Miyamoto Musashi Essay, Research Paper

I. Introduction

During the ancient period of Japan there existed a clip of war and power battles. There were many people who followed the Bushido codification or manner of the warrior. These people were called samurai. Of the infinite work forces who devoted their lives to the Bushido codification there were none greater than Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi was one of if non the most celebrated samurai to of all time walk the lands of medieval Japan. He was a fable in his ain clip.

II. The Life and History of Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi was born in 1584 in the small town of Miyamoto in the state of Mimasake. Musashi? s full name was Ben no suke Shimmen Genshin no Fujiwara no Kami Miyamoto Musashi Masana no Kensei. When Musashi was a kid his female parent died when he was six old ages old and his male parent abandoned the household a twelvemonth after her decease. Musashi was raised by a figure of household members and started to develop in the ways of Kendo ( fencing ) under his uncle? s counsel. Musashi proved to hold enormous endowment with a blade. He was besides really large and strong for a male child of his age. But with this strength and size came aggression. Musashi was non known a composure and mannerly young person. Rather he was considered a trouble maker and a unmanageable kid by the town seniors.

Musashi used his strength and demeanour in his first existent affaire d’honneur with a known samurai when he was 13 old ages of age. He fought against Arima Kigei from the Shinto Ryu school of Military Humanistic disciplines. Unarmed, Musashi threw the samurai to the land and beat him viciously with a stick until Arima died purging his ain blood. Musashi? s next affaire d’honneur came when he was age 16. He fought Tadashima Akiyama. Tadashima was disputing anyone who would accept his challenge to a affaire d’honneur. Musashi accepted and killed Tadashima with merely one swing of his blade.

During this clip period Japan was in a bloody civil war to unify the state. The two sides were Shogun Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Musashi joined ranks with Shogun Hideyoshi in hopes of celebrity and wealths. In one immense conflict called the conflict of Seki tabun Hara, 70 thousand samurai lost their lives in the three twenty-four hours skirmish. Tokugawa Ieyasu won the conflict and the war. A man-hunt was conducted for all samurai who swore commitment to Hideyoshi. Musashi survived both the three twenty-four hours fight and Tokugawa? s adult male Hunt.

Musashi eventually returns to his hometown of Miyamoto but was non welcomed back as a hero. The people remembered what Musashi was like as a young person. He was falsely accused of a offense but could non be captured by the locals. Musashi was excessively powerful for the people to crush. In the terminal it took merely one adult male with small conflict experience to capture him. That one adult male was a Zen priest named Takuan Soho. Legend has it that the priest captured the runaway Musashi without fall backing to force. The captured Musashi was so held at Hejime palace for three old ages.

It was here where Musashi matured and studied the ways of the samurai. He read and studied the Chinese classic The Art of War. When Musashi was eventually released he went off on his ain to further analyze the manner of the warrior and better his swordsmanship accomplishments.

Musashi? s travels brought him directly to Kyoto, the capitol of Japan. Musashi came here for a ground. He had an old blood feud to settle with the Yoshioka household. Old ages before, Musashi? s male parent, Munisai, was killed in a affaire d’honneur with the Yoshiokas. He was able to win two battles before he lost his life. Musashi blames the Yoshioka household for his male parent? s decease and challenged them to a affaire d’honneur when he arrives. He fought in three affaire d’honneurs against three brothers, Seijiro, Denshichiro, and Hanshichiro. Musashi first fought Seijiro. Musashi used a wooden blade while Seijiro used a existent 1. Seijiro? s hurts to his arm forced him to cut off it. Musashi so fought Denshichiro. The battle lasted mere proceedingss with Musashi rapidly interrupting Denshichiro? s skull. In the last battle Musashi hid and waited at the conflict sight. The last brother, Hanshichiro came to the conflict in full armour with a unit of a 100 samurai. They planed to scupper and kill Musashi. Musashi eventually appeared and killed Hanshichiro. He so made a tally for it, killing anyone who was in his manner.

Musashi was involved in 60 affaire d’honneurs during in his life-time. He won every one of them. Musashi? s most celebrated affaire d’honneur was against Sasaki Kojiro in the twelvemonth 1612. Sasaki was good known for the combat manner that he developed. It was called Tsubame-gaeshi or swallow counter. It was based on the gesture of a sup? s tail when the bird is in flight. The affaire d’honneur was to be held at 8:00 AM on an island a few stat mis off of Ogu

Ra. Musashi left the topographic point he was remaining for the dark in an attempt to play head games with his opposition, seeking to do him believe that Musashi was scared. Musashi so arrived late to the affaire d’honneur in an attempt to do Kojiro impatient and cocky. When Musashi eventually arrived he made a wooden blade from a trim oar and so fought Kojiro. Musashi was able to kill Kojiro with one Swift blow to his skull. After seeing the status that Kojiro was in, Musashi dropped his blade and walked back to his boat.

It was after this affaire d’honneur Musashi stopped of all time utilizing existent blades. He was unstoppable. No 1 could touch him. He dedicated his life to better and get the hang his technique. In 1643 Musashi settled down in a cave and pass his clip composing his book called Go Rin No Sho or A Book of Five Rings. Musashi besides created many ink pictures and sculptures that extremely valued in Japan. Musashi was given the rubric of “ Kinsei ” or Sword Saint.

III. Go Rin No Sho or The Book of Five Rings-Introduction

Musashi? s chef-d’oeuvre, The Book of Five Rings is used in about every Kendo category there is. In the Introduction of his book, Musashi gives a really brief expression at his life. Musashi? s personality is best summed up in his ain words, “ When I reached 30 I looked back on my yesteryear. Possibly it was natural ability, or the order of Eden, or that other school? s scheme was inferior. ” Musashi invented the manner of contending with two blades which was called Ni Ten Ichi Ryu. The Hagiographas that Musashi left behind are sort of like his concluding instructions to the universe of his signifier.

IV. The Ground Book

The first chapter in Musashi? s book negotiations about the rudimentss of his scheme. He compares the manner of the warrior with other humanistic disciplines like woodworking. He sets up an lineation of what each of the other books will be approximately. He talks about what sorts of arms to utilize in certain state of affairss. He gives us nine basic guidelines to populate by.

1. Make non believe venally.

2. The Way is in developing

3. Become aquatinted with every art.

4. Know the Way of all professions

5. Distinguish between addition and loss in secular affairs.

6. Develop intuitive judgement and understanding for everything.

7. Perceive those things which can non be seen.

8. Pay attending even to trifles.

9. Make nil which is of no usage.

V. The Water Book

In the 2nd chapter Musashi goes into more item about the existent combat and swordplay. He shows us the footing of different cuts and moves and when to use them in a battle. He talks about how a proper stance and footwork are critical to triumph. Musashi tells us that every cut should be swung at the same strength. He says that you should swing the same for cutting a adult male or cutting a board. Focus is the most of import thing.

VI. The Fire Book

The 3rd chapter is more about a individual? s attitude and focal point during a battle. Musashi writes, “ There is nil incorrect with the rule “ one adult male can crush 10, so a 1000 work forces can crush 10 1000. ” He writes about how to deflect and prevent your enemy. You must hold your clocking down on when to strike and when to respond. If you can scare or galvanize your opposition by shouting them do so. Your spirit is every bit of import as your accomplishments.

VII. The Wind Book

This chapter discusses other schools schemes. Musashi says that one must cognize your opposition is you are to genuinely crush him. He dislikes schools that use longer or lighter arms that use length and velocity to do up for deficiency of true accomplishment and cognition.

VIII. The Book of the Void

In the last page of his book we find the concluding chapter. Musashi tells us that there is no beginning or terminal. One can ne’er go a true maestro. There will ne’er be a clip where a individual can non better or larn something new.

IX. Decision

In decision we see merely how dicated and powerful Musashi was. We besides come to recognize how he thinks and his point of position about many things refering preparation and life. Musashi is considered one of the greatest fencers that of all time walked the face of the Earth. We were able to larn from Musashi through his book and fables.

Miyamoto, Musashi. A Book of Five Ringss

Woodstock, New York: 1974

Author Unknown. Refering the life of Miyamoto Musashi

hypertext transfer protocol: //www.samuri.com/5rings/transintro/life.html

Author Unknown. Life Of Miyamoto Musashi

hypertext transfer protocol: //www.worldconx.com/musashi-do/lifeof.html