Editing Miyamoto Musashi (section)

==Biography==

The details of Miyamoto Musashi's early life are difficult to verify. Musashi writes in ''The Book of Five Rings'' (''Go Rin No Sho'') that he was born in Miyamoto, a village in [[Harima Province]].<ref name= FiveR-KT1963>{{cite book| first= Miyamoto| last= Musashi| title= Go Rin No Sho |trans-title= The Book of Five Rings | editor= Kamiko Tadashi |place= Tokyo | publisher= Tokuma-shoten| year= | edition= 1963| isbn= }}</ref>{{rp|13}} ''Niten Ki'', an early biography of Musashi, supports the assertion that Musashi was born in 1584. "[He] was born in [[Harima Province|Banshū]], in Tenshō 12 [1584],<ref name= route>{{cite book| title= Along the Samurai's Route| first= Jorge| last= Orpianesi |year= 2022| isbn= 9789878720210| publisher= Editorial Autores de Argentina | page= 130}}, quoting {{cite book| title= Tanji Hokin Hikki| trans-title= | place= Japan | publisher= | year= 1727| edition= |translator= | first= | last= | isbn= }}</ref> the Year of the Monkey."<ref>Toyota, p. 239</ref> The historian Kamiko Tadashi, commenting on Musashi's text, notes: "Munisai was Musashi's father&nbsp;... he lived in Miyamoto village, in the Yoshino district [of [[Mimasaka Province]]]. Musashi was most probably born here."<ref name= FiveR-KT1963 />{{rp|18ff}}

Musashi gives his full name and title in ''The Book of Five Rings'' as '''Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu''' (新免武蔵守藤原玄信) .<ref name= FiveR-KT1963 />{{rp|13}} His father, [[Shinmen Munisai]] (新免無二斎) was an accomplished martial artist and master of the sword and ''[[jutte]]'' (also ''jitte'').<ref name= FiveR-KT1963 />{{rp|18ff}} Munisai, in turn, was the son of Hirata Shōgen (平田将監), a vassal of Shinmen ''Iga no Kami'', the lord of [[Takayama Castle]] in the Yoshino district of Mimasaka Province.<ref name= FiveR-KT1963 />{{rp|17ff}} Hirata was relied upon by Lord Shinmen and so was allowed to use the Shinmen name. "[[Fujiwara clan|Fujiwara]]" was the lineage from which Musashi claimed descent.<ref>{{Cite book| last= Musashi |first= Miyamoto |url= https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1076236783|title=Complete Musashi : the Definitive Translations of the Complete Writings of Miyamoto Musashi&nbsp;– Japan's Greatest Samurai |publisher=Tuttle Publishing|others=Alexander Bennett|year=2018|isbn=978-1-4629-2027-3|location=La Vergne |oclc= 1076236783}}</ref> Other names of his include Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke,<ref name= route /> and Niten Dōraku (his Buddhist name).<ref name= "arch duel">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-15 |title=The Legendary Duel Between Sasaki Kojiro and Miyamoto Musashi |url=https://www.thearchaeologist.org/blog/the-legendary-duel-between-sasaki-kojiro-and-miyamoto-musashi |access-date=2025-03-11 |website= thearchaeologist.org| format= blog| publisher= |language=en-US}}</ref> Hirata's wife was Omasa. She died as a result of giving birth to Miyamoto.<ref name= route />

Musashi developed [[eczema]] during infancy. It adversely affected his appearance.<ref>{{cite book |editor= Rosemary Brant |first=Miyamoto |last= Musashi |title=The Book of Five Rings: the classic text of Samurai sword strategy |year= | edition= 2006|publisher=Barnes & Noble|location=New York|isbn=978-0-7607-8457-0 |translator= Ashikaga Yoshiharu}}</ref> Another story claims that he never bathed himself because he did not want to be surprised unarmed.<ref name= FiveR-VH>{{cite book| title= A Book of Five Rings |first= Miyamoto |last= Musashi | translator= Victor Harris |place= London| publisher= [[Allison & Busby]]| edition= 1974| others= Woodstock, New York: The Overlook Press| isbn= }}</ref>{{rp|10}} Historian Kamiko writes, "For his entire life, Musashi never took a wife, cut his hair, or entered a bath".<ref name= FiveR-KT1963 />{{rp|18ff}}

According to ''The Book of Five Rings'', Musashi testified that his first duel occurred when he was still 13 years old. His opponent was a Arima Kihei, a swordsman who practiced [[Kashima Shintō-ryū]] martial arts that were created by [[Tsukahara Bokuden]]. Musashi was victorious. The second duel happened when Musashi was 16 years old, when he won another victory against [[Tadashima Akiyama]], a swordsman who was native to [[Tajima Province]]. Musashi's third duel, at age 21 was in [[Kyoto]], where he defeated several students of a famous sword fighting school.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

===Travels (1599–1613)===
In 1599, Musashi left his village at age 15 or 16,{{efn|One source states 15,<ref>{{cite book| title= Tosakushi| trans-title= The Registry of the Sakushu Region| year= | language= ja | publisher= | edition= |translator= | first= | last= | isbn= }}</ref> but another states he was 16 years old in 1599<ref name= route-THH47>{{cite book| title= Along the Samurai's Route| first= Jorge| last= Orpianesi |year= 2022| isbn= 9789878720210| publisher= Editorial Autores de Argentina | page= 47}}, quoting {{cite book| title= Tanji Hokin Hikki| trans-title= | place= Japan | publisher= | year= 1727| edition= |translator= | first= | last= | isbn= }}</ref> which aligns with the age reported in Musashi's first duel.<ref name="tokitsu">{{Cite book| title= Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings |first=Kenji |last= Tokitsu |publisher= Shambhala Publications|year=2006|isbn=9780834824881|page= |chapter= }}</ref>}} His family possessions such as furniture, weapons, genealogy, and other records were left with his sister and her husband, Hirao Yoemon. He spent his time [[Musha shugyō|traveling and engaging in duels]].

In 1600, Musashi is said to have participated in the [[Battle of Sekigahara]]. For a long time, the prevailing opinion has been that Musashi participated in the Sekigahara battle on the Western Army side due to the fact that Shinmen clan was longtime vassal to the [[Ukita clan]]. However, recent research by  modern Japanese historians such as Masahide Fukuda and Watanabe Daimon about Musashi has opined that Musashi and his father, Shinmen Munisai, actually sided with The Eastern army during the war, based on the historical records that Munisai no longer served the Ukita clan, and the clan records of [[Kuroda clan]], ally of Tokugawa Ieyasu during the war, had recorded the name of Shinmen Munisai among their vassals who participated in the war.<ref name= "musashiTokugawasekigahara">{{cite web |first= Watanabe |last= Daimon |title=牢人・宮本武蔵の関ヶ原合戦事情…東軍西軍のどちらに属し、主君は存在したのか |trans-title= Prisoner Miyamoto Musashi's Battle of Sekigahara...Which side did he belong to, East or West, and did he have a master? |url=https://sengoku-his.com/238 |website=sengoku-his.com |access-date=26 May 2024 |language=Ja |year=2023 |quote=Yumekashi Harada, ''The True Story of Miyamoto Musashi'' (Ashi Shobo, 1984); Masahide Fukuda ''Miyamoto Musashi's Summer Siege'' (''Rekishi Kenkyu'' No. 400, 1994); Masahide Fukuda, ''Proof of Musashi's Sekigahara Eastern Army'' (Miyamoto Musashi Research Paper Collection, Rekiken, 2003); Eiji Yoshikawa, ''Miyamoto Musashi, 6 volumes'' (Dainippon Yubenkai Kodansha, 1936-39)}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title= Miyamoto Musashi| journal= [[Osaka Economic Review]]| number= 282–284 |date=2005 |publisher= [[Osaka University of Economics]] |page=55 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fzYSAQAAMAAJ |access-date=25 May 2024 |language=Ja}}</ref> Daimon, who quoted the "Matsui Clan Document", opines that the notion that Musashi fought on the losing side of Western Army, both in Sekigahara and in Osaka siege 14 years later, were only based on legendary romanticism about Musashi being a ronin. While the primary history records indicated that Musashi always fought on the side of Tokugawa, who emerged victorious in both conflicts.<ref>{{cite web |first= Watanabe |last= Daimon |title=宮本武蔵に関する史料は、なぜ極端に少ないのか。その理由を考える |trans-title= Why are there so few historical documents about Miyamoto Musashi? Consider the reasons |url = https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/d328fe8083b6003c2dd086986e298724f1b0b6c5 |website=yahoo.co.jp/expert |publisher=渡邊大門 無断転載を禁じます。 LY Corporation |access-date=2 June 2024 |language= ja}}</ref> The main issue debated, was if Musashi fought in the Sekigahara battle with the Eastern Army main forces, under Tokugawa, or did he fight in Ishigakibaru of western province theater under the Eastern Army commander Kuroda Yoshitaka.<ref name= Faithful29>{{cite book |first= Kengo | last= Tominaga |title= 忠実宮本武蔵 |trans-title= Faithful Miyamoto Musashi| date=1972 |publisher= Baiquan Study |page=29 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=R3gwAAAAMAAJ |access-date=10 June 2024 |language=Ja}}</ref> Daimon suggests that Musashi fought in Ishigakibaru instead of Sekigahara, by historical record of ''The Transmission of Military Art to Master Bushu Genshin''<ref name="musashiTokugawasekigahara" /> Meanwhile, Fukuda has determined that the name of Munisai appeared in Kuroda clan record under the category of ''Kogofudai'', or Kuroda clan [[vassal]]s who had entered service before 1586. Based on this fact, Fukuda concluded it was natural that Munisai and Musashi were on the Tokugawa side during the war, just as the Kuroda clan which they served.<ref name="musashiTokugawasekigahara" />

Furthermore, Japanese history novelist Kengo Tominaga proposed a theory that Musashi during the [[Sekigahara Campaign]] did not fight in the main battle of Sekigahara, but instead he fought under [[Kuroda Yoshitaka]] against [[Ishida Mitsunari]] loyalists from the western provinces in the battle of Ishigakibaru, [[Ōita Prefecture]].<ref name= Faithful29 />

In December 1608, It was reported that Musashi met with Mizuno Katsunari, a Tokugawa general. Musashi taught Katsunari the secret techniques of his sword style.<ref>『宮本武蔵奥伝（与水野日向守）』（小田原市立図書館蔵）、『兵道鏡』（高知城歴史博物館 山内文庫所蔵）</ref>

[[File:Miyamoto-Musashi-Fights-Sasaki-Kojiro-at-Ganryujima-Ukiyo-e.png|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Sasaki Kojiro, right, engages Miyamoto Musashi on the shores of Ganryū Island.]]

In 1611, Musashi learned [[zazen]] at [[Myōshin-ji]] [[Kyūshū]] after the Sekigahara battle. Musashi introduced [[Nagaoka Sado]] to an official of daimyo (lord) named [[Hosokawa Tadaoki]].

====Duel with Sasaki Kojiro====
Musashi dueled [[Sasaki Kojiro]], another skilled swordsman, in one of his most famous battles. While there are differing opinions on how it happened, the prevailing notion is that Musashi challenged Kojiro, requesting Hosokawa Tadaoki to organize the time and place.<ref name= "arch duel" /> Kojiro agreed to the challenge, scheduled one year later, on 13 April, at Ganryūjima Island. When the date arrived, the island was filled with spectators anxious to witness the duel. 

Musashi, it is said, deliberately arrived late. Kojirō had lost his patience while waiting, and he taunted Musashi for his late arrival, though the latter remained composed.<ref name="lowry">{{cite book |last=Lowry |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Lowry (martial arts) |date=1986 |title=Bokken: Art of the Japanese Sword |publisher= Ohara Publications |pages=21–27 |isbn=978-0-89750-104-0}}</ref><ref name="Kodansha International"/> Kojirō was known for fighting with a ''[[nodachi]]'', a sword with a long blade.<ref name="lowry"/><ref name="Kodansha International">{{cite book| last= Wilson| first= William Scott |title=The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi |year= 2004 |publisher= Kodansha International|location=Tokyo|isbn=978-4770029423 |page= 19 |edition=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0p0C7Y8lkH8C&q=musashi+came+late+and+unkempt&pg=PA18}}</ref> During his journey to the island by boat, Musashi had carved an [[oar]] into a ''[[bokken]]'', or wooden practice sword. The duel ended when Musashi quickly and fatally struck Kojirō, crushing his skull with a vertical stroke.<ref name="lowry" />

===Serving under Shogunate army===
In 1614, during the [[Siege of Osaka]], it was believed that Musashi participated in the Tokugawa army under the command of Musashi's personal friend, [[Mizuno Katsushige]] or also known as Katsunari. Musashi were reportedly carrying the banner of Katsunari,<ref>{{cite web |first= William |last= de Lange |title= The Siege of Osaka Castle |date=2019| website= miyamotomusashi.eu |publisher=William de Lange |url=http://www.miyamotomusashi.eu/battles/the-siege-of-osaka-castle/index.html |access-date=26 May 2024}}</ref> and also acted as bodyguard of Mizuno Katsutoshi, son of Katsunari.<ref>{{cite web |first= William |last= de Lange |title= Mizuno Katsunari (1564–1651) |url=http://www.miyamotomusashi.eu/patrons/mizuno-katsunari-15641651.html |website= miyamotomusashi.eu |publisher=William de Lange |access-date=22 May 2024 |language=En |year=2019}}</ref> It was said in a later era, during the Shimabara Rebellion, that Musashi once told a commander of the Tokugawa army that he had served under Mizuno Katsunari's command during the Osaka siege and knew the military system very well.<ref name= "Musashidocument">{{cite web |first= Masahide |last= Fukuda |title=【寄稿17】宮本武蔵と水野勝成 『宮本武蔵の大坂夏の陣』１／２ |trans-title= [Contribution 17] Miyamoto Musashi and Mizuno Katsunari, 'Miyamoto Musashi's Summer Siege of Osaka' 1/2 |url= https://mizunoclan.exblog.jp/14496991/ |language= ja |year=2011 |website= mizunoclan.exblog.jp| publisher= |access-date=27 May 2024}}</ref> [[Miyamoto Mikinosuke]], the adopted son of Musashi, also served under Katsunari during this battle.<ref name= "tokitsu" />{{rp|95, Introduction}}

In 1633, Musashi began staying with [[Hosokawa Tadatoshi]], ''[[Daimyo|daimyō]]'' of [[Kumamoto Castle]], who had moved to the [[Kumamoto]] fief and Kokura, to train and paint.<ref>{{Cite web|year=2009|title=Art of Miyamoto Musashi |url=http://www.ecole-miyamoto-musashi.com/liens.html |website= ecole-miyamoto-musashi.com| publisher= Miyamoto Musashi Dojo |access-date=12 August 2020}}</ref> While he engaged in very few duels during this period, one occurred in 1634 at the arrangement of Lord Ogasawara, in which Musashi defeated a lance specialist named [[Takada Matabei]]. Musashi officially became the retainer of the Hosokawa lords of Kumamoto in 1640. The ''Niten Ki'' records "[he] received from Lord Tadatoshi: 17 retainers, a stipend of 300 [[koku]], the rank of ''ōkumigashira'' 大組頭, and Chiba Castle in Kumamoto as his residence."<ref>Toyota, p. 250</ref>

[[File:Tombe de Miyamoto Musashi à Ōhara, province de Mimasaka.jpg|thumb|Miyamoto Musashi's grave in [[Ōhara, Okayama|Ōhara-chō]],<ref>{{Cite web| year= 2009| title=宮本武蔵&nbsp;– Musashi | trans-title= Miyamoto Musashi&nbsp;– Musashi| url= http://www.ecole-miyamoto-musashi.com/musashi_jp.html |language= ja |website= ecole-miyamoto-musashi.com| publisher= Miyamoto Musashi Dojo |access-date=August 13, 2020}}</ref> [[Mimasaka Province|province of Mimasaka]]]]

In 1638, Musashi allegedly participated in the suppression of [[Shimabara Rebellion]]. In the journal ''Munekyu (Katsunari)-sama'', a collection of statements made by Katsunari Mizuno after his retirement in 1639, there is a story about Mizuno's army during the Shimabara Rebellion: a man named Miyamoto Musashi entered the camp of general Ogasawara Nagatsugu, and Musashi said, "Last time (at Siege of Osaka), ([[Mizuno Katsushige|Mizuno Katsunari]]) Hyuga-no-Kamidono's clan had this, and I knew the military system very well."<ref name="Musashidocument" /> Musashi continued, "He is a great general that no one can match."<ref name="MusashiKatsunari">{{cite book |first= Uozumi| last= Takashi |title=宮本武蔵: 日本人の道 |trans-title=Miyamoto Musashi: The Japanese Way |date=2002 |publisher=ぺりかん |isbn=4831510114 |pages=93, 95, 111 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8W0yAQAAIAAJ |access-date=27 May 2024 |language=Ja}}</ref>

===Later life===
In the second month of 1641, Musashi wrote a work called the ''Hyoho Sanju Go'' ("Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy") for [[Hosokawa Tadatoshi]]. This work overlapped and formed the basis for the later ''[[The Book of Five Rings]]''. This was the year that his adopted son, [[Hirao Yoemon]], became Master of Arms for the Owari fief. In 1642, Musashi suffered attacks of [[neuralgia]], foreshadowing his future ill-health.

[[File:Reigandō.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Reigandō]] cave in [[Kumamoto]], Japan]]

In 1643, he retired to a cave, ''[[Reigandō]]'', living as a hermit to write ''The Book of Five Rings''. He finished it in the second month of 1645. On the twelfth of the fifth month, sensing his impending death, he bequeathed his worldly possessions, after giving his manuscript to the younger brother of Terao Magonojo, his closest disciple. Musashi died in Reigandō cave around 13 June 1645 ("[[Shōhō]] 2, 19th day of the 5th month"). Allegedly, his death resulted from lung cancer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kendo.com/miyamotomusashi|title=Musashi Miyamoto&nbsp;– the Legend |last= Almo |first= Leif |website= Kendo.com |publisher= Scandnet AB |archive-date=26 December 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171226185621/http://kendo.com/miyamotomusashi| url-status=dead | access-date=4 March 2017}}</ref> According to ''Hyoho senshi denki'' (''Anecdotes About the Deceased Master''):
{{quote|At the moment of his death, he had himself raised up. He had his belt tightened and his wakizashi put in it. He seated himself with one knee vertically raised, holding the sword with his left hand and a cane in his right hand. He died in this posture, at the age of sixty-two. The principal vassals of Lord Hosokawa and the other officers gathered, and they painstakingly carried out the ceremony. Then they set up a tomb on Mount Iwato on the order of the lord.<ref name="tokitsu" />{{rp|131}}}}