Miyamoto Musashi
Victory Through Endurance: The Remarkable History of the Yagyū Clan
It is perhaps no coincidence that the two Chinese characters that make up the name of Yagyū stand for the willow tree and life, or the giving of birth, for both seem to sum up perfectly the particular characteristics that helped propel this ancient clan to such exalted heights.
This is the true story of the eventful history of the famous Yagyū clan—a story that began during early heady days of the Genkō Rebellion (–33), when emperor Go-Daigo sought to restore power to the throne with the support of the Yagyū and other loyal clans. It follows their campaigns on behalf of Go-Daigo's southern court during the Northern and Southern Courts period (–), and their long and hard struggle to retain their autonomy when the country rapidly descended into anarchy in the wake of the Ōnin Rebellion (–77).
It recounts how, through a succession of misfortunes beyond their control, the Yagyū clan first lost its independence, then its castle and domains, until finally its members were thrown upon the mercy of a local temple. Yet it was in the very depth of those bleak and desperate years, that its lead
In the rich histories of Kenjutsu (the art of the sword) and Iaido (the art of drawing the sword), several notable figures stand out for their contributions to these martial arts. Here&#;s a look at some influential practitioners and masters who have shaped the development and legacy of Kenjutsu and Iaido.
Kenjutsu Notable Figures
Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵) (–)
&#; Perhaps the most famous samurai and swordsman in Japanese history, Miyamoto Musashi authored &#;The Book of Five Rings&#; (五輪書, Go Rin no Sho), a text on strategy, tactics, and philosophy that transcends martial arts. Musashi was the founder of the Niten Ichi-ryu style of swordsmanship, known for its two-sword technique.
Tsukahara Bokuden (塚原 卜伝) (–)
&#; A legendary swordsman of the Sengoku period, Bokuden founded the Kashima Shinto-ryu, one of the most influential schools of Kenjutsu. He was known for his exceptional skill and for developing a style that emphasized technique over brute strength.
Yagyu Munenori (柳生 宗矩) (–)
&#; A master swordsman and the official sword instructor to the Tokugawa shoguns, Yagyu Munenori was a key figure in the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu school of Kenjutsu. His teachings extended beyond
Miyamoto Musashi
Generally, whenever someone hears the name &#;Miyamoto Musashi&#;, or conjures up an image of a samurai without their armour, this is the kind of image they think of.
This is an idealized image of Musashi Miyamoto, one the greatest swordsmen to ever live &#; and this is a title that holds true even today.
(Marc Dacoscos did a great biography on Musashi that I thoroughly enjoyed; here, I hope you enjoy it as well!)
He was born Shinmen Takezo in the latter part of the 16th century, in the Harima Province of Japan, to a samurai family. His father was an accomplished martial artist and swordsman, and considering his skill in the jitte (the Japanese equivalent of a police nightstick), it is likely that he was a policeman or, at the very least, trained policemen and/or palace guards.
Although he was born to the sword master, Shinmen Munisai, and surrounded by samurai early on in his life, Musashi was not raised by his abusive father and would go on to be raised by his uncle by the age of seven. There are no references to Musashi-san having any teachers in the sword, so it is believe that he learned everything he knew about the sword, essentially, on hi
The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi
This tells the story of perhaps the most skilled, and certainly the most famous, of the samurai swordsmen of the Edo period in Japan. Known for having fought at the battle of Sekigahara which brought the Tokugawa Shogunate to power, and never losing one of the sixty duels he was said to have undertaken, Musashi has become a legend. Surprisingly he was a ronin, a masterless samurai and even a shugyosha, or itinerant wandering swordsman, as opposed to the perhaps more popularly imagined established warrior affiliated with (or even leading) a famous clan or house; thus the book’s title of “The Lone Samurai”. I find it intriguing that one of the greatest heroes of a culture that seems to have enshrined the values of obedience to one’s lord even to the point of death and compliance to the mores of society upon which one’s honour is based, is a man who appears to have been something of an individualist and a loner, a man intent on making his own way regardless of the opinions of others or even, quite often, the social standards of his day. Indeed despite being born into a culture based on influence and patronage Mus
Biographies you may also like
Jim cramer biography mad money James Joseph Cramer (born February 10, ) is an American television personality, author, entertainer, and former hedge fund manager. He is the host of Mad Money on CNBC, and an anchor on Squawk on the Street. After graduating from Harvard College and Harvard Law School, he worked for Goldman Sachs See more.
Long bio of jacques cousteau Jacques Cousteau was a pioneering undersea explorer and environmentalist best known for co-inventing the Aqua-Lung, an innovative scuba-diving device, in His .
Trevor mcclung biography Loop League T in Forest Green, available now at the link in bio. @trevormcclung 🌀.
Autobiography of an unknown indian summary plan The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian is the autobiography of Indian writer Nirad C. Chaudhuri.[1][2] Written when he was around 50, it records his life from his .
Aamir khan biography filmography angelina Indian actor Aamir Khan first appeared on screen at the age of eight in a minor role in his uncle Nasir Hussain's film Yaadon Ki Baaraat (). In , he act.
Ryan butler justin biebers bff Ryan Butler is one of the best friends of Justin Bieber, the Canadian singer/songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered singing on YouTube in and has gone on to become an .
Monir farmanfarmaian biography of mahatma gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October – 30 January ) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule. He inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across See more.