Musashi: An Epic Novel of the Samurai Era

by Eiji Yoshikawa

The historical Miyamoto Musashi, who may have been born in 1584 and died in 1645, was like his father a master swordsman and became known for his use of two swords. He was an ardent cultivator of self-discipline as the key to martial skills and the author of a famous work on swordsmanship, the Gorin no sho.

Most important, he gradually transformed himself from an instinctive fighter into a man who fanatically pursued the goals of Zen-like self-discipline, complete inner mastery over oneself, and a sense of oneness with surrounding nature.

In this situation, as in others, the only thing he knew how to do was to attack rather than be attacked.

“But what about the samurai? Why are they making such a fuss about an insignificant person like Takezō?” “Because he’s a symbol of chaos, an outlaw. They have to preserve the peace.

“The night is full. It seems to embrace everything. If you stare at the stars a long time, you can see them moving. Slowly, slowly moving. I can’t help thinking the whole world is moving. I feel it. And I’m just a little speck in it all—a speck controlled by some awesome power I can’t even see. Even while I sit here thinking, my fate is changing bit by bit. My thoughts seem to go round and round in circles.”

But it looks like the rough winds of fate have begun to buffet you, as they buffet everyone else.” “Oh, Takuan! What should