Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi, also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten Dōraku, was an expert Japanese swordsman and rōnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent and unique double bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 60 duels. He was the founder of the Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū or Niten-ryū style of swordsmanship and in his final years authored The Book of Five Rings, a book on strategy, tactics, and...
NationalityJapanese
ProfessionSoldier
CountryJapan
Respect the gods and buddhas, but never rely on them.
It is imperative to master the principles of the art of war and learn to be unmoved in mind even in the heat of the battle.
To cut and slash are two different things. Cutting, whatever form of cutting it is, is decisive, with a resolute spirit. Slashing is nothing more than touching the enemy.
Also by training you will be able to freely control your own body, conquer men with your body, and with sufficient training you will be able to beat ten men with your spirit. When you have reached this point, will it not mean that you are invincible?
If you fail to take advantage of your enemies' collapse, they may recover.
There is timing in everything. Timing in strategy cannot be mastered without a great deal of practice.
Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help
When your opponent is hurrying recklessly, you must act contrarily and keep calm. You must not be influenced by the opponent.
Whatever the Way, the master of strategy does not appear fast….Of course, slowness is bad. Really skillful people never get out of time, and are always deliberate, and never appear busy.
Pay attention even to life's trifles.
You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well.
Always return your weapon along the same path it traveled out on. In this way you can use it again without having to relocate and rethink our attitude.
When you cannot be deceived by men you will have realised the wisdom of strategy.
People in this world look at things mistakenly, and think that what they do not understand must be the void. This is not the true void. It is bewilderment...