Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵) was
known as an excellent warrior and ronin. He was a father of a [1]Niten-ryū style. His idea of swordsmanship
was recorded In the book ; „ The Book of Five Rings”.
Musashi is a
controversial figure, his early origins and life are scarcely known, however, he
came from Harima district, it is predicted he might have been born on 1582 or
1584, his father was a master of the sword, perhaps, it triggered young man to
turn to martial arts, nonetheless, the harsh discipline, and influential father,
left no choice. He attended to Hirata Shogen.
His alias Musashi was derived from the
name of the monk – [2]Musashibo Benkei. The early books and manuscripts recorded his
first duel at the age of thirteen. He has always been a lone person, he left
his home town at the age of fifteen (as well as his all belongings to his sister) –
he knew he won’t return again.
His two significant battles were at [3]Gifu Castle
and [4]Sekigahara.
The battles won him glory and prestige,
however, the traces of his activity in that time disappears. After some time he
is heard to arrive to Kyoto where he undertook a
couple of duels against Yoshioka
School. Musashi was a
great warrior and Yoshioka Seijūrō was his bitter enemy whom He defeated. After
the duel he established his name, his position, fame, perhaps.
It encouraged
others to face with him, to fight with him. Another test came soon, in 1612 when
Musashi stood against Sasaki Kojiro – who had a very scary nickname, “The Demon of the Western Provinces”.
The final end of the mutual
hatred took place at Funajima
Island. It was short and
finite with the instant death of Kojiro, he died wounded by the [5]bokken.
Musashi believed and followed “the way of
strategist”. He believed that all the strategies and virtues are learnt throughout
the lifespan. If one is devoted to a particular style of the fight, then, masters
it – until it is perfect, until one has got it under its skin.
His notions had
often a very metaphorical meaning, for instance, “ the chicken or the egg”; the
‘bulb’ which reflects the student and the ‘flower’ which stands for the
technique the student wants to master.
Bibliography
- William Scott Wilson. (2004). The Lone Samurai. Kodansha International.
- Toyota Masataka. "Niten Ki (A Chronicle of Two Heavens)", in Gorin no Sho, ed. Kamiko Tadashi, Tokyo: Tokuma-shoten, 1963
- Brant, Miyamoto Musashi; translated by Ashikaga Yoshiharu ; edited by Rosemary (2006). The Book of Five Rings: the classic text of Samurai sword strategy (null ed.). New York: Barnes & Noble
- The History of Japan, OUP, 1996
[1] The style bloomed In Edo period, the style was based on two-swords-katana and
wakizashi-kenjutsu in loose translation “ two swords as one”.
[2] He is known as a Japanese
warrior monk, harsh and very brutal. His image is very popular in modern
Japanese stories and in Japanese folk stories.
There are various legends of how
he was born; the most well-known one is as follows: his father the headmaster
of the temple shrine rape his mother – the daughter of the blacksmith. He was
always associated with the evil forces and destructive demons; so-called – the demon-child.
Since the very young age he was wandering throughout Japan, took lessons in Buddhist
monasteries. In one of the monasteries he was taught how to use naginata (なぎなた, 薙刀) which was based on traditional blade made weapon. This particular
martial art was acknowledged and accepted by nobility. He was frightening person, the tales say his
image was dreadful and fearful.
He was very tall, he was very strong, and he
was quite masculine. Seeing him made one run away. He decided to become yamabushi
– secluded, hermit, very ascetic and harsh with plans and decisions. At that time he read a lot – the books were
about various notions of Buddhism; mostly Taoism and Shinto.
He took part in
many duels; in one of them, he was defeated, the ordeal lasted two days, in the
end the gigantic Benkei was killed, he fell down off the bridge – died in
standing position; so called “ The Standing Death of Benkei” - (弁慶の立往生)
[3] The castle is situated In a
very picturesque region alongside the Nagara
River and the Mount Kinka.
Now it is a concrete structure, significantly different of what had been before
the Second World War, the true castle had been bombarded and completely
destroyed.
[4] It is a plateau where on 21st
October 1600 the important battle took place. The outcome of it gave the onset
of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The crucial victory in Edo
period.
[5] It is simple Japanese swords
used for training rather then for killing. It was made to make the fight less
painful, to lessen the wounds and abrasions. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt,
in contrary, it does, the wounds and side effects of the fight are not seen
with the naked eye, though are much more dangerous, sometimes, lethal.
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