The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto MusashiAn expert on samurai history paints a vivid, multi-faceted portrait of feudal Japan and Miyamoto Musashi—the legendary swordsman who wrote the classic martial arts treatise, The Book of Five Rings Born in 1584, Miyamoto Musashi was the legendary samurai known throughout the world as a master swordsman, spiritual seeker, and author of the classic book on strategy, The Book of Five Rings. Over 350 years after his death, Musashi and his legacy still fascinate readers worldwide, inspiring artists, authors, and filmmakers. In The Lone Samurai, respected translator and expert on samurai culture William Scott Wilson presents both a vivid account of a fascinating period in feudal Japan and a portrait of the courageous, iconoclastic samurai who wrestled with philosophical and spiritual ideas that are as relevant today as they were in his time. For Musashi, the way of the martial arts was about mastery of the mind rather than simply technical prowess—and it is this path to mastery that is the core teaching in his Book of Five Rings. This special volume includes supplemental material on Musashi’s legacy as a martial arts icon, his impact on literature and film, and the influence of his Book of Five Rings. |
Contents
PROLOGUE | 1 |
CHAPTER | 7 |
CHAPTER | 36 |
THREE | 83 |
The Brush and the Mind 96 Painting with the Mind of the Sword | 98 |
The Paintings 100 Calligraphy 119 Fudo Myoo | 122 |
FOUR | 129 |
AFTERWORD | 167 |
APPENDIX 1 | 175 |
APPENDIX 2 | 207 |
APPENDIX 3 | 231 |
NOTES | 241 |
GLOSSARY | 265 |
| 281 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Akashi Arima Kihei Ashikaga shogun BASED ON YOSHIKAWA battle Bennosuke Book of Five bout Buddha chapter Chinese considered culture daimyo Daruma death defeated Denshichiro disciples dojo Duel EIJI'S MIYAMOTO MUSASHI famous father fief fight Five Rings Fudo Myo-o Ganryu Ganryu Island Gunbei Harima Himeji Honda Hosokawa clan Hosokawa Tadatoshi Hotei Hozoin Ichijoji Ieyasu In'ei Inagaki Hiroshi Iori Japan Japanese kabuki kami Kataoka Chiezo Kihei Koetsu Kokura Kokura Hibun Kumamoto Kyoto Kyushu later lord martial artist martial arts master match meditation Mikinosuke mind Miyamoto Musashi Munisai novel Ogasawara Ogasawara Tadazane Okinaga opponent opponent's Osaka Otsu painting practice principles provinces Reigan Cave samurai Sasaki Kojiro seems Seijuro Sekigahara Sekishusai Shingon Shinmen Shinto-ryu shugyosha skill spear stance story strike suibokuga Sun Tzu swordsman swordsmanship Tadazane Takuan technique temple Tokugawa shogunate Toyotomi victory warrior weapon wooden sword wrote Yagyu Munenori Yoriyuki YOSHIKAWA EIJI'S MIYAMOTO Yoshioka clan Zen Buddhist Zen priest 宮本武蔵