Miyamoto Musashi

, was a Japanese swordsman, strategist, artist, and writer who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 62 duels. Miyamoto is considered a '' kensei'' (sword saint) of Japan. He was the founder of the Niten Ichi-ryū (or Nito Ichi-ryū) style of swordsmanship, and in his final years authored and ''Dokkōdō'' (獨行道, ''The Path of Aloneness'').

Both documents were given to Terao Magonojō, the most important of Miyamoto's students, seven days before Musashi's death. ''The Book of Five Rings'' focuses on the character of his Niten Ichi-ryū school in a concrete sense; his own practical martial art and its generic significance. ''The Path of Aloneness'', on the other hand, deals with the ideas that lie behind it, as well as his life's philosophy in a few short aphoristic sentences.

It is believed that Miyamoto was a friend of Mizuno Katsunari, a Tokugawa shogunate general. They fought together in the Battle of Sekigahara, Siege of Osaka, and Shimabara Rebellion as part of the Tokugawa Army.

The Miyamoto Musashi Budokan training center in Ōhara-chō ( Mimasaka), Okayama Prefecture, Japan, was erected to honour him.

Biography

The details of Miyamoto Musashi's early life are difficult to verify. Musashi writes in ''The Book of Five Rings'' (''Go Rin No Sho'') that he was born in Miyamoto, a village in Harima Province. ''Niten Ki'', an early biography of Musashi, supports the assertion that Musashi was born in 1584. " ewas born in Banshū, in Tenshō 12 584, quoting the Year of the Monkey." The historian Kamiko Tadashi, commenting on Musashi's text, notes: "Munisai was Musashi's father ... he lived in Miyamoto village, in the Yoshino district f Mimasaka Province">Mimasaka_Province.html" ;"title="f Mimasaka Province">f Mimasaka Province Musashi was most probably born here."

Musashi gives his full name and title in ''The Book of Five Rings'' as Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu (新免武蔵守藤原玄信) . His father, Shinmen Munisai (新免無二斎) was an accomplished martial artist and master of the sword and ''jutte'' (also ''jitte''). Munisai, in turn, was the son of Hirata Shōgen (平田将監), a vassal of Shinmen ''Iga no Kami'', the lord of Takayama Castle in the Yoshino district of Mimasaka Province. Hirata was relied upon by Lord Shinmen and so was allowed to use the Shinmen name. " Fujiwara" was the lineage from which Musashi claimed descent. Other names of his include Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke, and Niten Dōraku (his Buddhist name). Hirata's wife was Omasa. She died as a result of giving birth to Miyamoto.

Musashi developed eczema during infancy. It adversely affected his appearance. Another story claims that he never bathed himself because he did not want to be surprised unarmed. Historian Kamiko writes, "For his entire life, Musashi never took a wife, cut his hair, or entered a bath".

According to ''The Book of Five Rings'', Musashi testified that his first duel occurred when he was still 13 years old. His opponent was a Arima Kihei, a swordsman who practised Kashima Shintō-ryū martial arts that were created by Tsukahara Bokuden. Musashi was victorious. The second duel happened when Musashi was 16 years old, when he won another victory against Tadashima Akiyama, a swordsman who was native to Tajima Province. Musashi's third duel, at age 21 was in Kyoto, where he defeated several students of a famous sword fighting school.

Travels (1599–1613)

In 1599, Musashi left his village at age 15 or 16, His family possessions such as furniture, weapons, genealogy, and other records were left with his sister and her husband, Hirao Yoemon. He spent his time traveling and engaging in duels.

In 1600, Musashi is said to have participated in the Battle of Sekigahara. For a long time, the prevailing opinion has been that Musashi participated in the Sekigahara battle on the Western Army side due to the fact that Shinmen clan was longtime vassal to the Ukita clan. However, recent research by modern Japanese historians such as Masahide Fukuda and Watanabe Daimon about Musashi has opined that Musashi and his father, Shinmen Munisai, actually sided with The Eastern army during the war, based on the historical records that Munisai no longer served the Ukita clan, and the clan records of Kuroda clan, ally of Tokugawa Ieyasu during the war, had recorded the name of Shinmen Munisai among their vassals who participated in the war. Daimon, who quoted the "Matsui Clan Document", opines that the notion that Musashi fought on the losing side of Western Army, both in Sekigahara and in Osaka siege 14 years later, were only based on legendary romanticism about Musashi being a ronin. While the primary history records indicated that Musashi always fought on the side of Tokugawa, who emerged victorious in both conflicts. The main issue debated, was if Musashi fought in the Sekigahara battle with the Eastern Army main forces, under Tokugawa, or did he fight in Ishigakibaru of western province theatre under the Eastern Army commander Kuroda Yoshitaka. Daimon suggests that Musashi fought in Ishigakibaru instead of Sekigahara, by historical record of ''The Transmission of Military Art to Master Bushu Genshin'' Meanwhile, Fukuda has determined that the name of Munisai appeared in Kuroda clan record under the category of ''Kogofudai'', or Kuroda clan vassals who had entered service before 1586. Based on this fact, Fukuda concluded it was natural that Munisai and Musashi were on the Tokugawa side during the war, just as the Kuroda clan which they served.

Furthermore, Japanese history novelist Kengo Tominaga proposed a theory that Musashi during the Sekigahara Campaign did not fight in the main battle of Sekigahara, but instead he fought under Kuroda Yoshitaka against Ishida Mitsunari loyalists from the western provinces in the battle of Ishigakibaru, Ōita Prefecture.

In December 1608, It was reported that Musashi met with Mizuno Katsunari, a Tokugawa general. Musashi taught Katsunari the secret techniques of his sword style.

In 1611, Musashi learned zazen at Myōshin-ji Kyūshū after the Sekigahara battle. Musashi introduced Nagaoka Sado to an official of daimyo (lord) named Hosokawa Tadaoki.

Duel with Sasaki Kojiro

Musashi dueled Sasaki Kojiro, another skilled swordsman, in one of his most famous battles. While there are differing opinions on how it happened, the prevailing notion is that Musashi challenged Kojiro, requesting Hosokawa Tadaoki to organise the time and place. Kojiro agreed to the challenge, scheduled one year later, on 13 April, at Ganryūjima Island. When the date arrived, the island was filled with spectators anxious to witness the duel.

Musashi, it is said, deliberately arrived late. Kojirō had lost his patience while waiting, and he taunted Musashi for his late arrival, though the latter remained composed. Kojirō was known for fighting with a '' nodachi'', a sword with a long blade. During his journey to the island by boat, Musashi had carved an oar into a ''bokken'', or wooden practice sword. The duel ended when Musashi quickly and fatally struck Kojirō, crushing his skull with a vertical stroke.

Serving under Shogunate army

In 1614, during the Siege of Osaka, it was believed that Musashi participated in the Tokugawa army under the command of Musashi's personal friend, Mizuno Katsushige or also known as Katsunari. Musashi were reportedly carrying the banner of Katsunari, and also acted as bodyguard of Mizuno Katsutoshi, son of Katsunari. It was said in a later era, during the Shimabara Rebellion, that Musashi once told a commander of the Tokugawa army that he had served under Mizuno Katsunari's command during the Osaka siege and knew the military system very well. Miyamoto Mikinosuke, the adopted son of Musashi, also served under Katsunari during this battle.

In 1633, Musashi began staying with Hosokawa Tadatoshi, ''daimyō'' of Kumamoto Castle, who had moved to the Kumamoto fief and Kokura, to train and paint. While he engaged in very few duels during this period, one occurred in 1634 at the arrangement of Lord Ogasawara, in which Musashi defeated a lance specialist named Takada Matabei. Musashi officially became the retainer of the Hosokawa lords of Kumamoto in 1640. The ''Niten Ki'' records " ereceived from Lord Tadatoshi: 17 retainers, a stipend of 300 koku, the rank of ''ōkumigashira'' 大組頭, and Chiba Castle in Kumamoto as his residence."

In 1638, Musashi allegedly participated in the suppression of Shimabara Rebellion. In the journal ''Munekyu (Katsunari)-sama'', a collection of statements made by Katsunari Mizuno after his retirement in 1639, there is a story about Mizuno's army during the Shimabara Rebellion: a man named Miyamoto Musashi entered the camp of general Ogasawara Nagatsugu, and Musashi said, "Last time (at Siege of Osaka), ( Mizuno Katsunari) Hyuga-no-Kamidono's clan had this, and I knew the military system very well." Musashi continued, "He is a great general that no one can match."

Later life

In the second month of 1641, Musashi wrote a work called the ''Hyoho Sanju Go'' ("Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy") for Hosokawa Tadatoshi. This work overlapped and formed the basis for the later ''The Book of Five Rings''. This was the year that his adopted son, Hirao Yoemon, became Master of Arms for the Owari fief. In 1642, Musashi suffered attacks of neuralgia, foreshadowing his future ill-health.

In 1643, he retired to a cave, '' Reigandō'', living as a hermit to write ''The Book of Five Rings''. He finished it in the second month of 1645. On the twelfth of the fifth month, sensing his impending death, he bequeathed his worldly possessions, after giving his manuscript to the younger brother of Terao Magonojo, his closest disciple. Musashi died in Reigandō cave around 13 June 1645 ("Shōhō 2, 19th day of the 5th month"). Allegedly, his death resulted from lung cancer. According to ''Hyoho senshi denki'' (''Anecdotes About the Deceased Master''):

Timeline

The following timeline of Musashi biography in chronological order (of which is based on the most accurate and most widely accepted information).

Personal life

It was said that Musashi practised the way of the warrior and warfare strategy, which entailed the mastery of many art forms beyond that of the sword, such as tea ceremony (sadō), labouring, writing, and painting, all of which Musashi pursued throughout his life.

This predominant cultural view of Musashi is somewhat contradicted by old texts such as ''Dobo goen'' (1720) which relay his intimacy with the courtesan Kumoi in his middle age. The ''Bushu Denraiki'' details Musashi fathering a daughter by a courtesan. The daughter is said to have died young which caused him great grief. It is uncertain if this courtesan and Kumoi were the same person. A rumour also connected Musashi with the ''oiran'' .

Niten Ichi Ryu

Musashi created and refined a two-sword ''kenjutsu'' technique called ''niten'ichi'' (二天一, "two heavens as one") or ''nitōichi'' (二刀一, "two swords as one") or '' Niten Ichi-ryū'' In this technique, the swordsman uses ''both'' a large sword, and a "companion sword" at the same time—a katana with a wakizashi.

The two-handed movements of temple drummers may have inspired him, although it could be that the technique was forged through Musashi's combat experience. ''Jitte'' techniques were taught to him by his father—the ''jitte'' was often used in battle paired with a sword; the ''jitte'' would parry and neutralise the weapon of the enemy while the sword struck or the practitioner grappled with the enemy. Today Musashi's style of swordsmanship is known as Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū.

Musashi was also an expert in throwing weapons. He frequently threw his short sword and instructed others at throwing shuriken. Kenji Tokitsu believes that shuriken methods for the wakizashi were the Niten Ichi Ryu's secret techniques.

In Musashi's time, there were fictional texts resembling comic books and it is difficult to separate fact from fiction when discussing his life. There have been numerous later works of fiction made about or featuring Musashi, including novels, manga, film, anime, and video games.

Eiji Yoshikawa's novel '' Musashi'' (originally a 1930s daily newspaper serial) has greatly influenced successive fictional depictions and is often mistaken for a factual account of Musashi's life.

He has been portrayed many times in film, most notably in Hiroshi Inagaki's '' Samurai Trilogy'' (1954–56), starring Toshiro Mifune, which was based on Yoshikawa's novel.

Gallery

File:Miyamoto musashi LCCN2002700026.jpg, "Miyamoto Musashi on the banks of the Isagawa in Kawachi Province meets a remarkable man who shows him a magnifying glass", from a series Thirty-six Famous Battles by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1847
File:Miyamoto Musashi 宮本 武蔵 (BM 2008,3037.15507).jpg, "The swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, armed with two wooden swords, sparring with the old master Tsukahara Bokuden, who defends himself using two wooden pot-lids" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, c. 1845-46
File:Statue of Hosokawa Tadatoshi.jpg, A statue of Hosokawa Tadatoshi within Suizen-ji Jōju-en
File:Hidari mitsudomoe.svg, Mon of Miyamoto Musashi born in Ōhara-chō province of Mimasaka
File:Statue of Musashi & Kojirō battle.jpg, Statue of Musashi & Kojiro Battle
File:Miyamoto_Musashi_killing_a_giant_nue.jpg, Miyamoto Musashi kills a shark fish (Yamazame) in the mountains across the border of Echizen Province, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

See also

* Yagyū Munenori
* Gosho Motoharu
* Hōjō Akinokami
* Sasaki Kojiro
* Takuan Soho
* Terao Magonojō
* Eiji Yoshikawa
* Bizen Province
* Mimasaka Province
* Ōhara, Okayama
* Miyamoto Musashi Budokan
* Miyamoto Musashi Station
* Philosophy of war
* List of military writers

Notes

References

Appendix

Essays

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Testimony

* Iwami Toshio Harukatsu soke (11th successor to Miyamoto Musashi), "Musashi's teachings – philosophy first: translation in English" , ''Dragon'' n°7, January 2005, ed. Mathis; French original text
''L'enseignement de Musashi est d'abord une philosophie''
* Iwami Toshio Harukatsu soke (11th successor to Miyamoto Musashi), "Musashi's principles" , ''Dragon'' n°13, January 2006, ed. Mathis; French original text: ''Les principes de Musashi''

Primary sources

* ''Hyodokyo'' (''The Mirror of the Way of Strategy'')
* ''Hyoho Sanjugo Kajo'' (''35 Instructions on Strategy'')
* ''Hyoho Shijuni Kajo'' (''42 Instructions on Strategy'')
* ''Dokkōdō'' (''The Way to be Followed Alone'')
* '' Go Rin No Sho'' (''The Book of Five Rings'') Translated into English by Victor Harris as ''A Book of Five Rings'', London: Allison & Busby, 1974; Woodstock, New York: The Overlook Press.

Fiction

* (Manga/historical fiction)
* (Manga/historical fiction)
* (Manga/historical fiction)
* (Historical fiction)
*

External links

miyamotomusashi.eu







The samurai warrior and Zen Buddhism
(website of the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco)

Complete texts in English by Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi; his Swordsmanship and Book of Five Rings

{{DEFAULTSORT:Miyamoto, Musashi

1580s births
1645 deaths
17th-century Japanese calligraphers
17th-century Japanese philosophers
17th-century martial artists
Artist authors
Japanese Buddhists
Japanese duelists
Japanese military writers
Japanese non-fiction writers
Japanese painters
Japanese swordfighters
Kendo
Martial arts school founders
Martial arts writers
Samurai
People of the Edo period
Year of birth uncertain