Musashi: An Epic Novel of the Samurai Era

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The book of five rings is not a physical combat book, but a book on the strategy of warfare. The book of five rings is Musashi’s advice on preparation for battle. The lone Samurai is a book about Musashi – as much as history permits us to know. There isn’t enough information to complete a picture of Musashi. Some trivial information exists, like, Musashi having eczema. Because of this The Lone Samurai fills the gaps of Musashi’s life with Japanese history and cross-referenced works of parallel figures. Through Takuan’s guidance, Takezo transforms into Musashi, a skilled warrior who is determined to become the best swordsman in Japan. He sets out on a quest to test his skills against other warriors and gain experience. Along the way, he meets several other characters who become his allies, including Otsu, a woman who becomes his love interest. Single-Stroke Battle: Most people only get hit once. As far as major fights go, the only one where both sides only take one swing at each other is the fight between Musashi and Seijūrō.

read Vagabond or Musashi (the novel) first? Should I read Vagabond or Musashi (the novel) first?

Very Loosely Based on a True Story. The story is almost entirely a work of fiction, woven around records and legends of the historical Musashi's exploits. Most of the main cast are invented, and even the historical figures who appear are more characters based on or inspired by those people. Ever so slowly it dawns on him that following the Way of the Sword is not simply a matter of finding a target for his brute strength. Continually striving to perfect his technique, which leads him to a unique style of fighting with two swords simultaneously, he travels far and wide, challenging fighters of many disciplines, taking nature to be his ultimate and severest teacher and undergoing the rigorous training of those who follow the Way. He is supremely successful in his encounters, but in the Art of War he perceives the way of peaceful and prosperous governance and disciplines himself to be a real human being Some of his early conflicts seem contrived, but that’s part of the game. He challenges one dojo because he doubts its method of the sword, and there’s a great showdown where he takes on 15 warriors and inadvertently develops the two-sword technique for which he is best remembered today. This was originally written in serial form, and that’s a good thing early. We get a narrative payoff with enjoyable frequency throughout the first half or two-thirds. You can feel a conflict build up and then climax. There’s an episodic quality, almost as if this is a TV show. There are lots of small ones, though. Our hero, Musashi, is an “ordinary” man who has committed himself to excellence. He follows the “way of the sword,” and tries to learn from everyone he meets. The novel opens with him nearly dying after the battle that has established the shogunate once and for all. He manages to limp to recovery, and then he slowly builds his reputation.Miyamoto Musashi was the child of an era when Japan was emerging from decades of civil strife. Lured to the great Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 by the hope of becoming a samurai—without really knowing what it meant—he regains consciousness after the battle to find himself lying defeated, dazed and wounded among thousands of the dead and dying. On his way home, he commits a rash act, becomes a fugitive and brings life in his own village to a standstill—until he is captured by a weaponless Zen monk.

Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa | Goodreads

Musashi could teach his techniques and give advice, but in the end each disciple was required to assess his own strength, find his own Way, and make that Way truly his own. Here, Yoshikawa is doing something comparable. In the face of a moment all too “Modern” – Japan’s militarization leading up to World War II – he turned to the stuff of a distant past to imagine a way of recovering and celebrating lost values. If Tolkien looked to a vision of Norse mythology and a theological sense of good vs. evil, Yoshikawa looked to the way of the Samurai as a means of imagining a reinvigorated Japan. The themes the book explores focus on tradition, family, revenge and acceptance. All very grand in design but work in context of the story. Characters I hate early on become targets of pity, while characters I love turn into villains. The style reminded me of "Don Quixote" by Cervantes. An epic adventure following the main character as they travel all throughout their native lands. Musashi is full of violence and humor and can often be very deep in terms of life lessons or even Zen ideas. As Musashi learns more about the arts, he learns more about himself. In time he will use this knowledge to develop a two-sword style that was utterly new for the period. Diabolus ex Machina: After the duel at Ichijoji, Musashi and Matahachi meet up and reconcile, with Matahachi appearing to realize how foolish he's been throughout the novel. They separate, and Kojirō suddenly comes out of nowhere, lures Matahachi into a brothel, and convinces him to turn against Musashi.Combat Pragmatist: Musashi developed his technique based on what works, giving him an advantage while fighting the Yoshiokas. I have spent the last 9 months listening, on and off, to the audiobook of Musashi and I can safely say that I am glad that I didn't try a print version, for I am certain that it would have been a DNF for me.

Novel of the Samurai Era: An Epic Novel of the MusashiAn Epic Novel of the Samurai Era: An Epic Novel of the

Miyamoto Musashi was the child of an era when Japan was emerging from decades of civil strife. Lured to the great Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 by the hope of becoming a samurai—without really knowing what it meant—he regains consciousness after the battle to find himself lying defeated, dazed, and wounded among thousands of the dead and dying. On his way home, he commits a rash act, becomes a fugitive, and brings life in his own village to a standstill—until he is captured by a weaponless Zen monk. Do not sleep under a roof. Carry no money or food. Go alone to places frightening to the common brand of men. Become a criminal of purpose. Be put in jail, and extricate yourself by your own wisdom.

Plus the female characters are all either just pawns in the men's games, simple and shallow love interests or they are manipulative and bitter old crones - scheming against our honourable and virtuous male characters. As for the setting and the themes, they are definitely the strongest part of the story. Those that are interested in period Japanese culture or want to see the morals and ethics of Sun Tzu's 'The Art Of War' exemplified in a fictional epic - you will certainly find more in this book than I did. But be aware, as stated above, that there is a LOT of fluff and filler surrounding that which you are looking for. The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy's cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him.” However, he is more valuable than material history by creating his own school of two-handed combat using long (katana) and short (wakizashi) swords, which no one had done before him. The theoretical justification of this practice is the "Book of the Five Rings". Also, his frequent use of short swords as throwing weapons is considered a precursor to ninja shurikens. An expert on samurai history paints a vivid, multi-faceted portrait of feudal Japan and Miyamoto Musashi—the legendary swordsman who wrote the classic martial arts treatise, The Book of Five Rings

Musashi, The Greatest A Collection of Books About Miyamoto Musashi, The Greatest

Ever so slowly it dawns on him that following the Way of the Sword is not simply a matter of finding a target for his brute strength. Continually striving to perfect his technique, which leads him to a unique style of fighting with two swords simultaneously, he travels far and wide, challenging fighters of many disciplines, taking nature to be his ultimate and severest teacher and undergoing the rigorous training of those who follow the Way. He is supremely successful in his encounters, but in the Art of War he perceives the way of peaceful and prosperous governance and disciplines himself to be a real human being.

He declines and turns her away multiple times, not because he doesn't love her in return, rather simply because he doesn't wish for their relationship to get between him and his personal goal of mastering the sword. I first read The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, a book on the martial arts, written by the Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi around 1645. That booked then sparked my interest in the life of Miyamoto Musashi. After a short amount of research I found this book, which is a predominantly fictional tale about the life of the great Japanese Ronin Miyamoto Musashi written by Eiji Yoshikawa. It was originally released as a serial in the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, between 1935 and 1939. Which can be felt in the pacing of this novel. Which feels chapter to chapter quite episodic. The book of Five Rings, Translated by William Scott Wilson, who translated the next book, is authored by Miyamoto Musashi himself. It’s estimated the book of five rings was written in 1645. The book of five rings is separated into five books: But enough with comparing the manga with the novel; each one is a masterpiece for its own reasons. Let's delve a little further into the book and why it's such a profound piece of art. I realize the simplicity of the writing might fit the underlying Japanese values but I think it really did not reflect the complexities of the society and the characters it is trying to describe. It seems to me people in traditional Japan would have more on their mind than Miyamoto alone...