Musashi Kickstarter
- Thread starter Gyakuto
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isshinryuronin
Senior Master
Creating beauty in painting, sculpture and poetry was a great counterweight to "the way of death" Samurai followed. Perhaps following one way allowed one to appreciate and cope with the other.
Sammy Naur
Green Belt
Looks fake to me.
As far as I know (studied his works in my youth) Musashi wasn't know for sculpting, he was a painter and calligrapher.
That's definitely a Buddhist deity (Fudo Mi-O), but people try to sell this kind of junk in Manhattan on the street.
Sammy Naur
Green Belt
Attachments
Sammy Naur
Green Belt
I don't follow. Is that a Mice and Men reference?Yes, after a murderous rampage with my sword, I like nothing better than to sit down and write a short story…about rabbits
I did read your whole tale about the sword delivery. That must have been frustrating, did you never get it?
I'm a judo sankyu, that's how I found Musashi. Boston to New York vagabond. Never really messed with swords but jacket wrestling is kind of my passion.
I've seen of junk passed off as authentic, and I am pretty sure this Kickstarter is a scam artist, because I've seen the same figure in some Chinatown for 19.95.
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Sammy Naur
Green Belt
What the heck, I happened to look back at that listing.
"consecrate" for an extra $150.
Japan's most famous ronin.
"consecrate" for an extra $150.
Japan's most famous ronin.
isshinryuronin
Senior Master
Fudo is his most famous sculpture, but he did others as well. He also designed (and forged?) tsuba, sword guards. The one on my katana was a copy of one of his most well-known ones.
Sammy Naur
Green Belt
Where is the historical source for that? I've seen plenty of writing and paintings but can't find anything on the Fudo figurine.
I believe this is probably just a legend, but if you have a historical source I'd appreciate seeing it.
All sorts of figurines are sold online and in shops that claim to be legitimate. The fact that I found one online for $1000 is suspect
Sammy Naur
Green Belt
Here's one I found, "said to be carved" but notice how it's a completely different design.
Is there a museum with the original figurine?
isshinryuronin
Senior Master
Exactly. Simple shibumi.You mean this one?
View attachment 32275
I bought a giant one from the souvenir shop near Reigando! You should’ve seen the sword that you could buy for it
isshinryuronin
Senior Master
There is a photo of this sculpture in "A Book of Five Rings" (1974, Overlook Press) edition, attributed to Musashi.
OP
OP
I always worried that an enemy’s blade could be slipped down one’s sword blade, tip first, through one of the gaps in the design and into one’s hand
I’m a worrier.Sammy Naur
Green Belt
Which one, the wood carving I posted or Gyokuto's?
The wood carving makes more sense. The metal ones like in the Kickstarter are different.
Notice the completely different pose, too.
opr1945
Black Belt
Did he invent the Karate Gi?
opr1945
Black Belt
KARATE GIS
roninbrand.com
isshinryuronin
Senior Master
Pretty sure it was the wood carving.
The gods were often portrayed in customary poses, though artists would put their own spin on it.
Haruhiko
Green Belt
He adapted the known higo tsuba guard, which was already in use, to be more minimalist and rounded (though some historians argue this was prior to his stay in Kyushu, which implies his intention was not connected to Higo at all). In any case:
Higo:
Namako:
I don't believe there are any surviving works of his wood sculpting aside from the Jissen Bokuto. He was a prominent artist (particularly sumi-e) and strategist, first and foremost. During his time, to the ordinary non-samurai class, he was probably known as a legendary or renowned fighter, though this would have been through local stories rather than direct fame. Remember he was never a direct vassal of a daimyō, which hampered the spread of his fame outside of the samurai class. The Edo period elevated his non-martial achievements, and I believe the average citizen during this time, after his death, associated him more with the finer arts.
It wasn't until the early 20th century, through fictionalised adaptations of his life (Yoshikawa novel and then films), that the average Japanese person, and later Westerners, came to realise and remember his martial achievements - both in group warfare and duelling. The publication of what was intended to be an insular transmission document (The Book of Five Rings) also captured audiences in ways that propegated his fame, however unintentionally.
Musashi also contributed to the construction of additions to Kumamoto Castle - particularly its fortifications and its gardens.
If anyone has a picture of the alleged Fudō Myō-ō carving please post it. I don't have a copy of the 1974 publication and would be interested to see how the picture was cited in the bibliography.
The wood carving of Fudō Myō-ō was more a personal project as I understand it than an artistic expression for a patron. I know for a fact that Hyōhō Niten Ichi-Ryū does not invoke Fudō Myō-ō or any other kami/deity in its teachings. It's practically a secular school of strategy with some students finding affectionate appreciation of Buddhism - but even that is stretching it (I count myself as one amongst many very new students, though I am not officially a member of the ryū having not trained with sokē... yet). Having said this I'm in no position to speak on the school's teachings from a place of authority.
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Haruhiko
Green Belt
Does anyone else see the irony of this pose?
I've never seen Fudō Myō-ō holding his sword with both hands...
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