family owed allegiance to the Shinmen clan; Musashi later alluded to this relationship in the formal introduction to the Go Rin No Sho, giving his full name as Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Genshin.
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His father is thought to have been Hirata Munisai (or Miyamoto Munisai, or Miyamoto Muninosuke), a vassal to Lord Shinmen.  A skilled martial artist in his own right; he was renowned as a master of the jitte and a sword adept. The jitte "ten-hand" is a specialized weapon, a short metal truncheon which was used by constables.  In his youth, he won two out of three bouts against a master swordsman named Yoshioka in front of the then-shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki; the shogun granted him the title "Best in Japan."  Munisai also taught his jitte techniques in a local dojo. His tomb says he died in 1580, which conflicts with the accepted birth date of 1584 for Musashi.  The family genealogy of the extant Miyamoto family gives Musashi’s year of birth as 1583. Kenji Tokitsu has suggested that the accepted birth date of 1584 for Musashi is probably wrong, being based on a literal interpretation that Musashi was exactly sixty years old when he wrote the introduction to the Go Rin No Sho; he probably was in his sixties.
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Musashi was raised as a [[Buddhist]] by his uncle, [[Dorinbo]], after his father died when he was at the age of seven. However, from such an early age, Musashi separated his religion from his involvement in swordsmanship, as in his later life, excerpts such as the one below were thought to have been the philosophy which he had stayed with his entire life:
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=== Childhood ===
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From the age of seven, Musashi was raised as a Buddhist by his uncle, Dorinbo (or Dorin), in Shoreian temple, near Hirafuku. Both Dorin and Tasumi, Musashi's uncle by marriage, educated him in Buddhism and basic skills such as writing and reading. (This education is possibly the basis for Yoshikawa Eiji's fictional account of the education of Musashi by the historical Zen monk Takuan.) He was apparently trained by Munisai in the sword, and in the family art of the jitte. This training lasted only a short time, until 1589, when Munisai was ordered by Shinmen Sokan to kill his student, Honiden Gekinosuke. The Honiden family then forced  Munisai to move four kilometers away to the village of Kawakami.
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:''The Way of the warrior does not include other Ways, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, certain traditions, artistic accomplishments [,] [-and] 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.''
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It is said that Musashi contracted eczema in his infancy, and that this adversely affected his appearance. Another story claims that he never took a bath because he did not want to be surprised unarmed. These and many other details are probably embellishments to the legend of Musashi rather than actual facts.
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=== Training in Swordsmanship ===
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The idea that Musashi hated [[Shinto]] is a somewhat misconstrued translation, since he only notes differences in its style of swordsmanship (which he refers to as "strategy") when speaking on Shinto, not in its religious artifacts or beliefs. Particularly the idea that Musashi hated Shinto for their "alien" practices is completely false because Shintoism, the native religion of Japan, wasn't alien to him at all. The possibility is that Musashi has been in much contact with Shintoists, since they were the majority of Japan at that time, and it explains the huge number of Shintoists which he duelled with or battled against.
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The name "Musashi" was thought to havce been  taken from a warrior monk named Musashibō Benkei, who served under Minamoto no Yoshitsune and mastered the use of more than nine weapons. It is said that he may have studied at the Yoshioka ryu school, which Musashi defeated single-handedly during his later years.
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It is said that Musashi contracted [[eczema]] in his infancy, which affected his appearance. Another story claims that he never took a bath because he did not want to be surprised unarmed, which is improbable, considering the highly honourable tone in which his battles were described, and that he would have been unlikely to be received as guest by such famous houses as [[Honda Tadakatsu|Honda]], [[Ogasawara]] and [[Hosokawa]], if such were the case. These and certain other details are likely embellishments that were added to his legend, or misinterpretations of literature describing him.
 
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=== Upbringing ===
 
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Musashi lived with his mother until the age of seven, when she is said to have died of natural causes. It is uncertain what role his father played in his upbringing, but whatever role it was, it seems somewhat detached from that of Musashi's immediate family. It is said that Musashi would often train with his father, yet Musashi was raised by his uncle [[Dorinbo]], a [[Buddhist]] priest, from the age of seven.
 
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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.
 
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=== Training in swordsmanship ===
 
 
[[Image:IchijojiSagarimatsuKyoto.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Ichijoji Sagarimatsu, Location of Battle between Musashi and Yoshioka Family]]
 
[[Image:IchijojiSagarimatsuKyoto.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Ichijoji Sagarimatsu, Location of Battle between Musashi and Yoshioka Family]]
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It is said that he may have studied at a [[dojo|school]] named [[Yoshioka]], which was also said to be a school which he defeated single-handedly during his later years, although this is most likely untrue. According to the introduction of ''[[The Book of Five Rings]]'', Musashi states that his first successful duel was at the age of thirteen, against a lesser-skilled Samurai called [[Arima Kihei]] from [[Kashima]] who fought using [[Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu|Shintō-ryū]] style.  
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=== First Duel ===
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"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
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In the introduction to The Book of Five Rings, Musashi states that his first successful duel was fought at the age of thirteen, against a lesser-skilled Samurai named Arima Kihei who fought using the Shintō-ryū style, founded by Tsukahara Bokuden (b. 1489, d. 1571). The  Hyoho senshi denki ("Anecdotes about the Deceased Master") gives the following account of the duel. In 1596,  when Musashi was 13, 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 refused, saying that the only way his honor could be cleared was by Musashi’s apology at the scheduled meeting. When the time set for the duel arrived, the monk began apologizing for Musashi, who leapt into the ring with a piece of wood shaped like a sword and shouted a challenge to Kihei. Kihei attacked with a wakizashi, but Musashi threw Kihei, and when Kihei tried to get up, Musashi struck him between the eyes and then beat him to death.
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=== Travels and Duels ===
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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). His family possessions such as furniture, weapons, genealogy, and other records were left with his sister and her husband, one Hirao Yoemon.  He spent his time traveling and engaging in duels, such as one with an adept called Akiyama from the Tajima province.
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In 1600, a war began between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa. Musashi apparently fought on the side of the Toyotomi's "Army of the West", because the Shinmen clan (to which his family owed allegiance) had allied with them. He participated in the assault on Fushimi castle in July 1600, in the defense of the besieged Gifu castle in August of the same year, and finally in the famed Battle of Sekigahara. Some doubt has been cast on his participation in the 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 contradict the Go rin no sho's statement that Musashi fought in six battles.
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The Army of the West lost decisively, and Shinmen Sokan fled to Kyushu province. It has been suggested that Musashi fled as well, and spent some time training on Mt. Hikosan.  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 began a famous series of duels against the Yoshioka school.
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Musashi's father had fought against an adept of the Yoshioka school in his youth, receiving the title of "Best in Japan."  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" or "schools of Kyoto."  Asxccordeing to legend, these eight schools had been founded by eight monks taught by a mythical martial artist resident on the sacred mountain Kurama. 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 textile business, for a special  dye which they produced. They gave up teaching swordsmanship in 1614 when the Army of the West, of which they were a part, was defeated by Tokugawa Ieyasu, in the Battle of Osaka.. 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.
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Musashi challenged Yoshioka Seijuro, master of the Yoshioka school, to a duel. Seijuro accepted, and they agreed to a duel outside Rendaji Temple on the 8th of March, 1604. Musashi arrived late, greatly irritating Seijuro. They faced off, and Musashi struck a single blow, according to their agreement. This blow struck Seijuro on the left shoulder, knocking him out, and crippling his left arm. He apparently passed on the leadership of the school to his equally accomplished brother, Yoshioka Denshichiro, who promptly challenged Musashi to get revenge. The duel took place either 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), and Musashi arrived late a second time. Musashi disarmed Denshichiro and defeated him. This second victory outraged the Yoshioka clan, whose head was now the twelve-year-old Yoshioka Matashichiro. They assembled a force of archers, riflemen, and swordsmen, and challenged Musashi to a duel outside Kyoto, near Ichijoji temple. This time Musashi came to the temple hours early. From his hiding place Musashi ambushed the force, killing Matashichiro, and escaping under attacked from dozens of his supporters. With the death of Matashichiro, that branch of the Yoshioka school was destroyed.
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After Musashi left Kyoto, some sources recount that he travelled to Hozoin in Nara, to duel with and learn from the monks there, widely known as experts with lance weapons. There he settled down at Enkoji Temple in Banshu, where he taught the head monk (one Tada Hanzaburo's) brother. Hanzaburo's grandson would found the Ensu ryu based on the Enmei Ryu teachings and iaijutsu (the art of drawing one’s sword).
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From 1605 to 1612, Musashi traveled extensively all over Japan in Musha-Shugyo, a warrior pilgrimage during which he honed his skills with duels.  In the duels of that era, the opponent’s life was not taken unless it was previously agreed upon.  Musashi was said  to have used bokken or bokuto（wooden sword）as his weapon, and such was his mastery of strategy that Musashi did not care which weapon his opponent was using.
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A document dated the 5th of November, 1607,  purporting to be a transmission by Miyamoto Munisai of his teachings, suggests that Munisai lived at least until this date. In 1607, Musashi departed Nara for Edo, in the meanwhile dueling (and killing) a practitioner of  kusari gama  (a scythe and sickle with with a long iron chain and a weight connected to the end of the wooden handle) named Shishido Baiken. In Edo, Musashi defeated Muso Gonnosuke, who went on to found an influential staff school, the Shinto Muso Ryu (school).  Musashi is said to have fought over 60 duels and was never defeated, although this is a conservative estimate, most likely not accounting for deaths by his hand in major battles.  
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=== Duel with Sasaki Kojiro ===
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In 1611, Musashi began practicing zazen (Zen meditation) at the Myoshinji Temple, where he met Nagaoka Sado, vassal to Lord Hosokawa Tadaoki (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, and he may have introduced the two. Nagaoka proposed a duel with a certain adept named Sasaki Kojiro. This duel may have been politically motivated, a matter of consolidating Tadaoki's control over his fief.
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In April 14, 1612, at the age of 28, Musashi had his most famous duel with Sasaki Kojiro, who wielded a nodachi (a type of long two-handed sword). Musashi came to the appointed place, the remote island of  Funajima, north of Kyushu, late and unkempt. The duel was short and Musashi killed his opponent with a bokken that he had fashioned from an oar to be longer than the nodachi, an impressive feat by the standards of any samurai or swordsman.  Musashi's late arrival is controversial. Sasaki's outraged supporters thought it was dishonorable and disrespectful, while others thought it was a fair way to unnerve his opponent. Another theory is that Musashi timed the hour of his arrival to match the turning of the tide. The tide carried him to the island, then turned by the time the fight ended. After his victory, Musashi immediately jumped back into his boat and his flight from Sasaki's vengeful allies was helped by the turning tide.
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For centuries dramas and historical narratives have told about this duel, and modern novels, movies, and comics have elaborated on the stgory of the duel of Funajima and called it “Ganryujima Duel.”  Although this duel is part of folk history, several scholars say it lacks authenticity.  The real name of Sasaki Kojiro is unknown, and nothing is known about his life.
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=== Service ===
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In 1614 - 1615 Musashi participated in the war between the Toyotomi and the Tokugawa clans. The war broke 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. Osaka Castle was the center of  the 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, of  Toyotomi Hideyori's Army of the West by Ieyasu's Army of the East. Some reports go even say that Musashi entered a duel with Ieyasu, but was recruited to the Tokugawa side when Ieyasu sensed his defeat was at hand. Although this seems unlikely, it is not known how Musashi came into Ieyasu's good graces after fighting on the side of his enemy.
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Other accounts claim he actually served on the Tokugawa side.  Such a claim is unproven, although Musashi had a close relationship with some Tokugawa vassals through his duel with Sasaki Kojiro.  In his later years, Musashi received much support from Lords Ogasawara and Hosokawa, strong Tokugawa loyalists, casting doubt on the possibility that Musashi had indeed fought on behalf of the Toyotomis.
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In 1615 he entered the service of Lord Ogasawara Tadanao of the Harima province as a foreman, or "Construction Supervisor," after having gained skills in construction.  He helped to build Akashi Castle.  He also adopted a son, Miyamoto Mikinosuke , and taught martial arts during his stay, specializing in the art of sword-throwing, or  shuriken.
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In 1621, Musashi defeated Miyake Gunbei and three other adepts of the Togun ryu in front of the Lord of Himeji; after this victory he helped to plan the layout of the Himeji township. Around this time, Musashi attracted a number of disciples to his Enmei Ryu (school). 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 focus was to train to use the twin swords of the samurai as effectively as a pair of sword and jitte.
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In 1622, Musashi's adoptive son, 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 Hayashi Razan. Musashi applied to become a swordmaster to the Shogun, but his application was denied because there were already two swordmasters (Ono Jiroemon and Yagyu Munenori; the latter was a political advisor to the shogun and the head of the Shogunate's secret police). Musashi left Edo and traveled in the direction of Oshu, ending up in Yamagata, where he adopted a second son, Miyamoto Iori. The two then travelled together, eventually stopping in Osaka.
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In 1626, Miyamoto Mikinosuke, following the custom of junshi, committed seppuku 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.
  
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He was known during this time to be a large child for his age, and was written about by an observer of the duel with Kihei, describing Musashi battering Kihei to death with a staff similar to a [[bo (weapon)|bo]]. According to actual transcriptures, it is thought that at this time, Musashi was keen in duelling. When Kihei was noted to arrive in town, Musashi left a note saying "I, Miyamoto Bennosuke will give you your duel".
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=== Later Life and Death ===
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In 1627, Musashi began to travel again. In 1633, Musashi went to stay with Hosokawa Tadatoshi, daimyo of Kumamoto Castle, who had moved to the Kumamoto fief and Kokura in order to train and paint. He settled in Kokura with Iori. While there he engaged in very few duels; one in which Musashi defeated a lance specialist, Takada Matabei, occurred in 1634 by the arrangement of Lord Ogasawara. He later entered the service of daimyo Ogasawara Tadazane, taking a major role in the Shimabara Rebellion in 1637.  In his sixth and final battle, Musashi supported his son Iori and Lord Ogasawara as a strategist, directing their troops. Iori served with excellence in putting down the rebellion and gradually rose to the rank of karo , a position equal to a minister.
  
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Having accepted the challenge, despite several warnings from his uncle, Musashi was said to have charged unexpectedly at Kihei with a staff; an attack which was repelled by him drawing his sword and parrying the attack away. After this, Musashi was said to have thrown down his staff and physically grappled with Kihei, this perhaps could have been some form of indication of Musashi's keen nature of battle, but perhaps also his over-readiness to fight. After several minutes of fighting in such a manner, Musashi was said to then have picked up his staff and beaten Kihei to death by repeatedly hitting him in the face.
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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 formed the basis for the later Go rin no sho. In the same year that his third 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 May, sensing his impending death, Musashi bequeathed his worldly possessions, after giving his manuscript copy of the Go Rin No Sho to the younger brother of his closest disciple, Terao Magonojo. He died in Reigandō cave around the nineteenth of May, (others say June 13, 1645). The Hyoho senshi denki described his passing:
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"''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."''
  
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Although it is not expressly stated if indeed Musashi used form or technique to kill Kihei, it is quite certain that he had used the staff as a club; town reports stating that Kihei was bleeding all over his face. Nevertheless, this was Musashi's first opponent, and despite rumours, both occupants were not using wooden swords; Kihei used a sword as the duel with Musashi was unexpected. (For more information on the duel, see [[Arima Kihei]])
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Musashi was not killed in combat, but died peacefully after finishing the ''Dokkodo'' ("''The Way of Walking Alone''", or "''The Way of Self-Reliance''"), twenty-one precepts on self-discipline to guide future generations. His body was interred in armor in 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.  Nine years later, a monument with a funereal eulogy for Musashi, the ''Kokura hibun'', was erected in Kokura by Miyamoto Iori.
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According to traditional texts, he fought in the [[Battle of Sekigahara]] as a [[mercenary]] with troops loyal to [[Toyotomi Hideyori]], although, this is not confirmed by ''The Book of Five Rings''. Although he was by now a famed swordsman, [[Toyotomi]] was defeated.
 
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It was also said that Musashi had to crawl through the decaying bodies of the soldiers he had once fought with in order to get to a position of safety away from pursuing hordes which were after his life. This could be perhaps, one of the earlier events which also showed Musashi's determination for survival within battle.
 
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After the war was over, Musashi left for [[Edo]]. According to his adopted son [[Iori]], in [[1604]] Musashi fought a victorious duel against master swordsman [[Yoshioka Seijuro]] using only a [[bokken]], a wooden sword he had been famed for using in various other battles or duels.
 
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However, it is unsure whether the battle between Seijuro was to the death, but what is reputed to have happened, is that Musashi had beaten Seijuro with such prowess, that when he had spared his life, he was unable to wield a sword afterwards, be it on the shame of defeat.
 
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It is unsure how many times that Musashi and Seijuro were reputed to have fought; some records of the Yoshioka family stated that Musashi was defeated by Seijuro after a strike to the head, and subsequently fled, but such reports were thought to be erroneous, and an attempt of saving past grace. It is doubtful that Musashi fought Seijuro more than once, as Seijuro, once a renowned Master of the Sword, was said to have been humiliated.
 
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This would lead to Musashi engaging in duels with the entire family, due to his reputed dislike for the way in which they had treated his father. He defeated the father of the family, as well as his two sons in latter duels; although one was thought to have been more of an ambush. (See Scott Wilson 2004 - Tokitsu 2004)
 
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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 [[Kongen]] Buddhist Sutra refers to the two heavens as the two guardians of [[Buddha]]). In this technique, the swordsman uses ''both'' a Heavy Sword, and a "Companion Sword" at the same time, such as a [[Katana]] and [[Wakizashi]].
 
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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 [[Jitte]] techniques which were taught to him by his father. 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 [[Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu|Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū]].
 
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Musashi was also an expert in throwing weapons. He frequently threw his shortsword, and was reputed to have thrown a [[Bo]] staff in his first duel with [[Arima Kihei]]. In fact before the [[Meiji era]] multi faceted skills were a necessity, so the likelihood of such information is accurate.  (see Hayakutake-Watkin: [http://www.hyoho.com])
 
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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 no-nonsense approach to fighting; with no additional frills or aesthetic considerations. This was probably due to his real-life combat experience.
 
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Especially in his later life Musashi also followed the more artistic side of [[bushido]]. He made various [[Zen]] brush paintings and [[calligraphy]] and sculpted wood and metal. Even in ''[[The Book of Five Rings]]'' 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 Satsujinken to Katsujinken.
 
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== Timeline ==
 
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These events are details from ''[[The Book of Five Rings]]''.
 
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=== Adolescence and Maturity ===
 
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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 [[bokken|bokken or bokuto]] in actual duels. Most of duels from these times did not try to take the opponent's life unless both agreed, but most duels, it is known that Musashi did not care which weapon another was using - such was his mastery on the way of strategy. 
 
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He 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.
 
−
 
 
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In [[April 14]], [[1612]] he had his most famous duel with [[Sasaki Kojiro]] who was using a [[nodachi]], a type of long two-handed sword. Musashi came late and unkempt — possibly as an attempt to unnerve his opponent — and killed him with a [[bokken]] that he had made from an oar (this may be related to the Okinawan weapon known as the shureido eaku) to be longer than the nodachi, an impressive feat by the standards of any Samurai or Swordsman.  Musashi switched to wood after this fight believing it to be superior in reliability to steel.  He briefly established a fencing school that same year.
 
−
 
 
−
In [[1614]] - [[1615]] he reputedly joined the troops of [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] when he had besieged [[Osaka Castle]] of the Toyotomi family. 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.
 
−
 
 
−
Other accounts claim he actually served in the defending side, but such a claim is unproven. In 1615 he entered the service of [[Ogasawara Tadanao]] of the [[Harima]] province as a Foreman or "Construction Supervisor", after previously gaining skills in craft. During his service he adopted a boy called Iori and founded the ''Enmei Ryu'' school of [[kenjutsu]].
 
−
 
 
−
In [[1627]], Musashi began to travel again. In [[1634]] he settled in [[Kokura]] with his step-son Iori, and later entered the service of [[daimyo]] [[Ogasawara Tadazane]], taking a major role in the [[Shimabara Rebellion]]. Iori served with excellence in putting down the rebellion and gradually rose to the rank of [[karo]] - a position equal to a [[Political minister|minister]].  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.
 
−
 
 
−
=== Death ===
 
−
Six years later, in [[1633]], Musashi moved to [[Hosokawa Tadatoshi]], daimyo of [[Kumamoto Castle]] to train and paint. In [[1643]] he retired to a cave named ''Reigandō'' as a hermit to write ''The Book of Five Rings''. He finished it a couple of weeks before his death around [[June 13]], [[1645]].
 
−
 
 
−
Many tales have been told about Musashi being killed by the creator of the [[Jo]] Staff and [[Aikido]]. However, such a report is untrue. The creator of Aikido was [[Ueshiba Morihei]] who was born in [[1883]], so this could not be true.
 
  
 
=== Legends ===
 
=== 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 [[feet]] backwards, other about his speed and technique, the majority being normal recollections of past events, more than Legends.
+
After his death, various legends began to spread about Musashi.. Most are about his feats in kenjutsu and other martial arts, some describing how he was able to hurl men over 5 feet backwards, others about his speed and technique. Legends tell of how Musashi killed giant lizards in Echizen, as well as Nues in various other prefectures. He gained the stature of Kensei, 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.
−
 
 
−
Other, more mythically-based legends, tell of how Musashi killed giant lizards in [[Echizen]], as well as [[Nue]]s in various other prefectures. He gained the stature of ''[[Kensei]]'', a "sword saint" for his mastery in swordsmanship.
 
−
 
 
−
Today, Musashi Miyamoto resides in a humble grave alongside a busy road in Kyushu which is surrounded by rice fields, and faces a [[dojo]] which is seen as fitting for Musashi, who was thought to have finally found peace in [[Kyushu]] after his many years of battle and strife.
 
  
 
==  Philosophy and Background ==
 
==  Philosophy and Background ==
 
Musashi’s way of life and his philosophy are relevant even in today’s world, and his book is popular with businessmen in Japan and has been translated into several languages.  In a  modern and democratic world, Musashi’s manual on military strategy and swordsmanship is a best seller.
 
Musashi’s way of life and his philosophy are relevant even in today’s world, and his book is popular with businessmen in Japan and has been translated into several languages.  In a  modern and democratic world, Musashi’s manual on military strategy and swordsmanship is a best seller.
  
−
Musashi lived just at the end of the Age of Civil Wars and the beginning of the Edo age, when the Tokugawa ruled all of Japan, peacefully and with cunning, .for 300 years. When Tokugawa’s last enemy, the Toyotomi clan, was eliminated by Tokugawa Ieyasu at the siege of Osaka, a new era named “Genna” was ushered in, fueled by the desire of  the rulers and most of the people to build a peaceful country.  It meant the abandonment of arms and warfare. In the midst of this time of peace Musashi spoke of battle strategy and military philosophy. As knowledge of  tactics and  strategy became less useful in actual life, it became more and  more valuable to the samurai.  The samurai (warriors) began to form a stable government and occupy the top class of a hierarchy which ordered  from top to bottom into four divisions: samurai, farmers, artisans and tradesmen.  The samurai class needed military tradition to ensure their survival and show their identity. Miyamoto Musashi and his books were hailed among the feudal lords.  The need to live in readiness to for battle had passed, and the samurai and feudal lords felt nostalgic for the barbarous force of the past.  Miyamoto Musashi was the symbol of  the old samurai spirit.  Ironically the real Musashi was anti-establishment and anti-shogunate his entire life. Musashi’s life was glorified and romanticized and featured as the subject of numerous theatrical dramas and novels .
+
Musashi lived just at the end of the Age of Civil Wars and the beginning of the Edo age, when the Tokugawa ruled all of Japan, peacefully and with cunning, for 300 years. When Tokugawa’s last enemy, the Toyotomi clan, was eliminated by Tokugawa Ieyasu at the siege of Osaka, a new era named “Genna” was ushered in, fueled by the desire of  the rulers and most of the people to build a peaceful country.  It meant the abandonment of arms and warfare. In the midst of this time of peace Musashi spoke of battle strategy and military philosophy. As knowledge of  tactics and  strategy became less useful in actual life, it became more and  more valuable to the samurai.  The samurai (warriors) began to form a stable government and occupy the top class of a hierarchy which ordered  from top to bottom into four divisions: samurai, farmers, artisans and tradesmen.  The samurai class needed military tradition to ensure their survival and show their identity. Miyamoto Musashi and his books were hailed among the feudal lords.  The need to live in readiness to for battle had passed, and the samurai and feudal lords felt nostalgic for the barbarous force of the past.  Miyamoto Musashi was the symbol of  the old samurai spirit.  Ironically the real Musashi was anti-establishment and anti-shogunate his entire life. Musashi’s life was glorified and romanticized and featured as the subject of numerous theatrical dramas and novels .
 +
 
 +
== ''The Book of Five Rings'' ==
 +
In his last book, ''Go Rin No Sho'' (五輪の書, ''The Book of Five Rings''), whose subject was  “pragmatism at the risk of life,” Musashi said that he fought 60 duels undefeated. He was a religious man, but he insisted that he respected the gods and Buddha without relying upon them. In the introduction of the Book of Five Rings, Mushashi suggested that he  was never defeated because of his natural ability, or because of the order of heaven, or because the strategy of other schools was inferior.  The order of heaven was the principle behind the strategy, and he followed it. Musashi also insisted that he never quoted the law of Buddha or the teaching of Confucius, or any old war chronicles or books on martial tactics. He spoke only of what he himself had learned from his experiences on the battlefield and in duels.
 +
The original book, composed of four volumes, the Ground Book, , no longer exists.  It was a textbook on battle strategy and an instruction manual for actual warfare, not a book on philosophy and instruction for life. However, the book  teaches something of value for every person.
  
−
== The Book of Five Rings ==
+
=== Volume I: The Ground Book ===
−
In his last book, Go Rin No Sho (五輪の書, The Book of Five Rings), whose subject was  “pragmatism at the risk of life,” Musashi said that he fought 60 duels undefeated. He was a religious man, but he insisted that he respected the gods and Buddha without relying upon them. In the introduction of the Book of Five Rings, Mushashi suggested that he  was never defeated because of his natural ability, or because of the order of heaven, or because the strategy of other schools was inferior.  The order of heaven was the principle behind the strategy, and he followed it. Musashi also insisted that he never quoted the law of Buddha or the teaching of Confucius, or any old war chronicles or books on martial tactics. He spoke only of what he himself had learned from his experiences on the battlefield and in duels.
 
−
The original book, composed of four volumes, the Ground Book, , no longer exists.  It was a textbook on battle strategy and an instruction manual for actual warfare, not a book on philosophy and instruction for life. However, the book  teaches something of value for every person..
 
−
=== volume I :The Ground Book ===
 
 
This volume talks about the tactics and the strategy  of military affairs and of individual swordmanship. Musashi seems to take a very philosophical approach to the "Craft of War": "There are four Ways in which men pass through life: as Gentlemen Warriors, Farmers, Artisans and Merchants."  These categories were the groups of professionals that could be observed during Musashi's time. Throughout the book, Musashi employs the terms “way of the Warrïor,” and "true strategist" to refer to somebody who has mastered many art forms apart from those of the sword, such as tea drinking,  painting, labouring and writing, such as Musashi practiced throughout his life. Musashi was hailed as an extraordinary sumi-e artist in the use of ink monochrome,  evident in two of his famous paintings: "Shrike Perched in a Dead Tree" (Koboku Meikakuzu, 古木明確図) and "Wild Geese Among Reeds" (Rozanzu, 魯山図).
 
This volume talks about the tactics and the strategy  of military affairs and of individual swordmanship. Musashi seems to take a very philosophical approach to the "Craft of War": "There are four Ways in which men pass through life: as Gentlemen Warriors, Farmers, Artisans and Merchants."  These categories were the groups of professionals that could be observed during Musashi's time. Throughout the book, Musashi employs the terms “way of the Warrïor,” and "true strategist" to refer to somebody who has mastered many art forms apart from those of the sword, such as tea drinking,  painting, labouring and writing, such as Musashi practiced throughout his life. Musashi was hailed as an extraordinary sumi-e artist in the use of ink monochrome,  evident in two of his famous paintings: "Shrike Perched in a Dead Tree" (Koboku Meikakuzu, 古木明確図) and "Wild Geese Among Reeds" (Rozanzu, 魯山図).
 
He makes particular note of Artisans, and Foremen. In the time in which he was writing, the majority of the houses in Japan were made of wood. In building a house, a foreman had to employ strategy based upon the skill and ability of his workers, and surprisingly, could be seen as a model socialist.  He suggested that the ideal foreman should know his men, and not presume to make unfair demands of them.  
 
He makes particular note of Artisans, and Foremen. In the time in which he was writing, the majority of the houses in Japan were made of wood. In building a house, a foreman had to employ strategy based upon the skill and ability of his workers, and surprisingly, could be seen as a model socialist.  He suggested that the ideal foreman should know his men, and not presume to make unfair demands of them.  
−
In comparison to warriors and soldiers, Musashi notes the ways in which the artisan thrives through certain circumstances ; the ruin of houses, the customers’desires for splendor, changes in the style of  houses, the tradition and name or origin of a house. These are similar to the circumstances in which warriors and soldiers thrive; the rise and fall of prefectures and countries, and other political events create a need for warriors.  The book also includes literal comparisons such as, "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 comparison to warriors and soldiers, Musashi notes the ways in which the artisan thrives through certain circumstances ; the ruin of houses, the customers’desires for splendor, changes in the style of  houses, the tradition and name or origin of a house. These are similar to the circumstances in which warriors and soldiers thrive; the rise and fall of prefectures and countries, and other political events create a need for warriors.  The book also includes literal comparisons such as, "The carpenter uses a master plan of the building, and the Way of strategy is similar in that there is a plan of campaign.”
 +
 
 
=== Volume II: The Water Book ===
 
=== Volume II: The Water Book ===
−
In this volume Musashi explains about understanding of the initial charge and one-on-one combat. Musashi asserted that, “Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined through calm (tranquility).”  The purpose of self-possession is not to preserve one’s equanimity, but to be able to fight  to the utmost.  It is significant that Musashi strongly explained “Spiritual bearing in strategy” before explaining “Holding the long sword”.
+
In this volume Musashi explains about understanding of the initial charge and one-on-one combat. Musashi asserted that, “Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined through calm (tranquility).”  The purpose of self-possession is not to preserve one’s equanimity, but to be able to fight  to the utmost.  It is significant that Musashi strongly explained “Spiritual bearing in strategy” before explaining “Holding the long sword.”
  
 
=== Volume III: The Fire Book ===
 
=== Volume III: The Fire Book ===
 
In this volume Musashi explains the essence of how to get victory in battle. He writes, “In this Fire Book of the Ni To Ichi school of strategy, I describe fighting as fire.”
 
In this volume Musashi explains the essence of how to get victory in battle. He writes, “In this Fire Book of the Ni To Ichi school of strategy, I describe fighting as fire.”
 
This book is often quoted in modern books on business strategy and personal improvement.  Mushashi’s explanations, gained from his actual fighting experiences, can be applied in many circumstances.
 
This book is often quoted in modern books on business strategy and personal improvement.  Mushashi’s explanations, gained from his actual fighting experiences, can be applied in many circumstances.
 +
 
==== To hold down a pillow ====
 
==== To hold down a pillow ====
 
This means not allowing the enemy’s head to rise.
 
This means not allowing the enemy’s head to rise.
Line 112: Line 85:
 
=== Volume V: The Book of the Void ===
 
=== Volume V: The Book of the Void ===
 
The “void” is the goal of ascetic Buddhist practice, especially as taught by the second Buddha, Nāgārjuna, founder of the Middle Path school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Musashi says that people in this world look at things in error, and think that what they do not understand must be the void. This is not the true void.  It is bewilderment.
 
The “void” is the goal of ascetic Buddhist practice, especially as taught by the second Buddha, Nāgārjuna, founder of the Middle Path school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Musashi says that people in this world look at things in error, and think that what they do not understand must be the void. This is not the true void.  It is bewilderment.
 +
 
Although Musashi talked of the “void,” his meaning” was different from the Buddhist “void.”  Musashi’s  void was the true way of strategy as a warrior.
 
Although Musashi talked of the “void,” his meaning” was different from the Buddhist “void.”  Musashi’s  void was the true way of strategy as a warrior.
−
=== ''The Way of Strategy'' ===
+
Musashi used the metaphor of a flower and a nut for the learning of strategy, with the nut being the student and the flower being the technique. He was concerned that both teachers and students placed too much emphasis on technique and style and not enough on developing the maturity of the student. "''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''."  He emphasized that the ultimate goal was the development of the inner self.
−
 
+
“''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''.”
−
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.
+
Musashi also said that one person who had mastered strategy could defeat an army.
−
 
+
“''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.'' “
−
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 [[Arima Kihei]].
+
== Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu and Mastery of the Long Sword ==
−
 
+
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 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, such as a katana and wakizashi. 
−
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.
+
Legend says that Musashi was inspired by the two-handed movements of temple drummers, or by a European duel with rapier and dagger which he witnessed in Nagasaki.  From his own writrings, it seems that the technique came about naturally during battle, or developed from jitte 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 Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū.
−
 
+
Musashi disagreed with using two hands to wield a sword, because this limited freedom of movement and because a warrior on horseback often needed one hand to control the horse in crowds or on unstable ground. "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.”
−
However, Musashi seems to state that the value of Strategy seems to be [[transcendental]] or [[homogenous]]. He notes that:
+
Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu involved training with two long swords, one in each hand. Although difficult at first, Musashi said that with practice one could adapt to the technique.  Once the use of two long swords was mastered, mastery of the use of a long sword with a "Companion Sword", most likely a wakizashi, would be much increased.
−
 
+
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.  
−
:''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.''
+
The strategy of the long sword was more straightforward. Musashi's ideal was to master a two-finger grip of the long sword, and use that to move on to the mastery of Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu. Though the grip is light, it does not mean that the attack or slash from the sword will be weak.  
−
 
+
"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."
−
As well as noting that Strategy is destined to die;
+
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 Tai Chi Ch'uan.
−
 
+
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.  
−
:''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.''
 
−
 
 
−
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 one of the reasons he was so highly-regarded a swordsman.
 
−
 
 
−
The way in which he refers to Strategy is that of the Nut and the flower, similar to [[western]] philosophy of "The chicken or the egg", the "nut" being the student, the "flower" being the technique. He also seems to have experience in saying that most places seem to be mostly concerned with their technique and it's beauty, perhaps ; " 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.
 
−
 
 
−
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, like 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.
 
−
 
 
−
This description is also used to make similarities between the weapons of a trooper (or soldier), and the tools of a carpenter; The idea that "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.
 
−
 
 
−
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, butn 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 longswords 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 longswords proficiently enough, Musashi then states that your mastery of a Longsword, 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 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 to other strategies, in that is much more straightforward. In the strategy of the longsword, it seems that Musashi's ideal is that by learning to grasp the sword with two fingers, and master such a grip, that that will be 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 [[Tai Chi Ch'uan]].
 
−
 
 
−
== Myths ==
 
−
* 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 [[Wakizashi]] and a [[Katana]]. This is completely false. It is described countless times that Musashi would prefer a wooden sword over a katana in duels.
+
== 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 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 "Koboku meikakuzu" ("Kingfisher 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").
  
 
==Miyamoto Musashi in fiction==
 
==Miyamoto Musashi in fiction==

Revision as of 13:31, 22 June 2006

Miyamoto Musashi killing a nue, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861).

Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵 Miyamoto Musashi, c.1584 - June 13,1645), (childhood name Miyamoto Bennosuke or Miyamoto Musana), was a famous Japanese swordsman. 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 Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu, or Nito Ryu style of swordsmanship and wrote Go Rin No Sho, The Book of Five Rings, a book on strategy, tactics, and philosophy still studied today by martial artists and business people. Especially in his later life, Musashi also developed the more artistic side of bushido. He made various Zen brush paintings, practiced calligraphy and sculpted wood and metal. Even in The Book of Five Rings he emphasizes that samurai should understand other professions as well.

Biography

Musashi Miyamoto in his prime, wielding two Bokken.

Birth

Miyamoto Musashi's early life is fairly well-documented, but the sources conflict. The place and date of his birth are uncertain. It is generally accepted that his elder brother, Shirota, was born in 1578 (dying in 1660), and that Musashi himself was born into a samurai family called the Hirata, in the village of Miyamoto (in present-day Okayama (then Sakushu, west of Kyoto), in the province of Mimasaka. The village of Banshu has been suggested as another possible birthplace. His family owed allegiance to the Shinmen clan; Musashi later alluded to this relationship in the formal introduction to the Go Rin No Sho, giving his full name as Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Genshin. His father is thought to have been Hirata Munisai (or Miyamoto Munisai, or Miyamoto Muninosuke), a vassal to Lord Shinmen. A skilled martial artist in his own right; he was renowned as a master of the jitte and a sword adept. The jitte "ten-hand" is a specialized weapon, a short metal truncheon which was used by constables. In his youth, he won two out of three bouts against a master swordsman named Yoshioka in front of the then-shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki; the shogun granted him the title "Best in Japan." Munisai also taught his jitte techniques in a local dojo. His tomb says he died in 1580, which conflicts with the accepted birth date of 1584 for Musashi. The family genealogy of the extant Miyamoto family gives Musashi’s year of birth as 1583. Kenji Tokitsu has suggested that the accepted birth date of 1584 for Musashi is probably wrong, being based on a literal interpretation that Musashi was exactly sixty years old when he wrote the introduction to the Go Rin No Sho; he probably was in his sixties.

Childhood

From the age of seven, Musashi was raised as a Buddhist by his uncle, Dorinbo (or Dorin), in Shoreian temple, near Hirafuku. Both Dorin and Tasumi, Musashi's uncle by marriage, educated him in Buddhism and basic skills such as writing and reading. (This education is possibly the basis for Yoshikawa Eiji's fictional account of the education of Musashi by the historical Zen monk Takuan.) He was apparently trained by Munisai in the sword, and in the family art of the jitte. This training lasted only a short time, until 1589, when Munisai was ordered by Shinmen Sokan to kill his student, Honiden Gekinosuke. The Honiden family then forced Munisai to move four kilometers away to the village of Kawakami. It is said that Musashi contracted eczema in his infancy, and that this adversely affected his appearance. Another story claims that he never took a bath because he did not want to be surprised unarmed. These and many other details are probably embellishments to the legend of Musashi rather than actual facts.

Training in Swordsmanship

The name "Musashi" was thought to havce been taken from a warrior monk named Musashibō Benkei, who served under Minamoto no Yoshitsune and mastered the use of more than nine weapons. It is said that he may have studied at the Yoshioka ryu school, which Musashi defeated single-handedly during his later years.

Ichijoji Sagarimatsu, Location of Battle between Musashi and Yoshioka Family

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 In the introduction to The Book of Five Rings, Musashi states that his first successful duel was fought at the age of thirteen, against a lesser-skilled Samurai named Arima Kihei who fought using the Shintō-ryū style, founded by Tsukahara Bokuden (b. 1489, d. 1571). The Hyoho senshi denki ("Anecdotes about the Deceased Master") gives the following account of the duel. In 1596, when Musashi was 13, 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 refused, saying that the only way his honor could be cleared was by Musashi’s apology at the scheduled meeting. When the time set for the duel arrived, the monk began apologizing for Musashi, who leapt into the ring with a piece of wood shaped like a sword and shouted a challenge to Kihei. Kihei attacked with a wakizashi, but Musashi threw Kihei, and when Kihei tried to get up, Musashi struck him between the eyes and then beat him to death.

Travels and Duels

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). His family possessions such as furniture, weapons, genealogy, and other records were left with his sister and her husband, one Hirao Yoemon. He spent his time traveling and engaging in duels, such as one with an adept called Akiyama from the Tajima province. In 1600, a war began between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa. Musashi apparently fought on the side of the Toyotomi's "Army of the West", because the Shinmen clan (to which his family owed allegiance) had allied with them. He participated in the assault on Fushimi castle in July 1600, in the defense of the besieged Gifu castle in August of the same year, and finally in the famed Battle of Sekigahara. Some doubt has been cast on his participation in the 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 contradict the Go rin no sho's statement that Musashi fought in six battles. The Army of the West lost decisively, and Shinmen Sokan fled to Kyushu province. It has been suggested that Musashi fled as well, and spent some time training on Mt. Hikosan. 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 began a famous series of duels against the Yoshioka school. Musashi's father had fought against an adept of the Yoshioka school in his youth, receiving the title of "Best in Japan." 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" or "schools of Kyoto." Asxccordeing to legend, these eight schools had been founded by eight monks taught by a mythical martial artist resident on the sacred mountain Kurama. 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 textile business, for a special dye which they produced. They gave up teaching swordsmanship in 1614 when the Army of the West, of which they were a part, was defeated by Tokugawa Ieyasu, in the Battle of Osaka.. 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. Musashi challenged Yoshioka Seijuro, master of the Yoshioka school, to a duel. Seijuro accepted, and they agreed to a duel outside Rendaji Temple on the 8th of March, 1604. Musashi arrived late, greatly irritating Seijuro. They faced off, and Musashi struck a single blow, according to their agreement. This blow struck Seijuro on the left shoulder, knocking him out, and crippling his left arm. He apparently passed on the leadership of the school to his equally accomplished brother, Yoshioka Denshichiro, who promptly challenged Musashi to get revenge. The duel took place either 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), and Musashi arrived late a second time. Musashi disarmed Denshichiro and defeated him. This second victory outraged the Yoshioka clan, whose head was now the twelve-year-old Yoshioka Matashichiro. They assembled a force of archers, riflemen, and swordsmen, and challenged Musashi to a duel outside Kyoto, near Ichijoji temple. This time Musashi came to the temple hours early. From his hiding place Musashi ambushed the force, killing Matashichiro, and escaping under attacked from dozens of his supporters. With the death of Matashichiro, that branch of the Yoshioka school was destroyed. After Musashi left Kyoto, some sources recount that he travelled to Hozoin in Nara, to duel with and learn from the monks there, widely known as experts with lance weapons. There he settled down at Enkoji Temple in Banshu, where he taught the head monk (one Tada Hanzaburo's) brother. Hanzaburo's grandson would found the Ensu ryu based on the Enmei Ryu teachings and iaijutsu (the art of drawing one’s sword). From 1605 to 1612, Musashi traveled extensively all over Japan in Musha-Shugyo, a warrior pilgrimage during which he honed his skills with duels. In the duels of that era, the opponent’s life was not taken unless it was previously agreed upon. Musashi was said to have used bokken or bokuto（wooden sword）as his weapon, and such was his mastery of strategy that Musashi did not care which weapon his opponent was using. A document dated the 5th of November, 1607, purporting to be a transmission by Miyamoto Munisai of his teachings, suggests that Munisai lived at least until this date. In 1607, Musashi departed Nara for Edo, in the meanwhile dueling (and killing) a practitioner of kusari gama (a scythe and sickle with with a long iron chain and a weight connected to the end of the wooden handle) named Shishido Baiken. In Edo, Musashi defeated Muso Gonnosuke, who went on to found an influential staff school, the Shinto Muso Ryu (school). Musashi is said to have fought over 60 duels and was never defeated, although this is a conservative estimate, most likely not accounting for deaths by his hand in major battles. 

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Duel with Sasaki Kojiro

In 1611, Musashi began practicing zazen (Zen meditation) at the Myoshinji Temple, where he met Nagaoka Sado, vassal to Lord Hosokawa Tadaoki (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, and he may have introduced the two. Nagaoka proposed a duel with a certain adept named Sasaki Kojiro. This duel may have been politically motivated, a matter of consolidating Tadaoki's control over his fief. In April 14, 1612, at the age of 28, Musashi had his most famous duel with Sasaki Kojiro, who wielded a nodachi (a type of long two-handed sword). Musashi came to the appointed place, the remote island of Funajima, north of Kyushu, late and unkempt. The duel was short and Musashi killed his opponent with a bokken that he had fashioned from an oar to be longer than the nodachi, an impressive feat by the standards of any samurai or swordsman. Musashi's late arrival is controversial. Sasaki's outraged supporters thought it was dishonorable and disrespectful, while others thought it was a fair way to unnerve his opponent. Another theory is that Musashi timed the hour of his arrival to match the turning of the tide. The tide carried him to the island, then turned by the time the fight ended. After his victory, Musashi immediately jumped back into his boat and his flight from Sasaki's vengeful allies was helped by the turning tide. For centuries dramas and historical narratives have told about this duel, and modern novels, movies, and comics have elaborated on the stgory of the duel of Funajima and called it “Ganryujima Duel.” Although this duel is part of folk history, several scholars say it lacks authenticity. The real name of Sasaki Kojiro is unknown, and nothing is known about his life.

Service

In 1614 - 1615 Musashi participated in the war between the Toyotomi and the Tokugawa clans. The war broke 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. Osaka Castle was the center of the 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, of Toyotomi Hideyori's Army of the West by Ieyasu's Army of the East. Some reports go even say that Musashi entered a duel with Ieyasu, but was recruited to the Tokugawa side when Ieyasu sensed his defeat was at hand. Although this seems unlikely, it is not known how Musashi came into Ieyasu's good graces after fighting on the side of his enemy. Other accounts claim he actually served on the Tokugawa side. Such a claim is unproven, although Musashi had a close relationship with some Tokugawa vassals through his duel with Sasaki Kojiro. In his later years, Musashi received much support from Lords Ogasawara and Hosokawa, strong Tokugawa loyalists, casting doubt on the possibility that Musashi had indeed fought on behalf of the Toyotomis. In 1615 he entered the service of Lord Ogasawara Tadanao of the Harima province as a foreman, or "Construction Supervisor," after having gained skills in construction. He helped to build Akashi Castle. He also adopted a son, Miyamoto Mikinosuke , and taught martial arts during his stay, specializing in the art of sword-throwing, or shuriken. In 1621, Musashi defeated Miyake Gunbei and three other adepts of the Togun ryu in front of the Lord of Himeji; after this victory he helped to plan the layout of the Himeji township. Around this time, Musashi attracted a number of disciples to his Enmei Ryu (school). 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 focus was to train to use the twin swords of the samurai as effectively as a pair of sword and jitte. In 1622, Musashi's adoptive son, 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 Hayashi Razan. Musashi applied to become a swordmaster to the Shogun, but his application was denied because there were already two swordmasters (Ono Jiroemon and Yagyu Munenori; the latter was a political advisor to the shogun and the head of the Shogunate's secret police). Musashi left Edo and traveled in the direction of Oshu, ending up in Yamagata, where he adopted a second son, Miyamoto Iori. The two then travelled together, eventually stopping in Osaka. In 1626, Miyamoto Mikinosuke, following the custom of junshi, committed seppuku 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.

Later Life and Death

In 1627, Musashi began to travel again. In 1633, Musashi went to stay with Hosokawa Tadatoshi, daimyo of Kumamoto Castle, who had moved to the Kumamoto fief and Kokura in order to train and paint. He settled in Kokura with Iori. While there he engaged in very few duels; one in which Musashi defeated a lance specialist, Takada Matabei, occurred in 1634 by the arrangement of Lord Ogasawara. He later entered the service of daimyo Ogasawara Tadazane, taking a major role in the Shimabara Rebellion in 1637. In his sixth and final battle, Musashi supported his son Iori and Lord Ogasawara as a strategist, directing their troops. Iori served with excellence in putting down the rebellion and gradually rose to the rank of karo , a position equal to a minister.

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 formed the basis for the later Go rin no sho. In the same year that his third 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 May, sensing his impending death, Musashi bequeathed his worldly possessions, after giving his manuscript copy of the Go Rin No Sho to the younger brother of his closest disciple, Terao Magonojo. He died in Reigandō cave around the nineteenth of May, (others say June 13, 1645). The Hyoho senshi denki described his passing: "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 was not killed in combat, but died peacefully after finishing the Dokkodo ("The Way of Walking Alone", or "The Way of Self-Reliance"), twenty-one precepts on self-discipline to guide future generations. His body was interred in armor in 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. Nine years later, a monument with a funereal eulogy for Musashi, the Kokura hibun, was erected in Kokura by Miyamoto Iori.

Legends

After his death, various legends began to spread about Musashi.. Most are about his feats in kenjutsu and other martial arts, some describing how he was able to hurl men over 5 feet backwards, others about his speed and technique. Legends tell of how Musashi killed giant lizards in Echizen, as well as Nues in various other prefectures. He gained the stature of Kensei, 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.

Philosophy and Background

Musashi’s way of life and his philosophy are relevant even in today’s world, and his book is popular with businessmen in Japan and has been translated into several languages. In a modern and democratic world, Musashi’s manual on military strategy and swordsmanship is a best seller.

Musashi lived just at the end of the Age of Civil Wars and the beginning of the Edo age, when the Tokugawa ruled all of Japan, peacefully and with cunning, for 300 years. When Tokugawa’s last enemy, the Toyotomi clan, was eliminated by Tokugawa Ieyasu at the siege of Osaka, a new era named “Genna” was ushered in, fueled by the desire of the rulers and most of the people to build a peaceful country. It meant the abandonment of arms and warfare. In the midst of this time of peace Musashi spoke of battle strategy and military philosophy. As knowledge of tactics and strategy became less useful in actual life, it became more and more valuable to the samurai. The samurai (warriors) began to form a stable government and occupy the top class of a hierarchy which ordered from top to bottom into four divisions: samurai, farmers, artisans and tradesmen. The samurai class needed military tradition to ensure their survival and show their identity. Miyamoto Musashi and his books were hailed among the feudal lords. The need to live in readiness to for battle had passed, and the samurai and feudal lords felt nostalgic for the barbarous force of the past. Miyamoto Musashi was the symbol of the old samurai spirit. Ironically the real Musashi was anti-establishment and anti-shogunate his entire life. Musashi’s life was glorified and romanticized and featured as the subject of numerous theatrical dramas and novels .

The Book of Five Rings

In his last book, Go Rin No Sho (五輪の書, The Book of Five Rings), whose subject was “pragmatism at the risk of life,” Musashi said that he fought 60 duels undefeated. He was a religious man, but he insisted that he respected the gods and Buddha without relying upon them. In the introduction of the Book of Five Rings, Mushashi suggested that he was never defeated because of his natural ability, or because of the order of heaven, or because the strategy of other schools was inferior. The order of heaven was the principle behind the strategy, and he followed it. Musashi also insisted that he never quoted the law of Buddha or the teaching of Confucius, or any old war chronicles or books on martial tactics. He spoke only of what he himself had learned from his experiences on the battlefield and in duels. The original book, composed of four volumes, the Ground Book, , no longer exists. It was a textbook on battle strategy and an instruction manual for actual warfare, not a book on philosophy and instruction for life. However, the book teaches something of value for every person.

Volume I: The Ground Book

This volume talks about the tactics and the strategy of military affairs and of individual swordmanship. Musashi seems to take a very philosophical approach to the "Craft of War": "There are four Ways in which men pass through life: as Gentlemen Warriors, Farmers, Artisans and Merchants." These categories were the groups of professionals that could be observed during Musashi's time. Throughout the book, Musashi employs the terms “way of the Warrïor,” and "true strategist" to refer to somebody who has mastered many art forms apart from those of the sword, such as tea drinking, painting, labouring and writing, such as Musashi practiced throughout his life. Musashi was hailed as an extraordinary sumi-e artist in the use of ink monochrome, evident in two of his famous paintings: "Shrike Perched in a Dead Tree" (Koboku Meikakuzu, 古木明確図) and "Wild Geese Among Reeds" (Rozanzu, 魯山図). He makes particular note of Artisans, and Foremen. In the time in which he was writing, the majority of the houses in Japan were made of wood. In building a house, a foreman had to employ strategy based upon the skill and ability of his workers, and surprisingly, could be seen as a model socialist. He suggested that the ideal foreman should know his men, and not presume to make unfair demands of them.

In comparison to warriors and soldiers, Musashi notes the ways in which the artisan thrives through certain circumstances ; the ruin of houses, the customers’desires for splendor, changes in the style of houses, the tradition and name or origin of a house. These are similar to the circumstances in which warriors and soldiers thrive; the rise and fall of prefectures and countries, and other political events create a need for warriors. The book also includes literal comparisons such as, "The carpenter uses a master plan of the building, and the Way of strategy is similar in that there is a plan of campaign.”

Volume II: The Water Book

In this volume Musashi explains about understanding of the initial charge and one-on-one combat. Musashi asserted that, “Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined through calm (tranquility).” The purpose of self-possession is not to preserve one’s equanimity, but to be able to fight to the utmost. It is significant that Musashi strongly explained “Spiritual bearing in strategy” before explaining “Holding the long sword.”

Volume III: The Fire Book

In this volume Musashi explains the essence of how to get victory in battle. He writes, “In this Fire Book of the Ni To Ichi school of strategy, I describe fighting as fire.” This book is often quoted in modern books on business strategy and personal improvement. Mushashi’s explanations, gained from his actual fighting experiences, can be applied in many circumstances.

To hold down a pillow

This means not allowing the enemy’s head to rise. Whatever the enemy tries to bring about in the fight, you will see in advance and suppress it. The idea is to check his attack at the syllable “at…”; when he jumps check his jump at the syllable “ju…”; and check his cut at”cu…”. This strfategy means to spoil a person’s start.

Crossing at a ford

This description is exquisite. It means crossing the sea at a strait,or crossing over a hundred miles of broad sea at a crossing place. A good captain knows how to cross a sea route and he knows if his troops are almost across the strait or not. Musashi said “crossing at a ford”occurs often in a man’s lifetime.Crossing at a ford in our life means overcoming a critical moment. We also often face “crossing at a ford;” however we are unable to recognize the crucial moment. A master of the martial arts like Musashi can detect this moment. The Book of Five Rings summarizes “crossing at a ford” in two principles: know the times, meaning to know the enemy’s disposition; and “tread down the sword,” meaning to tread with body, tread with the spirit and to cut with a long sword, in other words,l preempt the action of your enemy.

Volume IV: The Wind Book

In this volume Musashi emphasizes the supremacy of Nitenichi-ryu (style) over other ryu (styles).

Volume V: The Book of the Void

The “void” is the goal of ascetic Buddhist practice, especially as taught by the second Buddha, Nāgārjuna, founder of the Middle Path school of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Musashi says that people in this world look at things in error, and think that what they do not understand must be the void. This is not the true void. It is bewilderment.

Although Musashi talked of the “void,” his meaning” was different from the Buddhist “void.” Musashi’s void was the true way of strategy as a warrior. Musashi used the metaphor of a flower and a nut for the learning of strategy, with the nut being the student and the flower being the technique. He was concerned that both teachers and students placed too much emphasis on technique and style and not enough on developing the maturity of the student. "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." He emphasized that the ultimate goal was the development of the inner self. “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.” Musashi also said that one person who had mastered strategy could defeat an army. “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. “

Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu and Mastery of the Long Sword

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 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, such as a katana and wakizashi. Legend says that Musashi was inspired by the two-handed movements of temple drummers, or by a European duel with rapier and dagger which he witnessed in Nagasaki. From his own writrings, it seems that the technique came about naturally during battle, or developed from jitte 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 Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū. Musashi disagreed with using two hands to wield a sword, because this limited freedom of movement and because a warrior on horseback often needed one hand to control the horse in crowds or on unstable ground. "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.” Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu involved training with two long swords, one in each hand. Although difficult at first, Musashi said that with practice one could adapt to the technique. Once the use of two long swords was mastered, mastery of the use of a long sword with a "Companion Sword", most likely a wakizashi, would be much increased. 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. The strategy of the long sword was more straightforward. Musashi's ideal was to master a two-finger grip of the long sword, and use that to move on to the mastery of Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu. Though the grip is light, it does not mean that the attack or slash from the sword will be weak. "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 Tai Chi Ch'uan. 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.

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 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 "Koboku meikakuzu" ("Kingfisher 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").

Miyamoto Musashi in fiction

There have been thirty six films made about Musashi, including six with the title of "Miyamoto Musashi" and a television series about his life. Even in Musashi's time there were fictional texts resembling comic books. It is therefore quite difficult to seperate fact from fiction when discussing Musashi.

See also

Miyamoto Musashi Station

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Biography of Miyamoto Musashi

  1. William Scott Wilson. (2004). The Lone Samurai. Kodansha International. ISBN 4-7700-2942-X.

Writings of Miyamoto Musashi

  1. The 19 Articles of Self-Discipline
  2. The 35 Articles of Swordsmanship
  3. Dokkodo, (The Path of Self-Reliance)
  4. Go Rin No Shō / The Book of Five Rings (in reference to the Five Rings of Zen Buddhism)
  5. The Way of walking Alone (or The Way of Self-Reliance)

External links

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