40 Facts About Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi was the founder of the Niten Ichi-ryu, or Nito Ichi-ryu, style of swordsmanship, and in his final years authored A Book of Five Rings and Dokkodo.

Miyamoto Musashi gives his full name and title in The Book of Five Rings as Shinmen Miyamoto Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu.

Miyamoto Musashi's father, Shinmen Munisai was an accomplished martial artist and master of the sword and jutte.

Miyamoto Musashi's eczema developed in his infancy, and this adversely affected his appearance.

The second duel happened when Miyamoto Musashi was 16 years old, when he won another victory against a swordsman named Tadashima Akiyama, a native of Tajima Province.

In 1599, Miyamoto Musashi left his village, apparently at the age of 15.

Miyamoto Musashi spent his time traveling and engaging in duels.

In 1600, Miyamoto Musashi is said to have participated in the Battle of Sekigahara.

However, recent research by modern Japanese historians such as Masahide Fukuda and Watanabe Daimon about Miyamoto Musashi has opined that Miyamoto 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.

Daimon, who quoted the "Matsui clan Document", has opined that the notion that Miyamoto 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 Miyamoto Musashi being a ronin.

The main issue debated, was if Miyamoto 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.

Daimon more leaned to the opinion that Miyamoto Musashi fought in Ishigakibaru instead of Sekigahara, by historical record of "The Transmission of Military Art to Master Bushu Genshin" Meanwhile, Fukuda has pointed out that the name of Munisai appeared in Kuroda clan record under the category of "Kogofudai", or Kuroda clan vassals who had entered service before 1586.

Miyamoto Musashi taught Katsunari the secret techniques of his sword style.

In 1611, Miyamoto Musashi learned zazen at Myoshin-ji Kyushu after the Sekigahara battle.

Miyamoto Musashi introduced to Nagaoka Sado an official of daimyo named Hosokawa Tadaoki.

Miyamoto Musashi dueled Sasaki Kojiro, another skilled swordsman, in one of his most famous battles.

In 1614, during the Siege of Osaka, it was believed that Miyamoto Musashi participated in the Tokugawa army under the command of Miyamoto Musashi's personal friend, Mizuno Katsushige or known as Katsunari.

Miyamoto Musashi were reportedly carrying the banner of Katsunari, and acted as bodyguard of Mizuno Katsutoshi, son of Katsunari.

In 1633, Miyamoto Musashi began staying with Hosokawa Tadatoshi, daimyo of Kumamoto Castle, who had moved to the Kumamoto fief and Kokura, to train and paint.

Miyamoto Musashi officially became the retainer of the Hosokawa lords of Kumamoto in 1640.

In 1638, Miyamoto Musashi allegedly participated in the suppression of Shimabara Rebellion.

In 1642, Miyamoto Musashi suffered attacks of neuralgia, foreshadowing his future ill-health.

Miyamoto Musashi finished it in the second month of 1645.

Miyamoto Musashi had his belt tightened and his wakizashi put in it.

Miyamoto Musashi seated himself with one knee vertically raised, holding the sword with his left hand and a cane in his right hand.

Miyamoto Musashi died in this posture, at the age of sixty-two.

Miyamoto Musashi died in 1645 after allegedly suffering from lung cancer.

The Bushu Denraiki details Miyamoto Musashi fathering a daughter by a courtesan.

Miyamoto Musashi created and refined a two-sword kenjutsu technique called niten'ichi or nitoichi or 'Niten Ichi-ryu'.

Miyamoto Musashi frequently threw his short sword, and Kenji Tokitsu believes that shuriken methods for the wakizashi were the Niten Ichi Ryu's secret techniques.

However, the belief that Miyamoto Musashi disliked Shinto is inaccurate, as he criticises the Shinto-ryu style of swordsmanship, not Shinto, the religion.

Miyamoto Musashi's paintings are characterized by skilled use of ink washes and an economy of brush stroke.

Miyamoto Musashi especially mastered the "broken ink" school of landscapes, applying it to other subjects, such as his Kobokumeikakuzu, his Hotei Watching a Cockfight, and his Rozanzu.

Miyamoto Musashi known as talented sumi-e who produced several paintings such as: "Shrike Perched in a Dead Tree" and "Wild Geese Among Reeds".

On 20 May 2000, at the initiative of Sensei Tadashi Chihara the Miyamoto Musashi Budokan was inaugurated.

Inside the building, the life and journey of Miyamoto Musashi are remembered everywhere.

The inauguration of the Miyamoto Musashi Budokan perpetuated the twinning established on 4 March 1999, between the inhabitants of Ohara-Cho and the inhabitants of Gleize.

Miyamoto Musashi appeared in the manga Baki the Grappler as a revived clone of himself with his real soul intact as one of the strongest fighters in the series, and used his two-sword style in most combat in which he was shown.

The series portrays a fictional version of an aging Miyamoto Musashi who embarks on a journey to defeat supernatural forces of evil using the Oni Gauntlet.

In Japanese live action series Kamen Rider Ghost, Miyamoto Musashi is the first of many Luminary Eyecons that Takeru Tenkuuji uses as Kamen Rider Ghost.