When thinking of master swordsmen, especially those linked to the history of Japan, the name of Miyamoto Musashi, founder of the Niten Ichiryu school, immediately comes to mind.
He is renowned in Japan, where, in addition to being considered the strongest swordsman, remaining undefeated, his exciting lifestyle has been immortalized in Kabuki theater, Joruri, and novels, making him a folk hero.
His autobiographical work, " The Book of Five Rings ", which he gave to his apprentice upon completion, is highly regarded by both kendo enthusiasts and those interested in philosophy, earning him international recognition.
But who was this swordsman really?
In the West, many call him a samurai or a rounin, however, the reality is that he was not a samurai, so he never became a ronin, and he is not usually called that in his homeland.
Born in 1584 in Harima Province, present-day Hyogo, Japan, little is known about his biological parents.
Adopted at an early age by the master swordsman Shinmen Muni, he devoted himself intensely to the art of the sword from childhood, although his relationship with his father was contentious: confrontations were common, even becoming violent. One notable case is when, after Shinmen mocked him about his skill with the katana, a fight broke out in which the latter, outraged, threw a knife at Musashi, who swiftly managed to dodge it, fueling his mentor's fury, who responded by throwing another knife at him.
Eventually, Musashi decided to leave his home, embarking on the path of the warrior, although details of this are scarce.
In his autobiography, he mentions that between the ages of 13 and 29, he participated in more than 60 duels, emerging victorious in every one. He was undoubtedly a young man who challenged anyone he considered strong, but apart from what is said in the book, the rest of his story remains a mystery.
Throughout his life, he became a renowned swordsman, traveling from place to place as a guest of various feudal lord families who requested his help, and dying at the age of 64.
Famous battles
He was known primarily for his confrontations with great swordsmen, but he also participated in various battles.
In 1600, during the Battle of Sekigahara, he is said to have fought in Kyushu under Kuroda Josui, known as Kuroda Kanbei in Buzen Province. In 1615, he was present at the Battle of Osaka during the Summer Siege, serving as a subordinate to Mizuno Katsunari, a vassal of the Tokugawa family, and in 1638, he joined the Kokura clan troops in attacking Hara Castle and crushing the Shimabara Rebellion.
However, details about Miyamoto Musashi's specific achievements in each battle remain unknown.
In 1640, he became a guest of the Hosokawa family, who ruled Higo Province, and at that time he began writing his Book of Five Rings. Since no historical material exists other than his books or those based on them, it is unknown whether his duels were authentic. Thus, the only battle of which details are known is his duel against Sasaki Kojirō, founder of the Ganryu school of martial arts.
Duel on Ganryu Island
The most reliable historical source is the Kokura inscription, located atop Mount Tamuke. A monument erected nine years after his death by Miyamoto Iori, his adopted son, consisting of over 1,100 kanji, details the duel with Sasaki.
While Edo period books such as Nitenki and those written by Miyamoto state that it was he who wanted to challenge Sasaki, the famous martial artist instructor of Hosokawa Tadaoki, lord of the Kokura Domain, and after receiving permission from the Domain for the duel under his supervision it was coordinated, another version has also been passed down in which Sasaki Kojiro challenged him to a duel suggesting they fight with real katanas and Miyamoto replied: "You should demonstrate your skills using a real katana. I will demonstrate my skills using a wooden sword."
The duel took place in Funashima, Shimonoseki City, on an island on the border between Nagato and Buzen provinces.
According to the manifestos, the opponents appeared at the same time at the appointed time, but the duel could not be supervised because Funashima was not part of Kokura Domain, and officials from other domains were not allowed to enter the island, making it a private confrontation. It can be said that they invaded other people's lands without permission and engaged in a dispute.
During this, Sasaki Kojiro attacked with a katana over three feet long (95–105 cm), but Musashi counterattacked with a wooden sword and knocked him down with a single blow, in one swift motion.
After this duel, the island was renamed "Ganryu Island".
His most beloved katanas
Mumei Kaneshige: Forged by Kinju during the Nanboku-cho period, although it is a “mumei” (unsigned).
The curvature is shallow for swords of that era, only 1.7 cm; more suitable for thrusting techniques than for cutting techniques.
It is his most famous katana and is said to have been used in battle against the Yoshioka clan of Kyoto.
Considering that the deeper the curvature, the closer the center of gravity is to the front, making the sword feel lighter, and considering that it was his favorite katana, it can be said that Miyamoto possessed great physical strength.
Izuminokami Fujiwara no Kaneshige : Forged by Kaneshige, a blacksmith from Musashi Province. Its handle is wrapped in layers of cowhide and horsehide, and its scabbard is chestnut brown with gilding, vermillion, and lacquer.
Miyamoto himself designed the accessories for this machine, carefully adjusting them to be practical and easy to use, based on the experience gained through his training; this demonstrates that he was a man attentive to even the smallest details.
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