#Post 16 maybe..
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I recently read a scholarly work on Musashi's life and the author stated that in reality Musashi was simply trying to land a gig as a swordsmanship instructor with a wealth lord. Which...bizarre as it seems...he was never successful in accomplishing.
Many of the duels (and the hype associated with them) were similar to PR efforts we see today. It was implied that some (if not "many") of his duels were Cherry Picked affairs and Musashi used everything from psychological warfare (arriving late) to almost blatant "cheating". Although in a duel to the death "cheating" isn't the most accurate word to use.
From from something to critisize, the use of psychological warfare and "cheating" (whatever that may be in the context of a duel) are probably quite wise if one is interested in surviving. Others can speak much to the norms involved in dueling during the time period but, if I am not mistaken, several koryu include teachings not just on physical techniques but things such as strategy, tactics, how to put a castle under seige, what kind of terrain to have your own stronghold situated in, etc. The more modern martial arts, IMO, would do well to recapture a bit of that mindset (or at least modern martial artists, if styles as a whole aren't going to).
Out of curiosity, which book on Musashi were you reading? I read Kenji Tokitsu's Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings some time ago and some of what you say in your post sounds similar to what is in that book.
Pax,
Chris
It means i tried to read the book of five rings and wasnt interested.
Im not sure which of us youre addressing, but if youre addressing me, i guess i just dont see how the time youre being beaten senseless, stabbed, or shot is the time to try and analyze someone, as opposed to doing something about it. Like you just said, or at least what i got from it, thats what training is for. I feel a miscommunication may have taken place here.
Hi Chris,
Welcome back!
I think I will listen to some Japanese teachers and their personal lessons on Mushashi!
Thanks and you are entitled to your opinion as well since neither of us or anyone else was back in his day and we only have his writing to look at.
When you look at Mushashi in the end he was an guy, writing, living the hermit life, failed to get that gig as Tgace wrote. Basically had no family to speak of, etc. Pretty sad really! Was he great at what he did? Yes by all accounts and his own written word. Did he maybe obsess a bit and that obsession threw off the balance in his life? Probably! When you look at him you see someone unbalanced in life. Sure he was great with the sword but unbalanced in life because of his obsession. This obsession probably caused his failure at becoming an instructor for some wealthy lord. If you read the account of his life I wouldn't hire him to work for me either. I know this is not a popular thought on the "sword saint" (yes I understand how it is used) but if you take a look at his whole life there is some loss of balance. That loss of balance is why I referred to earlier that I pitied him. I will bet his life on many levels to him was disappointing. (no wife, no kid's, no family, no job and probably lots of guilt and regret in the end)
Having said the above the Book of Five Rings offers some thing for a martial practitioner to read. From understanding a bit about the importance of psychology and using it to your advantage as well as not allowing your obsession to consume you! Balance is important after all! In that he did some thing very good for us!
Maybe not the most popular take on Mushashi but definitely one to make you think!
Depending on who that was directed at I may take offense...or I may not.
Hmm. Again, fine... but that does beg the question of why you're commenting on it's contents and it's lessons/ideas....
I was addressing you. I used Xue's quotes to give context to your answers.
You've already analyzed them. In the situation, you're recognizing what you've already analyzed. Remember, the Gorin no Sho is designed to impart deeper understanding of the hyoho of Musashi's Ryu... it's about understanding why the Ryu does what it does. But analysis is necessary... whether you use terminology such as the OODA Loop, or a more classical series of concepts, analysis is required. The idea of "well, I'm just going to try to do something, and hope it works" is asking for injury and pain. You don't stop for 10 minutes to see what you can figure out, but by the same token, if you can't analyze (quickly!), you'll get killed (in the context). That's why I said the comments were short-sighted and (sorry!) ignorant.
Because i wanted to. Thats sorta like questioning why im on a MA forum when i stopped doing MA earlier this year.
The bold part? That was my point, and what i was saying. Im not sure how you missed that.
To reitterate, analyzing someone at the time, as i understand it, means trying to work all that stuff out AT THE TIME. Working it out in advance then recognizing it, to me, is working it out in advance and then recognizing it.
Not an uncommon activity (attempting to secure employment)... and it might be noted that Musashi was unsuccessful in a number of such attempts, but not all. He was in the employ of Ogasawara Tadazane (earlier, he was employed by Ogasawara Tadanao, but not in a military position), and later to Hosokawa Tadatoshi. He was not successful in attempting to become a sword instructor to the Shogun, partially because there were already two teachers employed (Yagyu Munenori and Ono Jiroemon Tadaaki). As to the idea of the duels being PR efforts, some being sensationalized, some exaggerated, and the tactics being chosen being somewhat less than "clean combat", yep. Again, not that uncommon.
I'd suggest that, without many of those aspects (specifically the idea of strategy and tactics, not necessarily siege warfare...), then it's not martial arts. It doesn't matter if it's Koryu or not (although many Koryu class their teachings as hyoho/heiho [兵法], which means, roughly, strategy... including arts such as Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu....hmm...)
Fantastic book, highly recommended! Avoid Eiji Yoshikawa's "Musashi" unless you want a more colourful novel.... it's not a historical reference, although some try to see it as such.
Hmm. Again, fine... but that does beg the question of why you're commenting on it's contents and it's lessons/ideas....
I was addressing you. I used Xue's quotes to give context to your answers.
You've already analyzed them. In the situation, you're recognizing what you've already analyzed. Remember, the Gorin no Sho is designed to impart deeper understanding of the hyoho of Musashi's Ryu... it's about understanding why the Ryu does what it does. But analysis is necessary... whether you use terminology such as the OODA Loop, or a more classical series of concepts, analysis is required. The idea of "well, I'm just going to try to do something, and hope it works" is asking for injury and pain. You don't stop for 10 minutes to see what you can figure out, but by the same token, if you can't analyze (quickly!), you'll get killed (in the context). That's why I said the comments were short-sighted and (sorry!) ignorant.
Again, thanks.
Well.... you'll forgive me if I consider them vastly uninformed then! You can listen to them, but, well... I'm not sure how much good that'd do you....
Er... no. We have a lot more than just his writings, you know. We have, after all, his hyoho. We have the living traditions. We have the records from other sources. We have the records and stories contained within the Ryu.
We have a lot more than just the Gorin no Sho. We have the means to understand it.
And this is what I mean when I say that I'd consider those that told you these things rather ill-informed....
Musashi didn't live a "hermit life" until very late... and even then, it wasn't anything to do with not having any family (three sons, so you know... and many, many students, including three very senior ones.... unless you're saying that Hatsumi's lack of children makes his life "pretty sad, really!"?). While Musashi didn't get the gig as teacher to the Shogun, he was hardly a destitute beggar eking out a meager existence, he was in the employ of some quite well respected daimyo over his time. He was also very insistent on the idea of balance in life, in training, in skills and knowledge... so that's off too.
No wife, sure. But there were three (adopted) sons, a number of jobs, and no regret. So, again, nope. You're listening to the wrong people.
Is that what you think the Gorin no Sho says? Hmm...
Not the most accurate take either, Brian...
Ha, no, I was just using your comments for context. I was agreeing with you.
Sorry for the delay in response but alas real life like camping, living and well just having a great time with family intruded!
I would consider the Japanese Sensei that I know very well informed They understand not only the martial but the cultural aspects that most non-Japanese simply have a hard time picking up. They also have a depth of learning Japanese history that would be hard to have unless you lived in Japan, spoke the language and could actually read Japanese. Plus they have a cultural history that any non-Japanese simply would not have. If you are criticizing them you probably need to look in the mirror some and realize you have a lot to learn. I think their take on Mushashi was open minded which is simply not what you find as much of out there. I think being open minded and taking an overall look at his life gives you more depth. Rather than a very small shallow view based solely on his writing, martial system and oral tradition from his students. (not that this is insignificant in any way) There is quite a bit more to look at overall than just that! We need to look at how he lived. What positions or lack of positions did he hold. His mistakes. His failures. His success.
Yes he had adopted kid's. Adopted men actually as if I am correct he adopted them when they were already of a significant age and it was more about opportunity than family! (for both) If I recall correctly as soon as they had any success he was actually out of their lives or had moved on.
If you look deeply you will see he was just mediocre at best in everything but his swordsmanship. Doesn't mean he wasn't a great swordsman. He certainly is to be respected in that area. If I were to pick one person at dueling in that kind of a venue he would be on the short list. He certainly seemed obsessed with that part of his life. An obsession like that does tend to throw off balance in anyone's life.
That does not mean that his life was not interesting or note worthy. Just that I would not recommend anyone to follow his life path! (not his system, just how he lived his life)
I feel bad for him as he was searching for some thing that he apparently never attained in his life. However, in his death he attained an immortality of sorts. (maybe even blown a little out of proportion to his actual standing) Still by all accounts he was a great swordsman!!!
They understand not only the martial but the cultural aspects that most non-Japanese simply have a hard time picking up. They also have a depth of learning Japanese history that would be hard to have unless you lived in Japan, spoke the language and could actually read Japanese. Plus they have a cultural history that any non-Japanese simply would not have.
According to Tokitsu Musashi wasn't under the official employ of a lord till he was taken in by Lord Hosokawa in his 50's a letter from Musashi to an intermediary to the lord stated:
"...
Until now, I have never been officially in the service of a lord. And time has passed; moreover, in the last years I have often been sick...."
Musashi was taken in under the status of "guest of the lord" and given an allowance of 300 koku. An ammount that...according to the author...was not a high one and would have been humiliating if he had been taken in as a vassal. An official arms master to a lord would often demand 3000-4000 koku.
Musashi therefore never officially served a lord as a vassal with land holdings or men.
Sorry for the delay in response but alas real life like camping, living and well just having a great time with family intruded!
I would consider the Japanese Sensei that I know very well informed. They understand not only the martial but the cultural aspects that most non-Japanese simply have a hard time picking up. They also have a depth of learning Japanese history that would be hard to have unless you lived in Japan, spoke the language and could actually read Japanese. Plus they have a cultural history that any non-Japanese simply would not have. If you are criticizing them you probably need to look in the mirror some and realize you have a lot to learn.
I think their take on Mushashi was open minded which is simply not what you find as much of out there. I think being open minded and taking an overall look at his life gives you more depth. Rather than a very small shallow view based solely on his writing, martial system and oral tradition from his students. (not that this is insignificant in any way) There is quite a bit more to look at overall than just that! We need to look at how he lived. What positions or lack of positions did he hold. His mistakes. His failures. His success.
Yes he had adopted kid's. Adopted men actually as if I am correct he adopted them when they were already of a significant age and it was more about opportunity than family! (for both) If I recall correctly as soon as they had any success he was actually out of their lives or had moved on.
If you look deeply you will see he was just mediocre at best in everything but his swordsmanship. Doesn't mean he wasn't a great swordsman. He certainly is to be respected in that area. If I were to pick one person at dueling in that kind of a venue he would be on the short list. He certainly seemed obsessed with that part of his life. An obsession like that does tend to throw off balance in anyone's life.
That does not mean that his life was not interesting or note worthy. Just that I would not recommend anyone to follow his life path! (not his system, just how he lived his life)
I feel bad for him as he was searching for some thing that he apparently never attained in his life. However, in his death he attained an immortality of sorts. (maybe even blown a little out of proportion to his actual standing) Still by all accounts he was a great swordsman!!!
First, how dare you have a life outside of MT
Second, how dare you take the myth out of the man and then go and take a take a cool, unemotional, logical view of him based on those that have knowledge of the history and culture in which he lived.
That's the issue, though, Xue... it isn't a "cool, unemotional, logical view", as Brian (or those he has listened to) are not taking into account the actual accounts of the man himself... and don't have knowledge of this specific history. Just knowing Japanese history or culture doesn't cut it, frankly, as this is specific knowledge, not general.
To be honest Chris, I don't much care about this topic, I have my view of it and I'm rather ok with that. But to clasrify the "unemotional view" thingy..... I am saying that as uposed to what tusually occurs and that is the deification of the man which has and does occure and thereby has created a somewhat skewed view of Mushashi and his life.
As to history and culture; Mushashi did not live in a bubble and he was the product of his culture at that time in history in which he lived so an understanding of that culture and history will give one a better understanding of the man. You cannot look at him separate from his culture or the time in which he lived if you are going to understand him at all, his history, and for that matter any person from the pasts history, is specific to that person but it is not isolated form the things that are going on around that person at the time he/she lived nor is it isolated from the culture in which they lived either......so knowing the history "and" culture at the time Miyamoto Mushashi lived is very important and has a great impact on ones understanding of the specific history of Miyamoto Mushashi.
Although I am sure you will not agree and I am equally as sure I will likely not take this any further since it would likely be pointless. Also remember that I previously I stated I don't much care about this topic, meaning I don't really care to discuss it further, I'm good with what I already know on the topic of Miyamoto Mushashi.
You seem to be missing what we're saying there... We're not saying that the only people who can get anything out of the Gorin no Sho are members of the Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu, in fact, we've said a number of times that many people can get many things out of it... we're saying that the only people who can understand what is actually meant and intended are the practitioners of Musashi's Hyoho. So, yeah, there's a lot there about strategy... but it's not intended as generic strategic concepts, it's intended as particular strategies and tactics applied to Musashi's Ryu-ha. The Hi no Maki is focused specifically on the technical aspects of Musashi's Hyoho, sure, but the entire book revolves around kenjutsu... and, while the entire book is sword-specific (in context), it is really more accurate to say that the entire book is Niten Ichi Ryu specific. Can you get something out of it? Sure, and good for you. Doesn't change the fact that you simply will not be able to get what is meant by the book, as you will not be aware of the context surrounding what is written. It really can't be forgotten that the book was written for someone who was completely and fully trained and initiated into the physical (technical) methods of Musashi... so those technical aspects and methods are behind everything written. If you don't know those methods, you don't know what the words refer to.
To be honest Chris, I don't much care about this topic, I have my view of it and I'm rather ok with that. But to clasrify the "unemotional view" thingy..... I am saying that as uposed to what tusually occurs and that is the deification of the man which has and does occure and thereby has created a somewhat skewed view of Mushashi and his life.
As to history and culture; Mushashi did not live in a bubble and he was the product of his culture at that time in history in which he lived so an understanding of that culture and history will give one a better understanding of the man. You cannot look at him separate from his culture or the time in which he lived if you are going to understand him at all, his history, and for that matter any person from the pasts history, is specific to that person but it is not isolated form the things that are going on around that person at the time he/she lived nor is it isolated from the culture in which they lived either......so knowing the history "and" culture at the time Miyamoto Mushashi lived is very important and has a great impact on ones understanding of the specific history of Miyamoto Mushashi.
Although I am sure you will not agree and I am equally as sure I will likely not take this any further since it would likely be pointless. Also remember that I previously I stated I don't much care about this topic, meaning I don't really care to discuss it further, I'm good with what I already know on the topic of Miyamoto Mushashi.
Hard to say it any better than this! Some times people just need to look a little deeper and realize that not every historical figure is exactly as what history has portrayed.
Why do you think Im addressing you? I simply made a statement.
There's plenty in TBFR on strategy, martial philosophy and other "non sword" topics to learn from.
The "fire book" is probably the one that is mostly sword specific....
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