Musashi

     Every country, every culture, has a hero or heroes that are bigger than life, that demonstrate unusual skills and ability.  In the earlier blogs on "national character" I mentioned some, like the great Korean naval commander Yi Soong Shin.  America is a young country, but we too have our share of "national heroes" such as Daniel Boone and Davey Crockett.  These heroes of the past are bigger than life, and no doubt some if not most of their accomplishments and deeds are somewhat embellished....sometimes very liberally!  But nevertheless, their existence, their accomplishments, for the most part are based on fact.  Both Daniel Boone and Davey Crockett were crack shots, and you can see where America's ties to gun culture got its start.  America is just too young of a country and culture to have developed a sword culture like some of the older countries.  So, whether we like it or not, we are a country with a folk culture that is strongly tied to firearms.  To deny it is foolish, like denying our own identity.  Some of us may like French wine or other European "goodies," but we are not Europeans, we must always remember that.
     The Japanese have a very strong sense of national identity.  In the blogs on Japanese "national character" I made mention of the Ako Incident, the story of the 47 Ronin.  That is indeed one of the most identifiable aspects of Japanese culture, their "national character."  But Japan does not lack in heroes or figures that are bigger than life, those who represent the very finest aspect of Japanese character or culture.  The sword in Japanese culture is much more than a gun is in our culture.  The sword, the traditional Japanese sword has an almost mystical significance in its role in Japanese culture.  Japan is a country and culture that developed sword making into an art form, and along with it, sword fighting has evolved into an incredibly sophisticated technique.  There were many great sword masters in Japan's past, but none was greater than Miyamoto Musashi.
     Miyamoto Musashi was born c1584, the exact date is unavailable.  His death, however, is accurately recorded as June 13, 1645.  Musashi, also known as Shinnen Takezo, Miyamoto Bennosuke, and by the Buddhist name of Niten Doraku (he became a Buddhist monk), was the greatest sword master Japan has ever known.  He developed a sword fighting school known as Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu (Niten ryu style), was an author of several  books on sword fighting and tactics, including the most well known The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho).  He was an accomplished artist, especially in the style of sumie, and a respected poet!
     Musashi's father was a sword master, so the young Musashi started training at the age of seven.  He was a good size kid for his age and strong, so he developed skills very quickly.  Even at that early age, he began to implement some techniques of his own.  He is said to have fought his first duel at the age of 13!  At that young age, he brashly challenged Arima Kihei of the rival sword fighting school Kashima Shinto Ryu, and defeated him!  At 16 he defeated another well known swordsman in a duel and went on to Kyoto where he fought many more duels.  It was during this time that he developed the Nitenchi sword style (two swords).  It is said that he fought in over 60 duels, all of which he won!  He died of cancer at the age of 60 or so, he did not die by the sword!
     Musashi's most famous duel was fought on Funajima Island located between Honshu and Kyushu.  He was in his 30s at the time and semi retired, preferring to live more or less as a recluse and a Buddhist monk.  However, his fame was widespread and just like in the old West in America, young "guns" were constantly seeking him out and challenging him to a duel.  Such was the case with, Sasaki Kojiro, considered the best swordsman in Japan at the time, only second to Musashi!  Sasaki, a handsome, impeccably dressed dandy was in complete contrast to Musashi who was unshaven, and nick-named saru - monkey, because he looked like one!  Sasaki challenged Musashi so Musashi picked the spot and time.....sunrise on the beach on Funajima. 
     Sasaki arrived early with his retinue and was ready, eagerly pacing the beach.  Musashi, on the other hand took his time and arrived very late.  During the long trip to the island in the row boat, Musashi fashioned a long sword from a spare oak oar in the boat.  He arrived on the island with the sun brightly shining on his back.  By this time Sasaki was furious, having waited for a long time.  On seeing Musashi get out of the boat, Sasaki rushed at him, drawing his sword.  Musashi had positioned himself in such a way that the sun was blinding Sasaki.  As Sasaki attacked, two things were at his disadvantage.  One, the sun was blinding him, and two, he couldn't recognize the fact that Musashi held a wooden sword.  When Sasaki struck, Musashi fended off the blow and the sound of metal striking wood took Sasaki completely by surprise, just enough to throw his timing off.  Musashi struck him between the eyes and killed him.  Yes, you can kill a man by striking a powerful blow with a wooden sword on the head!  Musashi had killed several of his opponents with a wooden stave or sword.
     After killing Sasaki, while his retinue stood by dumbstruck, Musashi calmly got back in the row boat and told the boat man to take him back!
     It is said that Musashi's reflexes were such that he could catch flies with chop sticks!  He developed his fly catching skills first by catching them in the air with his hand, later moving on to using chopsticks.  If indeed he could snatch flies out of the air with a pair of chop sticks, his reflexes must have been incredible!
     Miyamoto Musashi was the greatest swordsman in Japanese history.  He is revered, idolized, and studied.  His The Book of Five Rings is read not just by those interested in sword fighting, but even by businessmen who want to improve their negotiating skills!  There were many books written about him and an Academy Award winning movie, the Samurai Trilogy, was made by Hiroshi Inagaki, one of Japan's top directors.  Naturally, the movie starred Toshiro Mifune!
     During World War Two, in desperate times, Japan called upon the suicide planes, the kamikaze to defend its homeland.  The kamikaze, translated as divine wind actually should be translated as god wind.  It was the name given to the great typhoon that sank the invading Mongol fleet in the 12th Century thereby saving Japan from Mongol rule like the rest of Asia!  Also, in the time of need, Japan built two giant battleships to protect its shores.  The twin battleships, the largest ever built by anyone, were called Yamato (Japan) and Musashi!  Now some claim that the ship was named after the region (province or prefecture) called Musashi.  America named ships after states, like battleship Arizona, Missouri, etc., but not so with Japan!  Musashi was named after that great swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi.  Unfortunately for Japan, neither Yamato or Musashi played a significant role in the war, both were sunk before they could contribute to Japan's war effort.  Just for comparison....the Musashi was a 72 ton battleship.  The great German Bismark was 41 tons, the British Prince of Wales was 40 tons, and our own largest battleship, the Missouri was 43 tons!
     Glamorized movies, novels and battleships notwithstanding, Miyamoto Musashi was a great swordsman by any standards.  Even if many of the accounts of his duels and sword fighting skills were exaggerated, he was still a great, incomparable sword fighter.  Just think about it.  If he only fought half of the duels that he is said to have fought, he still would have fought and survived 30 duels!  I don't think there are many swordsmen of any country or culture who can claim that kind of a record!