Miyamoto Musashi

In thisJapanese name,thesurnameisMiyamoto.

Miyamoto Musashi(Cung bổn võ tàng,c. 1584– 13 June 1645),was a Japaneseswordsman,strategist, artist, and writer who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 62 duels (next is 33 byItō Ittōsai).Miyamoto is considered akensei(sword saint) of Japan.He was the founder of theNiten Ichi-ryū,or Nito Ichi-ryū, style of swordsmanship, and in his final years authoredThe Book of Five Rings(Năm luân の thư,Go Rin No Sho)andDokkōdō( độc hành nói,The Path of Aloneness).

Miyamoto Musashi
Contemporaneous portrait of Miyamoto Musashi (Edo period)
Born	Shinmen Bennosuke c. 1584 Harima ProvinceorMimasaka Province,Japan
Died	13 June 1645(1645-06-13)(aged 60–61) Higo Province,Japan
Native name	Cung bổn võ tàng
Other names	Niten Dōraku; Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu
Residence	Japan
Style	Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryūKenjutsu( hai ngày nhất lưu ), Enmei-ryu ( viên minh lưu ), ( hai ngày lưu )
Other information
Children	Mikinosuke(adopted) Kurōtarō (adopted) Iori(adopted) Yoemon(adopted)
Notable students	Takemura Yoemon;Terao Magonojō;Terao Motomenosuke;Furuhashi Sōzaemon
Japanese name
Kanji	Cung bổn võ tàng
Transcriptions Romanization Miyamoto Musashi

Both documents were given toTerao Magonojō,the most important of Miyamoto's students, seven days before Musashi's death.The Book of Five Ringsdeals primarily with the character of his Niten Ichi-ryū school in a concrete sense, i.e., his own practical martial art and its generic significance;The Path of Aloneness,on the other hand, deals with the ideas that lie behind it, as well as his life's philosophy in a few short aphoristic sentences.

It is believed that Miyamoto was a friend of aTokugawa shogunategeneral namedMizuno Katsunariand fought together with him in theBattle of Sekigahara,Siege of Osaka,andShimabara Rebellionas part of the Tokugawa army.

TheMiyamoto Musashi Budokantraining center, located inŌhara-chō(Mimasaka),Okayama Prefecture,Japan was erected to honor his name and legend.

Biography

The details of Miyamoto Musashi's early life are difficult to verify. Musashi himself simply states inThe Book of Five Ringsthat he was born inHarima Province.Niten Ki(an early biography of Musashi) supports the assertion that Musashi was born in 1584: "[He] was born inBanshū,in Tenshō 12 [1584], the Year of the Monkey. "The historian Kamiko Tadashi, commenting on Musashi's text, notes: "Munisai was Musashi's father... he lived in Miyamoto village, in the Yoshino district [ofMimasaka Province]. Musashi was most probably born here. "

Musashi gives his full name and title inThe Book of Five RingsasShinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu( tân miễn võ tàng thủ đằng nguyên huyền tin ).His father,Shinmen Munisai( tân miễn vô nhị trai ) was an accomplished martial artist and master of the sword andjutte(alsojitte).Munisai, in turn, was the son of Hirata Shōgen ( bình điền đem giam ), a vassal of ShinmenIga no Kami,the lord ofTakayama Castlein the Yoshino district of Mimasaka Province.Hirata was relied upon by Lord Shinmen and so was allowed to use the Shinmen name. "Fujiwara"was the lineage from which Musashi claimed descent.

Musashi'seczemadeveloped in his infancy, and this adversely affected his appearance.Another story claims that he never bathed himself because he did not want to be surprised unarmed.

According toGo Rin No Sho,Musashi testified that his first duel occurred when he was still 13 years old, against a swordsman named Arima Kihei who practicedKashima Shintō-ryūmartial arts that were created byTsukahara Bokuden;Musashi was victorious. The second duel happened when Musashi was 16 years old, when he won another victory against a swordsman namedTadashima Akiyama,a native ofTajima Province.His third duel came when he was aged 21, inKyoto,where he defeated several students of a famous sword fighting school.

Travels 1599-1613

In 1599, Musashi left his village, apparently at the age of 15 (according to theTosakushi,"The Registry of the Sakushu Region", although theTanji Hokin Hikkisays he was 16 years old in 1599, which agrees time-wise with the age reported in Musashi's first duel).His family possessions such as furniture, weapons, genealogy, and other records were left with his sister and her husband, Hirao Yoemon. He spent his timetraveling and engaging in duels.

In 1600, Musashi is said to have participated in theBattle of Sekigahara.For a long time, the prevailing opinion has been that Musashi participated in the Sekigahara battle on the Western Army side due to the fact that Shinmen clan was longtime vassal to theUkita clan.However, recent research by modern Japanese historians such as Masahide Fukuda and Watanabe Daimon about Musashi has opined that Musashi and his father, Shinmen Munisai, actually sided with The Eastern army during the war, based on the historical records that Munisai no longer served the Ukita clan, and the clan records ofKuroda clan,ally of Tokugawa Ieyasu during the war, had recorded the name of Shinmen Munisai among their vassals who participated in the war.Daimon, who quoted the"Matsui clan Document",has opined that the notion that Musashi fought on the losing side of Western Army, both in Sekigahara and in Osaka siege 14 years later, were only based on legendary romanticism about Musashi being a ronin. While the primary history records indicated that Musashi always fought on the side of Tokugawa, who emerged victorious in both conflicts.The main issue debated, was if Musashi fought in the Sekigahara battle with the Eastern Army main forces, under Tokugawa, or did he fight in Ishigakibaru of western province theater under the Eastern Army commander Kuroda Yoshitaka.Daimon more leaned to the opinion that Musashi fought in Ishigakibaru instead of Sekigahara, by historical record of "The Transmission of Military Art to Master Bushu Genshin"Meanwhile, Fukuda has pointed out that the name of Munisai appeared in Kuroda clan record under the category of "Kogofudai",or Kuroda clan vassals who had entered service before 1586. Based on this fact, Fukuda concluded it was natural that Munisai and Musashi were on the Tokugawa side during the war, just as the Kuroda clan which they served.

Furthermore, Japanese History novelist Kengo Tominaga proposed a theory that Musashi during theSekigahara Campaigndid not fight in the main battle of Sekigahara, but instead he fought underKuroda YoshitakaagainstIshida Mitsunariloyalists from the western provinces in the battle of Ishigakibaru,Ōita Prefecture.

In December 1608, It was reported that Musashi met with Mizuno Katsunari, a Tokugawa general. Musashi taught Katsunari the secret techniques of his swordstyle.

Sasaki Kojiro, right, engages Miyamoto Musashi on the shores of Ganryū Island.

In 1611, Musashi learnedzazenatMyōshin-jiKyūshūafter the Sekigahara battle. Musashi introduced toNagaoka Sadoan official of daimyo lord namedHosokawa Tadaoki.At sometimes in unclear circumstances, Musashi was challenged to a duel by a swordsman namedSasaki Kojirō.Musashi agreed to the challenge, and it was scheduled for them to fight on one year later, on 13 April, at Ganryūjima Island. When the date arrived, the island was filled with spectators intending to spectate the duel. Kojirō was known for fighting with anodachi,a sword with a long blade.

Musashi, it is said, deliberately arrived late. During his journey to the island by boat, he had carved anoarinto abokken,or wooden practice sword. Kojirō had lost his patience while waiting, and he taunted Musashi for his late arrival, though the latter remained composed.The duel ended when Musashi quickly and fatally struck Kojirō, crushing his skull with a vertical stroke aimed to his head.

Serving under Shogunate army

In 1614, during theSiege of Osaka,it was believed that Musashi participated in Tokugawa army under the command of Musashi's personal friend,Mizuno Katsushigeor also known as Katsunari. Musashi were reportedly carrying the banner of Katsunari,and also acted as bodyguard of Mizuno Katsutoshi, son of Katsunari.It was said in a later era, during the Shimabara Rebellion, that Musashi once told a commander of the Tokugawa army that he had served under Mizuno Katsunari's command during the Osaka siege and knew the military system very well.Miyamoto Mikinosuke,the adopted son of Musashi, also served under Katsunari during this battle.

In 1633, Musashi began staying withHosokawa Tadatoshi,daimyōofKumamoto Castle,who had moved to theKumamotofief and Kokura, to train and paint.While he engaged in very few duels during this period, one occurred in 1634 at the arrangement of Lord Ogasawara, in which Musashi defeated a lance specialist namedTakada Matabei.Musashi officially became the retainer of the Hosokawa lords of Kumamoto in 1640. TheNiten Kirecords "[he] received from Lord Tadatoshi: 17 retainers, a stipend of 300koku,the rank ofōkumigashiraĐại tổ đầu, and Chiba Castle in Kumamoto as his residence. "

Miyamoto Musashi's grave inŌhara-chō,province of Mimasaka

In 1638, Musashi allegedly participated in the suppression ofShimabara Rebellion.InMunekyu (Katsunari)-samajournal, which is a collection of things that Katsunari Mizuno said after his retirement in 1639, there is a story about Mizuno's army during the Shimabara Rebellion, where a man named Miyamoto Musashi entered the camp of general Ogasawara Nagatsugu, and Musashi has said, "Last time (In Siege of Osaka), (Mizuno Katsunari) Hyuga-no-Kamidono's clan had this, and i knew the military system very well. "Musashi continues by saying, "He is a great general that no one can match."

Later life

In the second month of 1641, Musashi wrote a work called theHyoho Sanju Go( "Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy" ) forHosokawa Tadatoshi.This work overlapped and formed the basis for the laterThe Book of Five Rings.This was the year that his adopted son,Hirao Yoemon,became Master of Arms for the Owari fief. In 1642, Musashi suffered attacks ofneuralgia,foreshadowing his future ill-health.

Reigandōcave inKumamoto,Japan

In 1643 he retired to a cave namedReigandōas a hermit to writeThe Book of Five Rings.He finished it in the second month of 1645. On the twelfth of the fifth month, sensing his impending death, Musashi bequeathed his worldly possessions, after giving his manuscript copy ofThe Book of Five Ringsto the younger brother of Terao Magonojo, his closest disciple. He died in Reigandō cave around 13 June 1645 (Shōhō2, 19th day of the 5th month). TheHyoho senshi denkidescribed his death:

At the moment of his death, he had himself raised up. He had his belt tightened and his wakizashi put in it. He seated himself with one knee vertically raised, holding the sword with his left hand and a cane in his right hand. He died in this posture, at the age of sixty-two. The principal vassals of Lord Hosokawa and the other officers gathered, and they painstakingly carried out the ceremony. Then they set up a tomb on Mount Iwato on the order of the lord.

Miyamoto Musashi died in 1645 after allegedly suffering from lung cancer.

Timeline

The following timeline of Musashi biography in chronological order (of which is based on the most accurate and most widely accepted information).

Date	Age	Occurrence
1578	−6	Musashi's brother, Shirota, is born.
1584	0	Miyamoto Musashi is born.
1591	6–7	Musashi is taken and raised by his uncle as aBuddhist.
1596	11–12	Musashi duels with Arima Kihei in Hirafuku,Hyōgo Prefecture.
1599	14–15	Duels with a man namedTadashima Akiyamain the northern part ofHyōgo Prefecture.
1600	16	Believed to have fought in theBattle of Sekigahara(21 October) as part of the Western army. However, recent researches has suggested he was on the Eastern army along with his father. Whether he actually participated in the battle is currently in doubt.
1604	19–20	Musashi has three matches with the Yoshioka clan inKyoto. (1) Match with Yoshioka Seijuro inYamashiro Province,outside the city at Rendai Moor (west of Mt. Funaoka,Kita-ku, Kyoto). (2) Match with Yoshioka Denshichiro outside the city. (3) Match with Yoshioka Matashichiro outside the city at the pine ofIchijō-ji.
		VisitsKōfuku-ji,Naraand ends up dueling with Okuzōin Dōei, the Buddhist priest trained in the style ofHōzōin-ryū.
1605–1612	20–28	Begins to travel again.
1607	22–23	Munisai (Musashi's father) passes his teachings onto Musashi.
		Duels with thekusarigamaexpertShishidoin the western part ofMie Prefecture.
1608	23–24	DuelsMusō Gonnosuke,master of the five-foot staff inEdo.
1610	25–26	Fights Hayashi Osedo and Tsujikaze Tenma inEdo.
1611	26–27	Begins practicingzazenmeditation.
1612	28	Duel withSasaki Kojirōtakes place on 13 April, onGanryū-jimaoff the coast ofShimonosekiin which Kojiro is defeated.
		Briefly opens afencingschool.
1614–1615	30–31	Believed to have joined the troops ofTokugawa Ieyasuin theWinter and Summer campaigns,under the command ofMizuno Katsushige(8 November 1614 – 15 June 1615) atOsaka Castle,but no significant contributions are documented.
1615–1621	30–37	Comes into the service of Ogasawara Tadanao inHarima Provinceas a construction supervisor.
1621	36–37	DuelsMiyake GunbeiinTatsuno, Hyōgo.
1622	37–38	Sets up temporary residence at thecastle townofHimeji, Hyōgo.
1623	38–39	Travels toEdo.
		Adopts a son namedIori.
1626	41–42	Adopted sonMikinosukecommitsseppukufollowing in the tradition ofJunshi.
1627	42–43	Travels again.
1628	43–44	Meets withYagyū HyōgonosukeinNagoya,Owari Province.
1630	45–46	Enters the service of LordHosokawa Tadatoshi.
1633	48–49	Begins to extensively practice the arts.
1634	49–50	Settles inKokura,Fukuoka Prefecturefor a short time with son Iori as a guest ofOgasawara Tadazane.
1637–1638	53–54	Serves a major role in theShimabara Rebellion(17 December 1637 – 15 April 1638) and is the only documented evidence that Musashi served in battle. Was knocked off his horse by a rock thrown by one of the peasants.
1641	56–57	WritesHyoho Sanju-go.
1642	57–58	Suffers severe attacks fromneuralgia.
1643	58–59	Migrates intoReigandōwhere he lives as ahermit.
1645	61	FinishesGo Rin No Sho/The Book of Five Rings.Dies from what is believed to be lung cancer.

Personal life

It was said that Musashi practiced the way of the warrior and warfare strategy, which entailed the mastery of many art forms beyond that of the sword, such as tea ceremony (sadō), laboring, writing, and painting, all of which Musashi pursued throughout his life.

Writings on Musashi's life rarely mention his relationship with women, and often when they do, Musashi is regularly depicted as rejecting sexual advances in favor of focusing on his swordsmanship.Alternative interpretations have taken his lack of interest as an indication of homosexuality.In contrast, many legends feature Musashi in trysts with women, some of which also reflect the view that he eventually chose to forego physical or emotional investments to attain further insight into his work.

This predominant cultural view of Musashi is somewhat contradicted by old texts such asDobo goen(1720) which relay his intimacy with the courtesan Kumoi in his middle age.TheBushu Denraikidetails Musashi fathering a daughter by a courtesan. It is uncertain if this courtesan and Kumoi were the same person.A rumor also connected Musashi with theoiranYoshino Tayu.

Calligraphyby Musashi

Niten Ichi Ryu

Main article:Niten Ichi-ryū

Musashi created and refined a two-swordkenjutsutechnique calledniten'ichi( hai ngày một, "two heavens as one" ) ornitōichi( nhị đao một, "two swords as one" ) or 'Niten Ichi-ryū' (A Kongen Buddhist Sutra refers to the two heavens as the two guardians ofBuddha). In this technique, the swordsman usesbotha large sword, and a "companion sword" at the same time, i.e. akatanawith awakizashi.

The two-handed movements of temple drummers may have inspired him, although it could be that the technique was forged through Musashi's combat experience.Jittetechniques were taught to him by his father—thejittewas often used in battle paired with a sword; thejittewould parry and neutralize the weapon of the enemy while the sword struck or the practitioner grappled with the enemy. Today Musashi's style of swordsmanship is known asHyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū.

Musashi was also an expert in throwing weapons. He frequently threw his short sword, andKenji Tokitsubelieves thatshurikenmethods for the wakizashi were the Niten Ichi Ryu's secret techniques.

Within the book, Musashi mentions that the use of two swords within strategy is equally beneficial to those who use the skill for individual duels or large engagements. The idea of using two hands for a sword is an idea that Musashi opposes because there is no fluidity in movement with two hands: "If you hold a sword with both hands, it is difficult to wield it freely to left and right, so my method is to carry the sword in one hand." He also disagrees with the idea of using a sword with two hands on a horse and/or riding on unstable terrain, such as muddy swamps, rice fields, or within crowds of people.

To learn the strategy of Ni-Ten Ichi Ryū, Musashi asserts that by training with two long swords, one in each hand, one will be able to overcome the cumbersome nature of using a sword in both hands. Although it is difficult, Musashi agrees that there are times in which the long sword must be used with two hands, but one skillful enough should not need it.

After using two long swords proficiently enough, mastery of a long sword, and a "companion sword", most likely a wakizashi, will be much increased: "When you become used to wielding the long sword, you will gain the power of the Way and wield the sword well."

In short, it could be seen, from the excerpts fromThe Book of Five Rings,that real strategy behind Ni-Ten No Ichi Ryu, is that there is no real iron-clad method, path, or type of weaponry specific to the style of Ni-Ten No Ichi Ryu:

You can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size.

Religion

Even from an early age, Musashi separated his religion from his involvement in swordsmanship. Excerpts such as the one below, fromThe Book of Five Rings,demonstrate a philosophy that is thought to have stayed with him throughout his life:

There are many ways: Confucianism, Buddhism, the ways of elegance, rice-planting, or dance; these things are not to be found in the way of the warrior.

However, the belief that Musashi dislikedShintois inaccurate, as he criticises theShintō-ryūstyle of swordsmanship, not Shinto, the religion. In Musashi'sDokkōdō,his stance on religion is further elucidated: "Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help."

As an artist

Shrike in a barren tree,by Miyamoto Musashi

In his later years, Musashi said in hisThe Book of Five Rings:"When I apply the principle of strategy to the ways of different arts and crafts, I no longer have need for a teacher in any domain." He proved this by creating recognized masterpieces ofcalligraphyand classicink painting.His paintings are characterized by skilled use ofink washesand an economy of brush stroke. He especially mastered the "broken ink" school of landscapes, applying it to other subjects, such as hisKobokumeikakuzu( "ShrikePerched on a Withered Branch "; part of atriptychwhose other two members were "HoteiWalking "and" Sparrow on Bamboo "), hisHotei Watching a Cockfight,and hisRozanzu( "Wild Geese Among Reeds" ). The Book of Five Rings advocates involvement in calligraphy and other arts as a means of training in the art of war.

Musashi also known as talentedsumi-ewho produced several paintings such as: "Shrike Perched in a Dead Tree" (Koboku Meigekizu,Khô mộc minh quyết đồ ) and "Wild Geese Among Reeds" (Rozanzu,Lỗ sơn đồ ).

In Japanese and global culture

Miyamoto Musashi Budokan

Further information:Miyamoto Musashi Budokan

TheMiyamoto Musashi BudokaninŌhara-chō(Mimasaka),Okayama Prefecture,Japan

On 20 May 2000, at the initiative of Sensei Tadashi ChiharatheMiyamoto Musashi Budokanwas inaugurated.It was built inŌhara-Choin theprovince of Mimasaka,the birthplace of thesamurai.Inside the building, the life and journey of Miyamoto Musashi are remembered everywhere. Dedicated to martial arts, the Budokan is the source for all of Japan's official traditional saber andkendoschools. Practically, historically and culturally it is a junction for martial disciplines in the heart of traditional Japan dedicated to Musashi.

The inauguration of the Miyamoto Musashi Budokan perpetuated the twinning established on 4 March 1999, between the inhabitants of Ōhara-Chō (Japanese province of Mimasaka) and the inhabitants ofGleizé.It was formalized in the presence of Sensei Tadashi Chihara, guarantor and tenth in the lineage of Miyamoto Musashi carrying a mandate from the mayor of Ōhara-Chō, and in the presence of the mayor of GleizéÉlisabeth Lamure.This event was extended during the mandate of the new mayor of Ōhara-Chō Fukuda Yoshiaki, by the official invitation from Japan and the consequent visit of the mayor of Gleizé for the inauguration of the Miyamoto Musashi Budokan on 10 May 2000, in the presence of personalities and Japanese authorities.

Monuments

• 
  Memorial Lyon-Japan Japan-France Heiho Niten Ichi Ryu (Gleizé).
• 
  Memorial Lyon-Japan Japan-France Heiho Niten Ichi Ryu (Jarnioux).

In popular culture

Further information:Miyamoto Musashi in fiction

In Musashi's time, there were fictional texts resembling comic books and it is difficult to separate fact from fiction when discussing his life. There have been works of fiction made about or featuring Musashi.Eiji Yoshikawa'snovelization(originally a 1930s daily newspaper serial) has greatly influenced successive fictional depictions (including themangaVagabondbyTakehiko Inoue) and is often mistaken for a factual account of Musashi's life. In 2012, writerSean Michael Wilsonand Japanese artist Chie Kutsuwada published an attempt at a more historically accurate manga entitledThe Book of Five Rings: A Graphic Novel,based on research and translations by William Scott Wilson.

Onimusha,a video game series byCapcom,features Musashi as a secret playable character inOnimusha Blade Warriors,2026's Onimusha: Way of the Sword will also see him returning as the lead character, with his likeness modelled after actor Toshiro Mifune.

The 1994 video gameLive A Liveand its 2022 remake feature Musashi as a Boss in the game's Twilight of Edo Japan chapter.

The 2008 video gameRyū ga Gotoku Kenzan!was based on his life and personality.

He also appeared in the mangaBaki the Grappleras a revived clone of himself with his real soul intact as one of the strongest fighters in the series, and used his two-sword style in most combat in which he was shown.

The card gameMagic: The Gatheringhas a card based on him, Isshin, Two Heavens as One, named for his two swords as one technique.

In the 2017 video gameFor Honor,the "Aramusha" hero is loosely inspired by Musashi. The character is a ronin who wields two swords.

The 2023 animeOnimushawas based loosely on the video game franchise of the same name and produced by Netflix. The series portrays a fictional version of an aging Musashi who embarks on a journey to defeat supernatural forces of evil using the Oni Gauntlet.

In Japanese live action seriesKamen Rider Ghost,Musashi is the first of many Luminary Eyecons that Takeru Tenkuuji uses asKamen Rider Ghost.

The song "Sun and Steel" by heavy metal bandIron Maidenoff the albumPiece of Mindis based on Miyamoto's life.

Gallery

• 
  "Miyamoto Musashi on the banks of the Isagawa in Kawachi Province meets a remarkable man who shows him a magnifying glass", from a series Thirty-six Famous Battles byUtagawa Kuniyoshi,1847
• 
  "The swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, armed with two wooden swords, sparring with the old master Tsukahara Bokuden, who defends himself using two wooden pot-lids" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, c. 1845-46
• 
  A statue ofHosokawa TadatoshiwithinSuizen-ji Jōju-en
• 
  Monof Miyamoto Musashi born inŌhara-chōprovince of Mimasaka
• 
  Statue of Musashi & Kojiro Battle
• 
  Miyamoto Musashi kills a shark fish (Yamazame) in the mountains across the border ofEchizen Province,byUtagawa Kuniyoshi

See also

• Yagyū Munenori
• Gosho Motoharu
• Hōjō Akinokami
• Sasaki Kojiro
• Takuan Soho
• Terao Magonojō
• Eiji Yoshikawa
• Bizen
• Mimasaka
• Ōhara-chō
• Miyamoto Musashi Budokan
• Miyamoto Musashi Station
• Philosophy of war
• List of military writers

Appendix

Essays

• Tokitsu, Kenji (2004).Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings.Shambhala Publications, Inc.ISBN978-1-59030-045-9.
• Turnbull, Stephen R.(1990).The Lone Samurai and the Martial Arts.London: Arms and Armour Press.ISBN978-0-85368-967-6.
• Wilson, William Scott (2004).The Lone Samurai.Kodansha International.ISBN978-4-7700-2942-3.
• De Lange, William (2010).The Real Musashi: The Bushu denraiki.Floating World Editions.ISBN978-1-891640-56-8.
• De Lange, William (2011).The Real Musashi: The Bukoden.Floating World Editions.ISBN978-1-891640-60-5.
• De Lange, William (2016).The Real Musashi: A Miscellany.Floating World Editions.ISBN978-1-891640-86-5.
• De Lange, William (2014).Miyamoto Musashi: A Life in Arms.Floating World Editions.ISBN978-1-891640-629.

Testimony

• Iwami Toshio Harukatsu soke (11th successor to Miyamoto Musashi), "Musashi's teachings – philosophy first: translation in English"Archived20 July 2011 at theWayback Machine,Dragonn°7, January 2005, ed. Mathis; French original text:L'enseignement de Musashi est d'abord une philosophie
• Iwami Toshio Harukatsu soke (11th successor to Miyamoto Musashi), "Musashi's principles"Archived20 July 2011 at theWayback Machine,Dragonn°13, January 2006, ed. Mathis; French original text:Les principes de MusashiArchived20 July 2011 at theWayback Machine

Primary sources

• Hyodokyo(The Mirror of the Way of Strategy)
• Hyoho Sanjugo Kajo(Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy)
• Hyoho Shijuni Kajo(Forty-two Instructions on Strategy)
• Dokkōdō(The Way to be Followed Alone)
• Go Rin No Sho(The Book of Five Rings; a reference to the Five Rings of Zen Buddhism). Translated into English by Victor Harris asA Book of Five Rings,London:Allison & Busby,1974; Woodstock, New York: The Overlook Press.

Fiction

• Sean Michael, Wilson(2014).Musashi (A Graphic Novel).Shambhala.(Manga/historical fiction)
• Sean Michael, Wilson(2012).The Book of Five Rings: a graphic novel.Shambhala.(Manga/historical fiction)
• Inoue, Takehiko(1998).Vagabond.Viz Communications.(Manga/historical fiction)
• Yoshikawa, Eiji(1995).Musashi(reprint ed.). Kodansha International.ISBN978-4-7700-1957-8.(Historical fiction)
• Moore, J.S. (2014).Under the Sun: The Miyamoto Musashi Story.Understanding Apples Press.ISBN978-1-5028-0491-4.

External links

• miyamotomusashi.eu
• Miyamoto Musashi Dojo(in French)
• Some artwork by Miyamoto Musashi(archive link)
• The samurai warrior and Zen Buddhism (website of the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco)
• Complete texts in English by Miyamoto Musashi
• Miyamoto Musashi; his Swordsmanship and Book of Five Rings
• Profile on Shambhala Publications website
• Miyamoto Musashi, Dokkodo:The Path I Walk Is Mine Alone (2023) Sour Street Publishing