When he is set free again, he rejects the position of samurai and for the next several years pursues his goal relentlessly, looking neither to left nor to right.Įver so slowly it dawns on him that following the Way of the Sword is not simply a matter of finding a target for his brute strength. During three years of solitary confinement, he delves into the classics of Japan and China. The lovely Otsu, seeing in Musashi her ideal of manliness, frees him from his tortuous punishment, but he is recaptured and imprisoned. On his way home, he commits a rash act, becomes a fugitive and brings life in his own village to a standstill-until he is captured by a weaponless Zen monk. Lured to the great Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 by the hope of becoming a samurai-without really knowing what it meant-he regains consciousness after the battle to find himself lying defeated, dazed and wounded among thousands of the dead and dying. Miyamoto Musashi was the child of an era when Japan was emerging from decades of civil strife.
If you study fencing and swordsmanship or only enjoy tales of the old days in feudal Japan, I think that you would enjoy reading "Musashi" too.Musashi: An Epic Novel of the Samurai Era is the classic samurai novel about the real exploits of the most famous swordsman. Japan has only produced one Musashi, as although it has to date produced countless great swordsmen, none survived over 80 duels undefeated except for Musashi himself.
The English hardcover version is 950 pages long and although I just began reading it, I find it interesting enough to not put it down to the point where I am now quickly on page 246 already. The book I am reviewing here is however the semi fictional novel "Musashi" which started in Japan as a long running newspaper serial between 19.
Today most readers of that book use it as a merciless method for doing business, but I always have appreciated it's insights into the mind of Myamoto Musashi and his style of swordplay. Myamoto Musashi wrote "The Book of Five Rings", which is about swordsmanship and dueling with the Japanese folded katana. The life story of Myamoto Musashi is an intriguing read
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