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Miyamoto Musashi: A Life in Arms: A Biography of Japan's Greatest Swordsman
First to translate two of the oldest accounts of Musashi's career, the Bushū denraiki and the Bukōden, the author here presents a full biography of this most famous yet most enigmatic of swordsmen, Miyamoto Musashi.
Drawing on a wealth of additional and newly uncovered original sources, the author for the first time reveals aspects of Musashi's life that have hitherto been shrouded in mystery: the source of his deeply troubled relationship with his father, the exact place and side on which he fought during the battle of Sekigahara, his heroic role in the summer siege of Osaka castle, his actual whereabouts in the years that followed, and the remarkable gestation of the Gorin no sho, his great legacy to posterity of a unique martial philosophy.
Quoting directly and extensively from original sources, A Life in Arms, traces Musashi's constant search for his own distinct style of swordsmanship--a path that began with the brutal slaying of Arima Kihei, led to the fall of the illustrious Yoshioka clan, and culminated in his dramatic encounter with Sasaki Kojirō on Ganryū island. It reveals how Musashi built on what he learned from his father and his uncles, how he perfected it on his musha shugyo, and how his Enmei-ryū evolved into the Niten Ichi-ryū, his unique art of fighting with two swords.
A Life in Arms shows how Musashi's path through life was shaped by strong personal traits: his reckless valor in the face of danger, his sensitive intelligence in the fields of art and architecture, his generosity toward peers and pupils, and his defiant stubbornness in old age. The complex yet human portrait that arises is a far cry from the accepted one-dimensional caricature of this great medieval swordsman.
Drawing on a wealth of additional and newly uncovered original sources, the author for the first time reveals aspects of Musashi's life that have hitherto been shrouded in mystery: the source of his deeply troubled relationship with his father, the exact place and side on which he fought during the battle of Sekigahara, his heroic role in the summer siege of Osaka castle, his actual whereabouts in the years that followed, and the remarkable gestation of the Gorin no sho, his great legacy to posterity of a unique martial philosophy.
Quoting directly and extensively from original sources, A Life in Arms, traces Musashi's constant search for his own distinct style of swordsmanship--a path that began with the brutal slaying of Arima Kihei, led to the fall of the illustrious Yoshioka clan, and culminated in his dramatic encounter with Sasaki Kojirō on Ganryū island. It reveals how Musashi built on what he learned from his father and his uncles, how he perfected it on his musha shugyo, and how his Enmei-ryū evolved into the Niten Ichi-ryū, his unique art of fighting with two swords.
A Life in Arms shows how Musashi's path through life was shaped by strong personal traits: his reckless valor in the face of danger, his sensitive intelligence in the fields of art and architecture, his generosity toward peers and pupils, and his defiant stubbornness in old age. The complex yet human portrait that arises is a far cry from the accepted one-dimensional caricature of this great medieval swordsman.
- GenresJapan
280 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2012
About the author
William de Lange
76 books13 followersWilliam de lange is the author of books, ebooks and apps on Japan's traditional culture, from history, samurai culture, to arts & crafts, and language dictionaries.
Bio: William de lange was born in 1964 in Naarden, the Netherlands to Dutch and English parents. In the late 1980s, he aborted his English studies to embark on a journey that eventually led him to Japan, where he supported himself by making traditional Japanese scrolls and writing articles for the Japan Times Weekly. Following his graduation from Leiden University in 1994, he lived in Japan for the remaining decade, studying the art of Japanese fencing under Akita Moriji sensei, eighth dan master of the Shinkage-ryu. Since then he has written a large number of books on Japanese history and culture, including a highly acclaimed biography of Miyamoto Musashi. He is currently working on a history of the Yagyu clan.
William de Lange lives and works in the Netherlands and loves to travel, enjoying good food and wine with the love of his life.
Bio: William de lange was born in 1964 in Naarden, the Netherlands to Dutch and English parents. In the late 1980s, he aborted his English studies to embark on a journey that eventually led him to Japan, where he supported himself by making traditional Japanese scrolls and writing articles for the Japan Times Weekly. Following his graduation from Leiden University in 1994, he lived in Japan for the remaining decade, studying the art of Japanese fencing under Akita Moriji sensei, eighth dan master of the Shinkage-ryu. Since then he has written a large number of books on Japanese history and culture, including a highly acclaimed biography of Miyamoto Musashi. He is currently working on a history of the Yagyu clan.
William de Lange lives and works in the Netherlands and loves to travel, enjoying good food and wine with the love of his life.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 13, 2016
De Lange frames Musashi's life story around the heroes journey theme in a way that would have perhaps made Joseph Campbell smile. He also humanizes some of the eccentricities of the man and his behavior. It makes for an enjoyable story even for the non-martial artist.
February 29, 2016
One of the most down to earth detailed accounts of Musashi's life. Awesome...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews