Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi
Native 宮本武蔵
name
Residence Japan
Style Hyōhō Niten Ichi-
ryū Kenjutsu (二天一流),
Enmei-ryu (圓明流), (二天流)
Japanese name
Kanji 宮本 武蔵
showTranscriptions
Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵, c. 1584 – 13 June 1645),[1] also known
as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten
Dōraku,[2] was a Japanese swordsman, philosopher, strategist, writer and rōnin,
who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed
swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 61 duels (next is 33 by Itō Ittōsai).
Musashi, as he was often simply known, is considered a Kensei, a sword-saint
of Japan.[3] He was the founder of the Niten Ichi-ryū, or Nito Ichi-ryū, style of
swordsmanship, and in his final years authored The Book of Five Rings (五輪の
書, Go Rin No Sho) and Dokkōdō (獨行道, The Path of Aloneness).
Biography[edit]
Birth[edit]
The details of Miyamoto Musashi's early life are difficult to verify. Musashi
himself simply states in The Book of Five Rings that he was born in Harima
Province.[5] Niten Ki (an early biography of Musashi) supports the assertion that
Musashi was born in 1584: "[He] was born in Banshū, in Tenshō 12 [1584], the
Year of the Monkey."[6] The historian Kamiko Tadashi, commenting on
Musashi's text, notes: "Munisai was Musashi's father ... he lived in Miyamoto
village, in the Yoshino district [of Mimasaka Province]. Musashi was most
probably born here."[7]
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).[8] His
father, Shinmen Munisai (新免無二斎) was an accomplished martial artist and
master of the sword and jutte (also jitte).[7] 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.[9] Hirata was
relied upon by Lord Shinmen and so was allowed to use the Shinmen name. As
for "Musashi", Musashi no Kami was a court title, making him the nominal
governor of Musashi Province. "Fujiwara" was the lineage from which Musashi
claimed descent.[10]
Upbringing[edit]
Musashi's eczema developed in his infancy, and this adversely affected his
appearance.[11] Another story claims that he never bathed himself because he did
not want to be surprised unarmed.[12]
First duel[edit]
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 ryū, and I defeated him. At the age of sixteen I defeated a
powerful adept by the name of Tadashima Akiyama, who came from Tajima
Province. At the age of twenty-one I went up to Kyōtō and fought duels with
several adepts of the sword from famous schools, but I never lost.
— Miyamoto Musashi, Go Rin No Sho
According to the introduction of The Book of Five Rings, Musashi states that his
first successful duel was at the age of 13, against a samurai named Arima Kihei
who fought using the Kashima Shintō-ryū style, founded by Tsukahara
Bokuden (1489–1571). The main source of the duel is the Hyoho senshi
denki ("Anecdotes about the Deceased Master"). Summarized, its account goes
as follows:
In 1596, Musashi was 13, and Arima Kihei, who was traveling 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, Musashi's
uncle, was shocked by this, and tried to beg off the duel in Musashi's name,
based on his nephew's age. Kihei was adamant that the only way his honour
could be cleared was if Musashi apologized to him when the duel was
scheduled. So when the time set for the duel arrived, Dorin began apologizing
for Musashi, who merely charged at Kihei with a six-foot quarterstaff, shouting
a challenge to Kihei. Kihei attacked with a wakizashi, but Musashi threw Kihei
on the floor, and while Kihei tried to get up, Musashi struck Arima between the
eyes and then beat him to death. Arima was said to have been arrogant, overly
eager to battle, and not a terribly talented swordsman.
At the moment of his death, he had himself raised up. He had his belt tightened
and his wakizashi put in it. He seated himself with one knee vertically raised,
holding the sword with his left hand and a cane in his right hand. He died in this
posture, at the age of sixty-two. The principal vassals of Lord Hosokawa and
the other officers gathered, and they painstakingly carried out the ceremony.
Then they set up a tomb on Mount Iwato on the order of the lord.
Miyamoto Musashi died of what is believed to be thoracic cancer.[21] He died
peacefully after finishing the text Dokkōdō ("The Way of Walking Alone", or
"The Way of Self-Reliance"), 21 precepts on self-discipline to guide future
generations.
Relationships[edit]
Writings on Musashi's life rarely mention his relationship with women, and
often when they do Musashi is regularly depicted as rejecting sexual advances
in favor of focusing on his swordsmanship.[22][23][24] Alternative interpretations
have taken his lack of interest as an indication of homosexuality.[25] In contrast
many legends do feature Musashi in trysts with women, some of these also
reflect the view that he would eventually choose to forego physical or emotional
investments to attain further insight into his work.[26] 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 during his
middle age.[27] The Bushu Denraiki also details Musashi fathering a daughter by
a courtesan. It is uncertain if this courtesan and Kumoi were the same person.
[22]
A rumor also connected Musashi with the oiran Yoshino Tayu [Ja].[28]
Teachings[edit]
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' (A Kongen Buddhist Sutra refers to the two
heavens as the two guardians of Buddha). In this technique, the swordsman
uses both a large sword, and a "companion sword" at the same time, i.e.
a katana with a wakizashi.[29]
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.[31]
Timeline[edit]
The following timeline follows, in chronological order (of which is based on the
most accurate and most widely accepted information), the life of Miyamoto
Musashi.
11–
1596 Musashi duels with Arima Kihei in Hirafuku, Hyōgo Prefecture.
12
14– Duels with a man named Tadashima Akiyama in the northern part
1599
15 of Hyōgo Prefecture.
Musashi has three matches with the Yoshioka clan in Kyoto. (1)
Match with Yoshioka Seijuro in Yamashiro Province, outside the
19– city at Rendai Moor (west of Mt. Funaoka, Kita-ku, Kyoto). (2)
1604
20 Match with Yoshioka Denshichiro outside the city. (3) Match
with Yoshioka Matashichiro outside the city at the pine of Ichijō-
ji.
1605– 20–
Begins to travel again.
1612 28
22–
1607 Munisai (Musashi's father) passes his teachings onto Musashi.
23
23–
1608 Duels Musō Gonnosuke, master of the five-foot staff in Edo.
24
25–
1610 Fights Hayashi Osedo and Tsujikaze Tenma in Edo.
26
26–
1611 Begins practicing zazen meditation.
27
37–
1622 Sets up temporary residence at the castle town of Himeji, Hyōgo.
38
38–
1623 Travels to Edo.
39
42–
1627 Travels again.
43
43–
1628 Meets with Yagyū Hyōgonosuke in Nagoya, Owari Province.
44
45–
1630 Enters the service of Lord Hosokawa Tadatoshi.
46
48–
1633 Begins to extensively practice the arts.
49
49– Settles in Kokura, Fukuoka Prefecture for a short time with son
1634
50 Iori as a guest of Ogasawara Tadazane.
57–
1642 Suffers severe attacks from neuralgia.
58
58–
1643 Migrates into Reigandō where he lives as a hermit.
59
Philosophy[edit]
Calligraphy by Musashi
In Musashi's last book, The Book of Five Rings (五輪書, Go Rin no Sho),
Musashi seems to take a very philosophical approach to looking at the "craft of
war": "There are five ways in which men pass through life: as gentlemen,
warriors, farmers, artisans and merchants."
Throughout the book, Musashi implies that the way of the Warrior, as well as
the meaning of a "true strategist" is that of somebody who has made mastery of
many art forms away from that of the sword, such as tea drinking (sadō),
laboring, writing, and painting, as Musashi practiced throughout his life.
[33]
Musashi was hailed as an extraordinary sumi-e artist in the use of ink
monochrome as depicted in two such paintings: "Shrike Perched in a Dead
Tree" (Koboku Meigekizu, 枯木鳴鵙図) and "Wild Geese Among Reeds"
(Rozanzu, 魯山図). Going back to the Book of Five Rings, Musashi talks deeply
about the ways of Buddhism.
He makes particular note of artisans and foremen. When he wrote the book, the
majority of houses in Japan were made of wood. In the use of building a house,
foremen have to employ strategy based upon the skill and ability of their
workers.
In comparison to warriors and soldiers, Musashi notes the ways in which the
artisans thrive through events; the ruin of houses, the splendor of houses, the
style of the house, the tradition and name or origins of a house. These too, are
similar to the events which are seen to have warriors and soldiers thrive; the rise
and fall of prefectures, countries and other such events are what make uses for
warriors, as well as the literal comparisons: "The carpenter uses a master plan of
the building, and the way of strategy is similar in that there is a plan of
campaign".
Way of strategy[edit]
Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu[edit]
Main article: Niten Ichi-ryū
Within the book, Musashi mentions that the use of two swords within strategy is
equally beneficial to those who use the skill for individual duels or large
engagements. The idea of using two hands for a sword is an idea that Musashi
opposes because there is no fluidity in movement with two hands: "If you hold a
sword with both hands, it is difficult to wield it freely to left and right, so my
method is to carry the sword in one hand." He also disagrees with the idea of
using a sword with two hands on a horse and/or riding on unstable terrain, such
as muddy swamps, rice fields, or within crowds of people.
To learn the strategy of Ni-Ten Ichi Ryū, Musashi asserts that by training with
two long swords, one in each hand, one will be able to overcome the
cumbersome nature of using a sword in both hands. Although it is difficult,
Musashi agrees that there are times in which the long sword must be used with
two hands, but one whose skill is good enough should not need it.
After using two long swords proficiently enough, mastery of a long sword, and
a "companion sword", most likely a wakizashi, will be much increased: "When
you become used to wielding the long sword, you will gain the power of the
Way and wield the sword well."
In short, it could be seen, from the excerpts from The Book of Five Rings, that
real strategy behind Ni-Ten No Ichi Ryu, is that there is no real iron-clad
method, path, or type of weaponry specific to the style of Ni-Ten No Ichi Ryu:
You can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon.
In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the
weapon and whatever its size.
Religion[edit]
Even from an early age, Musashi separated his religion from his involvement in
swordsmanship. Excerpts such as the one below, from The Book of Five Rings,
demonstrate a philosophy that is thought to have stayed with him throughout his
life:
There are many ways: Confucianism, Buddhism, the ways of elegance, rice-
planting, or dance; these things are not to be found in the way of the warrior.[34]
However, the belief that Musashi disliked Shinto is inaccurate, as he criticises
the Shintō-ryū style of swordsmanship, not Shinto, the religion. In
Musashi's Dokkōdō, his stance on religion is further elucidated: "Respect
Buddha and the gods without counting on their help."[35]
As an artist[edit]
Monuments[edit]
The 2008 video game Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! was based on his life and
personality.
He also appeared in the manga Baki-Dou as a revived clone of himself with his
real soul intact as one of the strongest fighters in the series, and used his two-
sword style in almost every combat in which he was shown.
In the video game Overwatch the playable character Genji used to have a voice
line that quotes Musashi: "Mi wo sutetemo myōri wa sutezu" (身を捨てても名
利は捨てず), which roughly translates to "You may abandon your body, but
you must preserve your honor."
The card game Magic: The Gathering has a card based on him, Isshin, Two
Heavens as One, named for his two swords as one technique.
In the 2017 video game For Honor, the "Aramusha" hero is loosely inspired by
Musashi. The character is a ronin who wields two swords.
In Cyberpunk 2077 the character Takemura sends a text message to V that reads
"Even should you abandon your body, never abandon your honor. Never stray
from the Way. Miyamoto Musashi" This text can only be received after the
mission Search and Destroy, if the player saves Takemura.
The 2023 anime Onimusha was based loosely on the video game franchise of
the same name and produced by Netflix. The series portrays a fictional version
of an aging Musashi who embarks on a journey to defeat supernatural forces of
evil using the Oni Gauntlet.
Gallery[edit]
Bibliography[edit]
See also[edit]
Yagyū Munenori
Gosho Motoharu
Hōjō Akinokami
Sasaki Kojiro
Takuan Soho
Terao Magonojō
Eiji Yoshikawa
Bizen
Mimasaka
Ōhara-chō
Miyamoto Musashi Budokan
Miyamoto Musashi Station
Philosophy of war
List of military writers
References[edit]
Further reading[edit]
Fiction[edit]
Moore, J.S. (2014). Under the Sun: The Miyamoto Musashi Story.
Understanding Apples Press. ISBN 978-1-5028-0491-4.
Essays[edit]
External links[edit]
Online books
Resources in your library
Resources in other libraries
By Miyamoto Musashi
Online books
Resources in your library
Resources in other libraries
miyamotomusashi.eu
Miyamoto Musashi Dojo (in French)
Some artwork by Miyamoto Musashi (archive link)
The samurai warrior and Zen Buddhism (website of the Asian Art Museum,
San Francisco)
Complete texts in English by Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi; his Swordsmanship and Book of Five Rings
Profile on Shambhala Publications website