Four Ways Miyamoto’s Musashi Samurai Swords Impacted Japanese and Samurai History
Today, many people are familiar with Japanese Samurai swords and their legendary beauty, efficiency, and craftsmanship. However, they are not exactly aware of one of the biggest influences on Japan and the Samurai culture. Miyamoto Musashi is one of the most famous Japanese swordsmen and samurai to ever draw a sword. His Samurai swords were known for their size, strength, and artistic elegance. But to stop there in remembering the man and his weaponry would be a great injustice because of the force with which both the sword and the man impacted the history of Japan and the samurai. Here are four areas where, even today, the legend of Miyamoto’s Samurai Musashi swords can be seen and felt:
Beauty and Craftsmanship: With a slippery curvature and modest grip, the lightweight yet deadly blades of Miyamoto Musashi’s samurai swords are too beautiful and finely crafted to be as fearsome as they are. Like a siren song, it is a matter of elegance, which must be respected. Just as Miyamoto Musashi took a lot of time and care with his techniques, so too should this advanced piece of weaponry be respected. But that does not prevent that, of all the Japanese Samurai swords, these continue to be the most famous, not only because of their appearance, but also because of the legend that their creator created with more than 60 successful duels from him.
War: Miyamoto Musashi is said to have fought his first duel when he was only 13 years old. It is said that he killed a reckless and arrogant opponent that day before continuing a life of war and bloodshed that was only tempered by his great respect for knowledge, technique, strategy, and culture. His long sword technique is one of his most famous, teaching through the use of Daito (or long sword) and Wakizashi (known for shorter blade length), how to defend oneself through fluid movement and control. don’t worry.
Religion: What we know today about Musashi’s religious beliefs comes from his “Book of Five Rings,” a treatise on his travels, experiences, and philosophies. He doesn’t seem to disrespect any religion, but he claims that man should not depend on the gods for his deliverance in times of war. In a sense, man must forge his own path and not depend on the providence of supreme beings to find favor in the eyes of nature and the world in general. “…these things [religious teachings] are not on the Path of the Warrior,” he writes.
Literature: While his famous “Book of Five Rings” remains one of the greatest texts ever written on the art of swordsmanship, Musashi’s influence on literature and popular culture doesn’t end there. Since his birth and death, he has been the subject of many different movies, TV shows, books, and lore; in a roundabout sense, his mark is felt even more in the many different samurai-related works that have come and gone over the years.
The life of man cannot be separated from the legend of his Samurai Swords. They defined it and have since defined the entire world of Japanese samurai swords, which continues to capture our attention and imagination even today, through people of all cultures. And the end will not come soon!