In his book Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings, martial artist and sociologist Kenji Tokitsu described Musashi as reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci “because of the extension of his art into so many domains and the way in which he explored the limits of the knowledge of his time.”Musashi was an accomplished painter of sumi-e (monochrome ink painting), a sculptor, and a calligrapher.
Near the end of his life, Musashi penned his most enduring work—a set of scrolls known as The Book of Five Rings. In it, Musashi wrote that a warrior must keep the mind calm and centered, never allowing emotion or distraction to dictate action. Although these writings were primarily advice for fellow warriors, they carry lessons in strategy and philosophy that continue to influence the modern world today.
Creating a legend
Much of what we know about Musashi comes not from history, but from legend. Over the centuries, storytellers have filled the gaps in his biography with duels, rivalries, and near-miraculous feats.
According to Musashi himself, he fought and killed a man in single combat at just 13 years old. The swordsman also claimed to have fought and won more than 60 duels (a large number, even for an accomplished samurai).
(The real history of Yasuke, Japan’s first Black samurai.)
AloJapan.com