Miyamoto Musashi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Miyamoto Musashi
Portrait of Miyamoto Musashi (Edo period)
Born	Shinmen Bennosuke c. 1584 Harima Province or Mimasaka Province, Japan
Died	13 June 1645(1645-06-13) (aged 60–61) Higo Province, Japan
Native name	宮本武蔵
Other names	Niten Dōraku; Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Wezou
Residence	Japan
Style	Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū Kenjutsu (二天一流), Enmei-ryu (圓明流), (二天流)
Children	Mikinosuke (adopted) Kurōtarō (adopted) Iori (adopted) Yoemon (adopted) Daughter of unknown name
Notable students	Takemura Yoemon; Terao Magonojō; Terao Motomenosuke; Furuhashi Sōzaemon
Japanese name
Kanji	宮本 武蔵
Hiragana	みやもと むさし
Katakana	ミヤモト ムサシ
Transcriptions Romanization Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵, 1584 – 13 June 1645) was a famous Japanese swordsman, writer, and philosopher. He was also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke, or Niten Dōraku. Musashi became very famous for his special way of fighting with two swords at once.

He never lost any of his 61 duels, which is a record! People called him a Kensei, meaning a "sword-saint" of Japan. He created his own sword-fighting style called Niten Ichi-ryū. In his later years, he wrote two important books: The Book of Five Rings (五輪の書, Go Rin No Sho) and Dokkōdō (The Path of Aloneness).

The Book of Five Rings talks about his fighting style and how to use it. The Path of Aloneness shares his life's wisdom in short, wise sayings. Both books were given to his most important student, Terao Magonojō, just before Musashi died. Today, there's a training center called the Miyamoto Musashi Budokan in Japan, built to honor him.

The Miyamoto Musashi Budokan in Ōhara-chō (Mimasaka), Okayama prefecture, Japan

Biography

Early Life and Birth

It's a bit tricky to know all the details about Miyamoto Musashi's early life. Musashi himself said in his book, The Book of Five Rings, that he was born in Harima Province. Another old book about him, Niten Ki, says he was born in 1584.

Historians believe he was most likely born in Miyamoto village, in the Yoshino district of Mimasaka Province. His father, Shinmen Munisai, was also a skilled martial artist. Musashi's full name was Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu.

Growing Up

When Musashi was a baby, he had a skin condition called eczema. This affected how he looked. There's also a story that he never took a bath. This was because he didn't want to be caught off guard without his weapons.

First Big Fight

Musashi wrote in The Book of Five Rings that his first duel was when he was only 13 years old. He fought a samurai named Arima Kihei. Arima Kihei used a sword style called Kashima Shintō-ryū. Musashi won this fight.

Here's how the story goes: In 1596, Arima Kihei put out a public challenge for a duel. Musashi, being just 13, wrote his name down. Musashi's uncle, Dorin, was shocked and tried to stop the duel because Musashi was so young. But Kihei insisted.

When the duel started, Musashi charged at Kihei with a long wooden staff. Kihei attacked with a short sword. Musashi threw Kihei to the ground. While Kihei tried to get up, Musashi hit him between the eyes and defeated him.

Traveling and Duels

In 1599, when Musashi was about 15 or 16, he left his village. He left his belongings with his sister and her husband. He then spent his time traveling across Japan. During these travels, he took part in many duels to improve his skills.

Famous Duel with Sasaki Kojirō

Sasaki Kojiro (right) fights Miyamoto Musashi on the shores of Ganryū Island.

One of Musashi's most famous duels was against Sasaki Kojirō. This fight happened on April 13, 1612, when Musashi was about 30 years old. The duel took place on a small island called Ganryūjima.

Kojirō was known for using a very long sword, which people called a "laundry-drying pole." He was also famous for a quick two-stroke sword technique. Musashi, however, overslept and arrived late for the duel. Some stories say he did this on purpose to upset Kojirō.

As Musashi sailed to the island, he carved a wooden sword from one of the boat's oars. When he arrived, Kojirō was angry about the delay. Kojirō threw his sword scabbard into the sea, showing he would fight to the death. Musashi joked that Kojirō wouldn't need it again if he wasn't confident.

The two fighters circled each other. Kojirō attacked first with his famous overhead strike. Musashi jumped and swung his wooden sword. Kojirō's sword cut Musashi's headband, but Musashi's strike hit Kojirō's head, defeating him.

"Seishin Chokudo" (earnest heart, straight way) monument dedicated to Miyamoto Musashi, located in Kokura.

Later Years

Around 1633, Musashi started living with Hosokawa Tadatoshi, a powerful lord. He trained and painted during this time. In 1640, Musashi officially became a retainer (a loyal follower) of the Hosokawa lords.

In 1641, Musashi wrote a work called Hyoho Sanju Go, which means "Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy." This writing later became the basis for his famous book, The Book of Five Rings.

In 1643, Musashi moved into a cave called Reigandō to live like a hermit. He finished The Book of Five Rings there in early 1645. He also wrote Dokkōdō ("The Way of Walking Alone"), which has 21 rules for self-discipline.

Musashi passed away peacefully around June 13, 1645, at the age of 61. It is believed he died from lung cancer. He was buried on Mount Iwato.

Miyamoto Musashi, Self-portrait, Samurai, writer and artist, c. 1640

Miyamoto Musashi's grave in Ōhara-chō, province of Mimasaka

The grave-marker of Miyamoto Musashi, in present-day Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県)

Musashi's Teachings

Musashi developed a special two-sword fighting technique called niten'ichi (二天一), meaning "two heavens as one." In this style, a swordsman uses both a long sword (like a katana) and a shorter "companion sword" (like a wakizashi) at the same time.

He believed that using two hands on one sword made movements less fluid. He thought it was better to use one sword in each hand for more freedom. This technique might have been inspired by temple drummers or his own fighting experiences.

Musashi was also good at throwing weapons. He sometimes threw his short sword. Today, his sword-fighting style is known as Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū.

Musashi spent many years studying Buddhism and swordsmanship. He was also a talented artist, sculptor, and calligrapher. He even had skills in architecture. In The Book of Five Rings, he stressed that warriors should understand other skills and jobs too.

Timeline of Miyamoto Musashi's Life

Here is a timeline of important events in Miyamoto Musashi's life:

Musashi's Philosophy

Calligraphy by Musashi

In his last book, The Book of Five Rings, Musashi shared his deep thoughts about the "craft of war." He said that people live in five main ways: as gentlemen, warriors, farmers, artisans, and merchants.

Musashi believed that a true warrior should master many skills beyond just the sword. He practiced things like the tea ceremony, writing, and painting. He was a great sumi-e artist, using ink to create beautiful pictures. He also wrote about the importance of understanding Buddhism.

He often compared the skills of a warrior to those of a builder. Just as a foreman needs a plan to build a house, a strategist needs a plan for a battle. He noted that builders succeed by understanding how houses are built and how they last. This is similar to how warriors succeed by understanding the rise and fall of different areas or countries.

The Way of Strategy

Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu

Musashi's Ni-Ten Ichi Ryu style uses two swords. He believed this was helpful for both single duels and large battles. He didn't like using two hands on one sword because it made movements less free. He said, "If you hold a sword with both hands, it is difficult to wield it freely."

He also thought it was hard to use a two-handed sword while riding a horse or in crowded places. To learn his two-sword style, Musashi suggested training with two long swords, one in each hand. This would help a person get used to the movements.

Once you master two long swords, it becomes easier to use a long sword with a shorter "companion sword." Musashi taught that the main goal of his Ichi school was simply to win, no matter what weapon was used or its size.

Musashi's View on Religion

Musashi kept his religious beliefs separate from his sword fighting. In The Book of Five Rings, he wrote, "There are many ways: Confucianism, Buddhism, the ways of elegance... these things are not to be found in the way of the warrior."

However, he did not dislike the Shinto religion. He only criticized a specific sword-fighting style called Shintō-ryū. In his book Dokkōdō, he further explained his view: "Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help."

Musashi as an Artist

Shrike in a barren tree, by Miyamoto Musashi

In his later years, Musashi wrote that once you understand the principles of strategy, you don't need a teacher for any art. He proved this by creating amazing works of calligraphy and classic ink painting.

His paintings are known for their clever use of ink and simple brush strokes. He was especially good at a style called "broken ink" for landscapes. Some of his famous paintings include "Shrike Perched in a Withered Branch" and "Wild Geese Among Reeds." In The Book of Five Rings, he encouraged practicing calligraphy and other arts as a way to train for the art of war.

In Japanese and Global Culture

Miyamoto Musashi Budokan

Miyamoto Musashi Budokan located in Ōhara-chō, Mimasaka province where Miyamoto Musashi was born on March 12 of the Tenshō era.

On May 20, 2000, the Miyamoto Musashi Budokan was opened. It was built in Ōhara-Cho, where Musashi was born. Inside, you can learn about Musashi's life and journey.

This Budokan is a special training center for traditional Japanese martial arts like saber fighting and kendo. It's a place where martial arts from all over Japan come together to honor Musashi.

In Popular Culture

Even when Musashi was alive, there were fictional stories about him. This makes it hard to tell what's true and what's not. Many books, comics, and video games have been made about Musashi.

• Eiji Yoshikawa's novel about Musashi has greatly influenced how people imagine him.
• The manga Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue is also based on his life.
• In 2012, a more historically accurate manga called The Book of Five Rings: A Graphic Novel was published.
• The 2008 video game Ryū ga Gotoku Kenzan! is based on his life.
• He appears as a strong fighter in the manga Baki-Dou, using his two-sword style.
• In the video game Overwatch, the character Genji has a quote from Musashi: "You may abandon your body, but you must preserve your honor."

Gallery

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  Statue of Hosokawa Tadatoshi within Suizen-ji Jōju-en

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  Mon of the Hosokawa clan

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  Mon of Miyamoto Musashi born in Ōhara-chō province of Mimasaka

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  Mon of Tokugawa Shogunate

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  Statue of Musashi & Kojiro Battle

See also

In Spanish: Miyamoto Musashi para niños