Miyamoto Musashi’s Sword

Introduction

Musashi Miyamoto, the founder of the Niten Ichiryu school of swordsmanship, is the first name that comes to mind when one hears the word “master swordsman. Miyamoto Musashi is a swordsman who is well known to all Japanese. Not only was he the greatest swordsman who never lost a fight in his life, but his fiery life was often depicted in Kabuki plays, Joruri dramas, and novels even after his death, making him a popular hero. His book “The Book of Five Rings” (Gorin no Sho) has been widely read overseas and is famous not only among kendo enthusiasts but also as a book of thought. Miyamoto Musashi is the only swordsman who is known internationally. However, because his name is so widely known, it is also true that his legend has become a legend all by itself. One of the best examples of this is his duel with Sasaki Kojiro. What kind of a swordsman was Takezo Miyamoto? We will unravel his life story and discover the real image of Japan’s most famous swordsman.

What is Musashi Miyamoto’s favorite sword?

What kind of sword did the great swordsman Miyamoto Musashi use?　At the Mori Memorial Akisui Art Museum in Toyama City, we viewed the “Musashi Ryokai,” which is said to be Musashi’s favorite sword. The long, thin blade of the sword is very similar to the sword that Musashi carried in his right hand in a portrait of his later years. We were immersed in the world of the famous sword, recalling the way of life of the great swordsman.

Musashi Ryoukai” is a sword from the late Kamakura period (1185-1333), made by the Ayashikoji school, whose founder was Sadatoshi, a swordsmith based in Yamashiro Province (present-day southern Kyoto Prefecture) during the same period. It is said to have been used in a battle against the Yoshioka clan of Kyoto. It is characterized by its long blade length of 85.4 cm. It is evident that Musashi used a long sword despite the fact that in the period in which he lived, the length of swords was restricted by the Samurai Laws.

　It is difficult to master the use of a long sword unless it is accompanied by strength and skill. Inferring from the fact that modern iaido enthusiasts choose swords according to their height and muscular strength, Musashi must have been quite tall and powerful. According to curator Masashi Sawada, legend has it that Musashi was a big man, over six feet tall.

　Incidentally, the Shimada Museum of Art in Kumamoto City, which houses artifacts related to Musashi, also has a sword named “Kaneshige” that has been handed down as his favorite sword. The blade length is 70.1 cm. This is also the legendary sword he is said to have used in a battle against the Yoshioka clan.

Did Musashi, the founder of “Niten Ichiryu Hypo,” fight with the long Musashi Ryokai in his right hand and the slightly shorter Kaneshige in his left, as depicted in the portrait?　When we excitedly asked, Mr. Sawada said, “Unfortunately, the possibility that he used Musashi Ryoukai is slim.

He said, “Swords used in actual battles have to be sent out to be sharpened, because the blades would spill over. They can be broken or bent. Musashi Ryoukai does not show any “sharpened-down” condition, so it is not likely that Musashi Ryoukai was used,” said Mr. Sawada.

In addition, a sword that has been through actual battle bears countless scars. According to Mr. Sawada, the scars on the peak are difficult to repair and are left as “honor scars” on purpose. He says that the scars are a mark of honor for the samurai, and they are also meant to prove the strength of the sword. However, there are no such scars on Musashi Ryoukai.

His battle with the Yoshioka clan has been depicted as a major climax in novels, movies, and TV dramas, and one theory is that he fought hundreds of armed students. However, it took place when Musashi was in his 20s, and he survived into his 60s, so he must have had many swords in his hands after that. Both Musashi Ryokai and Kinju would have been Musashi’s favorite swords, but it is not certain whether they passed through the legendary battle or not. I am rather skeptical, but it seems that we should appreciate them with our imagination as historical romance …….

　Did Musashi manipulate the long Musashi Ryoukai with one hand?　Mr. Sawada answered this question by unraveling Musashi’s book “The Book of Five Rings.

He teaches us to use weapons without wasting time, but he also recommends that we “hold two swords” as a form of training. If one sword is held in both hands, the muscular strength of the other is strengthened, so that when one sword is held in both hands, it can be manipulated at will. It is unlikely that he actually fought with two swords in his left and right hands,” Sawada said.

To this day, the legend of Musashi, the great swordsman, is all that remains of him, and his life-size form remains shrouded in mystery. The “Book of Five Rings” was written in his later years, and only the image of Musashi as an aged man is known. The image of Musashi as a young man and as a mature man is based on the atmosphere of actors who played the leading roles in dramas and movies, and on the image of the manga “Vagabond” (published by Takehiko Inoue, Kodansha).

Musashi Ryoukai is slender and graceful, unlike the image of a “swordsman. On the other hand, it is interesting that it is also a difficult sword to handle. Swords connect us, the viewers, to the historical figures who possessed them,” says Sawada.

Why don’t you face Musashi Ryoukai and develop your image of Musashi’s life?

Mumeikanesige

This ancient sword is said to have been struck in the early period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

It is believed to have been made by Kinshige, the founder of Seki swordsmithing.

It is said to have been made by Kinshige, the founder of Seki swordsmithing.

The blade length is about 70 cm, and the warp is 1.7 cm, which is very good for a sword of the Nanbokucho period.

It is characterized by the fact that there is almost no warpage.

However, the unmarked kinshige was originally a long sword that was polished to make it shorter.

It is called “oma-osuriage,” which means that the sword is polished so short that no inscription remains on it.

It is possible that the name of the sword was engraved before it was polished.

This sword is said to have been used during a battle against the Yoshioka clan, a military family in Kyoto.

There is another sword that is said to have been used in a battle against the Yoshioka Ichimon, which will be introduced in more detail later.

This sword is called Ryoukai Ryoukai and is longer than the unmarked Kinshige sword.

「Izuminokami」 Fujiwara Kanesige

Izumimamori Fujiwara Kaneshige” is a swordsmith from Musashi Province in the Edo period.

The blade length is 2 shaku 7 sun (81.5 cm), and the total length of this long sword is 117.5 cm.

It is said to have been Miyamoto Musashi’s favorite sword, and the sword’s preparation is said to have been made by Musashi himself.

The sword is said to be Miyamoto Musashi’s favorite sword, and it is said that Musashi himself made the sword’s preparation.

The scabbard is lacquered in chestnut-colored gold with a red Urumi lacquer, and the handle is wrapped in layers of cowhide.

The handle is made of overlapping layers of cow horsehide, the tsuba is made of sea squirt watermark, and the menuki is made of bee’s knees.

For this reason, this sword is also called the “Musashi” type.

It is confirmed that the sword was in Kumamoto before the war.

Unfortunately, its whereabouts are now unknown.

Since he made his own workmanship, he must have been very attached to the sword.

It is a pity that we cannot see the real one.

Musashi Ryokai

Musashi Ryoukai” is a sword from the late Kamakura period (1185-1333), made by the Ayashikoji school, whose founder was Sadatoshi, a swordsmith based in Yamashiro Province (present-day southern Kyoto Prefecture) during the same period. It is said to have been used in a battle against the Yoshioka clan of Kyoto. It is characterized by its long blade length of 85.4 cm. It is evident that Musashi used a long sword despite the fact that in the period in which he lived, the length of swords was restricted by the Samurai Laws.

　It is difficult to master the use of a long sword unless it is accompanied by strength and skill. Inferring from the fact that modern iaido enthusiasts choose swords according to their height and muscular strength, Musashi must have been quite tall and powerful. According to curator Masashi Sawada, legend has it that Musashi was a big man, over six feet tall.

　Incidentally, the Shimada Museum of Art in Kumamoto City, which houses artifacts related to Musashi, also has a sword named “Kaneshige” that has been handed down as his favorite sword. The blade length is 70.1 cm. This is also the legendary sword he is said to have used in a battle against the Yoshioka clan.

Did Musashi, the founder of “Niten Ichiryu Hypo,” fight with the long Musashi Ryokai in his right hand and the slightly shorter Kaneshige in his left, as depicted in the portrait?　When we excitedly asked, Mr. Sawada said, “Unfortunately, the possibility that he used Musashi Ryoukai is slim.

He said, “Swords used in actual battles have to be sent out to be sharpened, because the blades would spill over. They can be broken or bent. Musashi Ryoukai does not show any “sharpened-down” condition, so it is not likely that Musashi Ryoukai was used,” said Mr. Sawada.

Also, a sword that has been through actual battle will have countless scratches. According to Mr. Sawada, the scars on the peak are difficult to repair and are left as “honor scars” on purpose. He says that the scars are a mark of honor for the samurai, and they are also meant to prove the strength of the sword. However, there are no such scars on Musashi Ryoukai.

The legend of Musashi Miyamoto is a mystery.

Never lost a match in his life!

A wild child who ran away from home because of a conflict with his father

Miyamoto Musashi was born in 1584 in Harima Province (present-day southwestern Hyogo Prefecture).

Although there are various theories about his father, it is said that he was adopted at an early age by the great swordsman Shinmen Muni, and at the age of 13 he began serious training in swordsmanship, but he and Shinmen Muni clashed with each other on occasion.

According to one story, one time Shinmen Muji was sharpening a toothpick and Shinmen Muji mocked him for his swordsmanship, causing an altercation. At that time, Shinmen Muji was furious and threw a small sword at Musashi Miyamoto, who dodged it with ease. When Miyamoto Musashi dodged it, he became even angrier and threw another small sword at him. The two had often gotten into excessive fights between father and son.

After he left his parents’ house, he trained as a warrior and became famous as a swordsman, moving from place to place as a guest of a feudal lord’s family. Although the details of Miyamoto Musashi’s military career are not known, according to the “Book of Five Rings,” he fought more than 60 duels between the ages of 13 and 29, and won all of them. He was a wild man who took on strong opponents at random.

He often served in famous battles!

Although Musashi Miyamoto tends to be highlighted only in connection with his battles with great swordsmen, he often served in battles as well. First, in 1600, during the Battle of Sekigahara, he is said to have followed Kuroda Josui (a.k.a. Kuroda Kanpei) of Buzen Province (present-day eastern Fukuoka Prefecture) and fought in Kyushu.

In 1615, he served under Katsunari Mizuno, a member of the Tokugawa family, in the “Osaka Summer Campaign. In 1638, he joined the forces of the Ogura Clan and attacked Hara Castle (Minamishimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture) in order to quell the “Shimabara Rebellion. However, the credit for Musashi Miyamoto’s success in each of these battles is not known.

In fact, no one has ever seen his swordsmanship!

His swordsmanship skills were recognized, and in 1640 he became a guest of the Hosokawa family, which ruled Higo Province (present-day Kumamoto Prefecture).

At this time, he drafted the famous “Gorinsho” (The Book of Five Rings). After completing it, he handed it over to his disciple and died at the age of 64.

The Book of Five Rings, however, states that he was undefeated more than 60 times, but the rest is a mystery. In fact, many of the dueling events that have been handed down to posterity are not known to be true.

All of them were influenced by the famous book “Musashi Miyamoto” by Eiji Yoshikawa, which became a big hit in the early Showa period (1926-1989), and the fights with the Yoshioka clan, including “Seijuro Yoshioka” in Kyoto, and the fierce battle with “Hozoin Inshun” (Hozoin Inshun) were described in a cool manner, creating the current image of Musashi Miyamoto The current image of Musashi Miyamoto was created.

However, Eiji Kikkawa’s book is based on “Bukouden” written 110 years after Musashi Miyamoto’s death and “Nitenki” based on the same book, which is hardly true. In some cases, it is not even clear whether or not the duel actually took place. The only one for which details are known is the battle with Sasaki Kojiro, who founded the “Iwaryu” school of swordsmanship.

Different from the image! What is the real “Duel on Ganryu Island”?

The most authentic “Kokura Inscription” (Kokura Hibun)

A good historical source for understanding the true face of Muso Miyamoto is the “Kokura Hibun” (inscription) on the top of Mt.

The monument was erected by Miyamoto Musashi’s adopted son, Miyamoto Iori , nine years after the death of his adoptive father, and consists of over 1,100 Chinese characters. Of the multiple references to Musashi Miyamoto’s duels, the most specific is the one with Kojiro Sasaki.

It was Sasaki Kojiro who proposed the duel. He proposed to fight with a serious sword, but Musashi Miyamoto said, “It would be better for you to use a serious sword and use it to the utmost of your skill. I will use my wooden sword to do my best.

The duel took place on Funashima (Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture) on the border of Nagato Province (present-day northwestern Yamaguchi Prefecture) and Buzen Province (present-day eastern Fukuoka Prefecture). The two warriors appeared simultaneously at the appointed time. The famous scene in the “Battle of Ganryujima” in which Musashi Miyamoto appears late and exclaims, “Kojiro, you have been defeated,” is a fiction.

Kojiro Sasaki attacked Musashi with a Japanese sword measuring over three feet (95-105 cm), but Musashi responded with a wooden sword and defeated him with a single blow. It was truly a lightning-fast attack. After this duel, the island came to be known as “Ganryujima.

The Duel at Ganryu Island, which was actually nothing more than a private fight

According to Niten-ki written in the Edo period (1603-1867) and Eiji Yoshikawa’s famous book “Miyamoto Musashi,” Musashi Miyamoto wished to fight with Kojiro Sasaki, an instructor of Tadaoki Hosokawa, the lord of the Ogura domain, and with the permission of the lord, the fight was held in the presence of the Ogura domain inspector.

However, Funashima was not the domain of the Ogura domain at that time, and it was impossible for officials from other domains to enter the island. In other words, the duel at Ganryujima was merely a private fight between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro. The fact is that they invaded someone else’s land without permission and fought each other.

Duel with the Yoshioka clan

His battle with the Yoshioka clan has been depicted as a major climax in novels, movies, and TV dramas, and one theory is that he fought hundreds of armed students. However, it took place when Musashi was in his 20s, and he survived into his 60s, so he must have had many swords in his hands after that. Both Musashi Ryokai and Kinju would have been Musashi’s favorite swords, but it is not certain whether they passed through the legendary battle or not. I am rather skeptical, but it seems that we should appreciate them with our imagination as historical romance. ……

A title featuring Miyamoto Musashi

One of the titles featuring Miyamoto Musashi is “Miyamoto Musashi”.Also available on SAMURAI VS NINJA！