Miyamoto Musashi
In 1584, as Japan was struggling to recover from more than
four centuries of internal war, Miyamoto Musashi, the greatest
samurai in history, was born. Musashi lived during a period of
Japanese history when the Samurai Class was formally
considered the elite, however the great provincial armies were
being disbanded and many out-of-work samurai roamed the
country with no means of livelihood. Musashi was one of these
"ronin" who found themselves living in a society based on the
old customs and traditions, but at the same time, living in a
society that no longer had a place for men of war. Many ronin
put down their swords and became artisans, but others, like
Musashi, pursued enlightenment through the perilous path of
Kendo, the Way of the Sword.
Surprisingly, Musashi did not have formal training in a
recognized style of Kendo. This was undoubtedly a major factor
in his pioneering and trademark use of two swords in combat,
one in each hand. Although the Samurai always carried two
swords, the long sword was traditionally used in combat with
both hands.
Musashi spent many years living apart from society and
devoted himself with a ferocious single-mindedness to the Way
of the Sword. He wandered Japan soaked by the bitter
coldness of winter, uncombing and uncutting his hair, rarely
bathing, and did not take a wife. He engaged in over sixty duels
before he was twenty-nine, and won them all.
According to his own writing, he came to understand strategy
when he was around fifty. Musashi wrote "When you have
attained the Way of Strategy there will be not one thing that
you cannot understand....you will see the Way in everything".
His exemplification of this is shown in his mastery of painting,
sculpture, and calligraphy, many of which are still in existence
today.
In 1643 he retired to a life of seclusion in a cave where he
wrote Go Rin No Sho, the Book of Five Rings. The book is not
a thesis on strategy, it is in Musashi's words "a guide for men
who want to learn strategy". As a guide always leads, so are
the contents always beyond the student's understanding. The
more one reads the book, the more one finds in its pages.
Japanese businessmen have used the Book of Five Rings as a
guide for business practice, making sales campaigns like
military operations. Thus, Musashi's life study is as relevant
today as it was on the medieval battleground over four hundred
years ago.
four centuries of internal war, Miyamoto Musashi, the greatest
samurai in history, was born. Musashi lived during a period of
Japanese history when the Samurai Class was formally
considered the elite, however the great provincial armies were
being disbanded and many out-of-work samurai roamed the
country with no means of livelihood. Musashi was one of these
"ronin" who found themselves living in a society based on the
old customs and traditions, but at the same time, living in a
society that no longer had a place for men of war. Many ronin
put down their swords and became artisans, but others, like
Musashi, pursued enlightenment through the perilous path of
Kendo, the Way of the Sword.
Surprisingly, Musashi did not have formal training in a
recognized style of Kendo. This was undoubtedly a major factor
in his pioneering and trademark use of two swords in combat,
one in each hand. Although the Samurai always carried two
swords, the long sword was traditionally used in combat with
both hands.
Musashi spent many years living apart from society and
devoted himself with a ferocious single-mindedness to the Way
of the Sword. He wandered Japan soaked by the bitter
coldness of winter, uncombing and uncutting his hair, rarely
bathing, and did not take a wife. He engaged in over sixty duels
before he was twenty-nine, and won them all.
According to his own writing, he came to understand strategy
when he was around fifty. Musashi wrote "When you have
attained the Way of Strategy there will be not one thing that
you cannot understand....you will see the Way in everything".
His exemplification of this is shown in his mastery of painting,
sculpture, and calligraphy, many of which are still in existence
today.
In 1643 he retired to a life of seclusion in a cave where he
wrote Go Rin No Sho, the Book of Five Rings. The book is not
a thesis on strategy, it is in Musashi's words "a guide for men
who want to learn strategy". As a guide always leads, so are
the contents always beyond the student's understanding. The
more one reads the book, the more one finds in its pages.
Japanese businessmen have used the Book of Five Rings as a
guide for business practice, making sales campaigns like
military operations. Thus, Musashi's life study is as relevant
today as it was on the medieval battleground over four hundred
years ago.
This is a fantastic book! Action,
romance, history, and philosophy all
in one package. Highly recommended
and required reading for all of us at
KUNGFUBROTHERS!
romance, history, and philosophy all
in one package. Highly recommended
and required reading for all of us at
KUNGFUBROTHERS!
There are several translations of the
Book of Five Rings, but this one is
recommended by us here at
KUNGFUBROTHERS. It's concise,
economical, and contains samples
of Musashi's artwork,
Book of Five Rings, but this one is
recommended by us here at
KUNGFUBROTHERS. It's concise,
economical, and contains samples
of Musashi's artwork,
"More than a team, we're brothers"
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