Miyamoto Musashi - Sword Master

47
“If we rejected anyone who once made a mistake, then we probably wouldn’t have any useful people at all. A person who once stumbled, will behave much more prudent and will do more good because he has experienced repentance. A person who has never made a mistake is dangerous. ”

Yamamoto Tsunetomo. "Hagakure" - "Hidden under the leaves" - instruction for samurai (1716).


It has always been and always will be that someone has from birth special abilities in some area. Someone has a good voice, someone already in early childhood has the talent of the artist, well, and someone will be born with the talent of a fencer. And if he notices what he has, so to say, “lies the soul” and develops innate abilities through exercises, then ... the skill of such a person will increase a hundredfold!




A modern monument at the site of the duel Musashi and Kojiro.

In Japan, Sinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara-no-Gensin, known simply as Miyamoto Musashi ("Miyamoto of Musashi"), became such a person. He was born in the village of Miyamoto, in Mimasaka province in 1584 year. Moreover, his ancestors were members of one of the branches of the very strong clan of Harima on the island of Kyushu - one of the southern Japanese islands. Ded Musashi served with the prince at Takeyama castle, and he so highly valued Hirada that he even allowed him to marry his daughter.

When he was seven years old, he lost his father, and then his mother died, and the young Bennosuke (Musashi bore that name as a child), remained in the care of his mother’s uncle, who was a monk. Now it is not known whether he taught him kendo or the boy learned to own weapons independently, but the fact that he killed a man at the age of thirteen is known for certain. And it turned out to be someone Arima Kihei, a samurai who studied at the Shinto-ryu martial arts school, that is, a man who knew how to handle a sword. However, Musashi first threw him to the ground, and when he began to rise, he hit his head with a stick with such force that Kihei died choking on his own blood.


Miyamoto Musashi - Sword Master

That's how he was portrayed in Japanese w-kiyo ...

Musashi's second fight took place when he was already sixteen years old. He met in it with the famous fighter Tadasim Akim, defeated him again, and then left his home and went wandering around the country, making the so-called "Samurai pilgrimage." The essence of such pilgrimages was to meet with masters from different schools, to gain experience from them, and maybe, choosing a school to their liking, to stay there as a student for a while. It must be said that similar to him ronin, that is, "orphan" samurai, a great many people roamed Japan in those years and someone, like Musashi, traveled alone, and someone in a large group. For example, such a famous swordsman of the XVI century, as Tsukahara Bokuden, had with him a retinue of hundreds of people.

The end of his life Musashi decided to spend far from society, taking up the search for spiritual enlightenment on the Path of the sword. Being engaged only in the improvement of his art, he lived truly in inhuman conditions, blown by the wind and poured by rain in a mountain cave. He did not brush his hair, did not pay attention to women, did not wash, but was engaged only in honing his combat skills. He did not even take baths, so that enemies would not take him unarmed by the unarmed, and therefore he had a very wild and even eerie appearance.


And so he was also portrayed.

Although, this is how he became at the very end of his tumultuous life. And because of his youth, Musashi joined the “West” army to fight against the “East” army Tokugawa Ieyasu. So he had the opportunity to participate in the battle of Sekigahara, fighting as a spearman-ashigaru, and he survived literally a miracle, but what is even more surprising - he managed not to fall into the hands of the winners after the battle.

In Kyoto - the capital of Japan, Musashi came at the age of twenty-one. Here he met in a duel with the master swordsman Seijiro, and if he fought a real fighting sword, then Musashi - a training one made of wood. And despite this, Musashi managed to knock Seijiro to the ground, and then he simply beat him with his wooden sword. When the servants brought their unfortunate master home, he, burning with shame, cut off a knot of hair on the top of his head - a symbol of belonging to the samurai estate, so much was his grief.


But all artists surpassed Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798 — 1861). He portrayed how Miyamoto Musashi is killing the fantastic beast Nue.

Brother Seijiro decided to take revenge, and also called Musashi to fight, but he himself fell victim to the wooden sword of his opponent. Now the young son Seijiro Yoshioka decided to avenge his father. And although he was still a teenager and he was not even twenty years old, the fame of him, as a master swordsman, was almost above the glory of his father. We agreed that the battle will take place in a pine grove, next to the rice field. Musashi appeared in advance, hid, waiting for his opponent. Yoshioka arrived there in full battle dress, accompanied by armed servants, determined to kill Musashi. But he hid until those who came came to think that he would not come. It was then that Musashi jumped out of his shelter, hacked Yoshioka and, working with two swords at once, managed to get through his crowd of armed servants and ... was like that!

Then Musashi continued his wanderings in Japan, and became a legend during his lifetime. He participated in more than sixty bouts before he was twenty-nine years old, and won all these battles. The earliest descriptions of all these fights of his are described in "Niten Ki" - "Chronicles of Two Heavens", compiled by his students after his death.

In 1605, Musashi visited the Hojoin Temple, which was located in the south of Kyoto. Here he entered into a duel with a disciple of a monk from the Nitiren sect. He was a real “master of the spear”, but Musashi managed to double him over to the ground with the blows of his short wooden sword. Nevertheless, Musashi remained in this temple, deciding to learn new fencing techniques and at the same time sharpening his mind in conversations with monks. The text of instructions for the spear exercises practiced by the monks of this temple has survived to the present day.


Musashi’s life was inextricably linked with swords. Sword tati (rider's sword). The work of the master Tomonari. Japanese National Museum.

In the province of Iga, he, on the contrary, met a skilled warrior who owned the rare art of fighting with the help of a sickle on a chain, called Sisido Baykin. He waved his chain, but Musashi snatched out his short sword with equal speed and thrust it into the chest of his opponent. Baikin's disciples rushed at Musashi, but he, waving two swords at once, turned them to flight.

In Edo, he was met by fighter Muso Gonosuke and offered Musashi a duel. And at that time he was planing a blank for the bow and announced that instead of a sword he would fight her. Gonosuke rushed to the attack, but Musashi deftly dismissed his sword, and then struck him a strong blow on the head, from which Gonosuke fell dead to the ground.

Arriving in Izumo, Mousasi asked permission from daimyo Matsudaira there to meet in a duel with his most experienced fencer. There were a lot of people willing to try their luck in a fight with invincible Musashi. The choice fell on a man who fought with such unusual weapons as an octagonal wooden pole. The fight took place in the garden of the library. Musashi fought with two wooden swords at once and drove the enemy onto the steps of the veranda, and then he lunged, threatening to strike him in the face. He recoiled, and then Musashi hit his hands, smashing both hands.

Then Matsudaira asked Musashi to fight with him. Realizing that it was necessary to act with great caution here, Musashi at first pushed the prince back onto the terrace, and when he attacked him in response, he struck him with a “fire and stone” and broke his sword. Daimyo had no choice but to admit his defeat, but apparently he did not bother him evil, because Musashi then remained in his service as a fencing teacher.


Tati master Yukihir, XII - XIII centuries. Heian Kamakura (Tokyo National Museum).

However, Musashi’s most famous duel was in 17, the year of Keith, that is, in 1612, when, while in Ogur, a small town in Bunsen province, he met Sasaki Kojiro, a very young man who developed a completely amazing The sword fighting technique, known as “swallow pirouette”, is the name after the movements of the swallow tail during flight. Since Kojiro was in the service of a local daimyo, Hosokawa Tadoki, Musashi asked him to allow him to fight Kojiro through a certain Sato Okinaga, who had been trained by his father Musashi. Daimyo gave permission, and it was decided to fight on a small island in the middle of Ogura Bay at eight o'clock in the morning the next morning. Musashi spent the whole night outside the house, feasting on a visit to a certain Kobayashi Zaemona. It was immediately interpreted to mean that Musashi was scared and ran shamefully.


Katana master motosige. (Tokyo National Museum)

And yes, the next morning, Musashi slept and did not show up at the place of the fight on time. I had to send him a messenger, and Musashi got off with difficulty. At this point, he got up, drank water from a ... wash basin, and climbed into the boat of Sato Okinagh, who took him to this island. On the way, Musashi to begin with, tied up his kimono's sleeves with paper ribbons, and then he wore a semblance of a wooden sword from ... Sato's spare paddle. Having done this, he lay down to rest on the bottom of the boat.


Island Ganryujima, where just was a duel.

When the boat reached the shore, Kojiro and all his seconds were simply shocked by the Musashi that appeared before them. And in fact, he looked unimportant: the disheveled hair was intercepted by a towel, the sleeves rolled up, the hakama tucked. And without any ceremony, he immediately got out of the boat and, with a stump of an oar in his hand, rushed at his opponent. Kojiro immediately uncovered his sword - a blade of amazing sharpness and quality, made by master Nagamitsu of Bizen, but at the same time he threw the sheath of the sword aside. “You are right,” Musashi exclaimed; you will no longer need them anymore, “and rushed to meet him.

Kojiro was the first to lunge, but Musashi deftly dodged to the side and immediately lowered the sword from the oar directly onto his opponent’s head. He fell dead, but at the same time his sword cut the towel on Musashi's head and in addition the belt on his wide pants and they fell to the ground. Seeing that his opponent was finished, he nodded to the seconds, and so with a bare ass and went to the boat and got into it. Some sources claim that, after killing Kojiro, Musashi seemed to have thrown off the oar and made some quick jumps, and then snatched his fighting swords and with a cry began to swing them over the body of his defeated opponent. According to other sources, Musashi fought this fight so quickly that Kojiro did not even have time to pull his sword out of its sheath!


Wakidzasi is a short satellite sword (Tokyo National Museum).

After that, Musashi completely ceased to use real combat blades in fights at all, but he fought with only one wooden sword with a bokken. However, even with a wooden sword in his hand, he was invincible and, making from this a definite conclusion for himself, he devoted his whole life to the search for "The Way of the Sword". In 1614 and 1615, he again went into battle, but only now on the side of Tokugawa Ieyasu, besieging Osaka Castle. Musashi participated in the winter and summer campaigns, but now he fought against those for whom he fought at Sekigahara when he was young.


The blade tanto masters Sadamunee (Tokyo National Museum).

Musashi then wrote about himself that he came to the conclusion of what a fight is and what his strategy is when he was about fifty years old, in the 1634 year. He acquired the adopted son of Iori, a homeless boy whom he picked up while traveling in the Deva province, and with him settled in Ogura and did not leave the island of Kyushu anymore. But his adoptee rose to the rank of captain and as such he fought against the rebels Christians in the 1638 year during the Simabara uprising, when Musashi was already about fifty-five. Musashi himself at this time found a place for himself at the headquarters of the military council of government troops under Shimabara, and faithfully served the Tokugawa shogunate.

Having lived in Ogur for six years, Musashi went to Daimyo Turi, who owned the Kumamoto castle, and a relative of Hokasawa. He spent several years with this prince, was engaged in painting, woodcarving and taught the feudal lord martial arts. In 1643, he became a recluse and settled in a cave called Reigendo. He also wrote his famous book “Go Rin No Se” (“The Book of Five Rings”), which was dedicated to his student Teruo Nobuyuki. A few days after the completion of this work 19, May 1645, Musashi passed away. The will, which he left to his students, was called “The Only True Path” and contained the following instructions:
Do not go against the same Path of all times.
Do not seek the pleasures of the flesh.
Be impartial in everything.
Kill the greed.
Never regret anything.
Do not feel insecure.
Never envy anyone else in good or bad.
Do not feel sad in separation.
Do not feel hostility or hostility towards yourself or others.
Never have love instincts.
Give preference to nothing.
Never look for amenities for yourself.
Never look for ways to appease yourself.
Never own precious things.
Do not give in to false beliefs.
Never get involved in anything other than a weapon.
Dedicate oneself to the true Path.
Do not know the fear of death.
Even in old age do not have the desire to own or use something.
Worship buddhas and spirits, but not hope for them.
Never depart from the true Path of martial art.

As for his book, it is so named because there are five parts in it: “Books of the Earth”, “Books of Water”, “Books of Fire”, “Books of Wind” and “Books of the Void”. As for Musashi himself, he is still known in Japan as “Kensei,” that is, “Holy Sword,” and his “Book of the Five Rings” is studied by everyone involved in kenjutsu. And although Musashi himself considered it only “a guide for men who want to learn the art of strategy,” this is a real philosophical work, written in such a way that the more you study it, the more you find it all. This is a testament to Musashi and at the same time the key to the path he took. And he was not yet thirty years old, and he had already become a completely invincible fighter. Nevertheless, he only with even greater zeal engaged in improving their skills. Until the last days, he despised luxury and lived for two years in a mountain cave, plunging into deep self-contemplation like Buddhist ascetics. Even his enemies point out that the behavior of this absolutely fearless and very stubborn person was, no doubt, very modest and sincere, although it shocked someone that they violated the usual rules.


Figure work Musashi.

Interestingly, Musashi himself was a wonderful master in everything he undertook. He perfectly painted with ink, and created works that the Japanese themselves rate very highly. His paintings depict various birds with great skill, for example, cormorants, herons, the Shinto god Hotei, dragons, and flowers, Daruma (Bodhidharma) and much more. Musashi was also a skilled calligrapher, who wrote the work “Sankey” (“Militant spirit”). Wooden sculptures and metal products carved by him have come down to our day. Moreover, he founded a school for the manufacturers of swords for swords. In addition, he wrote a large number of poems and songs, only to our time they have not survived. Shogun Yomitsu specifically ordered Musashi to write the sunrise over his castle in Edo. His paintings usually bear the stamp “Musashi” or his pseudonym “Niten”, which means “Two Heavens”. He also founded the fencing school "Niten Ryu" or "Enmei Ryu" ("Clean Circle").

Musashi advised: “Learn the Ways of all professions,” and he did the same. He tried to learn from not only the famous Kenjutsu masters, but also peaceful monks, artisans and artists, trying to expand his circle of knowledge literally to infinity, as far as his life allows him to do so.


But such swords and daggers had purely ceremonial functions and would hardly deceive Musashi ...

Interestingly, the text of his book can be applied not only in military affairs, but also to any situation in life where a decision is required. Japanese businessmen make extensive use of the Book of the Five Rings as a guide for organizing sales campaigns for goods that are conducted as combat operations and use its methods. Musashi seemed strange and even cruel to ordinary people, as they didn’t understand what he was striving for, and ... what is most funny, the success of other people’s successful business also seems to be unconscionable because they know only two ways to enrich themselves: "Steal" and "sell"!


Well, he would not have refused such a headset: everything is modest and tasteful. The sheath is trimmed with silver dust and varnish.

Thus, what Musashi taught is still relevant in the 20th century, and is applicable not only to the Japanese themselves, but also to people of other cultures, and, therefore, has global significance. Well, the spirit of his teachings is easy to express in just two words - modesty and hard work.
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47 comments
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  1. +5
    10 March 2017 07: 07
    You recently had an article that the Japanese are masters of advertising. So, for me, in Japanese fencing there is more advertising than practice. It may be beautiful, but uncomfortable, rather even unusual.
    1. +5
      10 March 2017 07: 39
      Now - maybe. But at that time it was (advertising) not accepted. That is, it was exclusively verbal and did not spread as it is now. That is, "advertising" was a popular opinion. It was only later that the Japanese gathered from the British and Americans. They do not even have their own terms, but remade from the English language!
  2. +5
    10 March 2017 07: 45
    I advise you to watch the anime "Obsessed with Death" - it shows very well what life was really like in medieval Japan, which had nothing to do with those modern "spiritualized" fantasies that modern authors attribute to that time ....

    http://online.anidub.com/anime_tv/full/6541-shigu
    rui-oderzhimye-death-special-1-12-of-122007.htm
    l
    1. +1
      10 March 2017 11: 00
      Broken Link request
      1. +1
        10 March 2017 11: 29
        Everything is "working" there. It’s just that the message formats in such a way that the "l" in the "html" is the third line, and you copy only two lines. Copy all three and it will work. Or type the name itself in any search engine.
  3. +5
    10 March 2017 07: 54
    I must say that a great number of similar rhonins, that is, "orphaned" samurai in Japan wandered in those years


    Miamoto was never a Samurai, i.e. he did not have a master whom he served. only Samurai due to loss of patronage or God forbid the death of Hohein was called Ronin. Miamoto was more correct to call Bushi, a warrior.

    ps. A great topic for the article, there are many interesting and useful things you can learn from this culture.
    The book of five rings, the same Miamoto is worth reading
  4. +6
    10 March 2017 09: 31
    Thank you, Vyacheslav Olegovich! Very interesting. The “Book of Five Rings” is like a book of the infinity of the path, something to take for yourself and move on.
  5. +9
    10 March 2017 10: 08
    Thanks to the author, reading is very useful. Especially if you make corrections to the veracity of all these fables "about the great warriors."
    And what does the story say in fact? That all these "fellows among the sheep" successfully slaughtered the same "warriors" on their island, well, the maximum is enough in the bestial way of one more "great warriors" - the Chinese. All.
    All the rest fought the "great bushies" together with the "ninjas" and other rags in the tail and mane at every opportunity.
    Why, then, does all this veneration of "great Japanese culture" gush out? I believe that somewhere on the shelves of REAL (and not short-sighted and today deprived of their national security and sovereignty a little more than completely) fighters of the information war, in some serious institution such as MI5 or the NSA is the source of this holiday - a plain dad with the sticker "Propaganda of the culture of screwed up and losing nations in the territory of a potential enemy." laughing It is from there that similar stories appear. Yes
    1. +3
      10 March 2017 10: 36
      It's right. For the Japanese "culture" is first of all the "culture" of egoists, people engaged only in "doing themselves, read the" command "Musashi doesn’t resemble anything? Accordingly, this" culture "is opposed to the collective" culture "- to separate the egoists is much easier than interconnected collective communities. By the way, the Japanese "open" (as opposed to "closed" in India) caste society, selected by some Western ideological theorists, as a prototype of human civilization of the future ...
      1. +2
        10 March 2017 10: 41
        Quote: Monster_Fat
        For the Japanese "culture" is, first of all, the "culture" of egoists, people engaged only in "doing themselves, read the" commandments "of Musashi, does not resemble anything?

        Quote: Monster_Fat
        By the way, the Japanese "open" (as opposed to "closed" in India) caste society, selected by some Western ideological theorists, as a prototype of human civilization of the future ...

        Well, in general, that’s all - it’s not about history, but about the construction of some kind of art that they try to pass off (it’s not clear why) as a “role model”. And what's the point in all this garbage to delve into the result? What can be found useful in this informational garbage?
      2. +3
        10 March 2017 14: 20
        Did you live in Japan, are you familiar with its culture directly?
        1. +1
          10 March 2017 17: 06
          Please explain what it means to be familiar with the culture directly? Be a native speaker?
        2. +2
          10 March 2017 18: 10
          Well, then I’ll immediately explain: regardless of who is “directly acquainted” with what, there is an objective (from the side of real history) assessment of the competitiveness of Japanese culture (as well as ideology, statehood, military affairs). So, this rating is "unsatisfactory." Unfortunately, the Japanese could not create anything meaningful. From the word "completely."
          Therefore, I consider the propaganda and praise of this phenomenon (including the sauce “Oh, look what cool curls they have there!”) Harmful and untimely.
          If you do not agree, then please answer a simple and short question: What useful can familiarization with this material give us?
          1. +4
            10 March 2017 18: 51
            Useful can be found in any material. For example, how not to write about Japan. However, you did not answer my first question. Have you been to Japan?
            1. 0
              11 March 2017 15: 24
              Quote: Curious
              However, you did not answer my first question. Have you been to Japan?

              No, I didn’t live.
              Let's get back to the issue of "propaganda of Japanese culture." Of course, if you have something to say on the merits.
              1. +3
                11 March 2017 18: 10
                I do not understand? What propaganda do you want to discuss? Who promotes where? The author is trying to talk about Japan. Another question, which is mediocre, since Japan is a very specific issue. Do you have a negative attitude towards Japan? The flag is in your hands. And I found out whether you were in Japan or not to determine the degree of your ignorance in this matter. Defined - high. The question has been settled for me. All the best.
                1. +1
                  11 March 2017 20: 29
                  Quote: Curious
                  And I found out whether you were in Japan or not to determine the degree of your ignorance in this matter. Defined - high.

                  How funny you are! laughing
                  Knowing a bunch of small facts does not give an understanding of the overall picture, there is even a term such "kaledoscopic idiocy". You are not able to challenge anything in my value judgments and do not have any significant factology.
                  For example, to judge the quality of a car, you don’t have to go to the factory. In order to assess the combat effectiveness of the country's army, you don’t need to serve there, you just need to carefully study history.
                  I have many friends and business partners in Japan, so I have information. laughing
                  1. +3
                    11 March 2017 20: 33
                    There is nothing to dispute in your judgment for the lack of content.
                    Good luck in business.
                  2. +2
                    14 March 2017 12: 58
                    Quote: Lock36
                    For example, to judge the quality of a car, you don’t have to go to the factory. In order to assess the combat effectiveness of the country's army, you don’t need to serve there, you just need to carefully study history.
                    I have many friends and business partners in Japan, so I have information.


                    This is not the first time I've read such nonsense.
                    Typically, such nonsense is written by people who do not have a technical education — they superficially judge complex technical issues and simply do not understand what they are talking about.

                    To judge the quality of a car - MANDATORY! you have to go to the factory that collects it and to the factories that make the most important components - IT'S AXIOM!
                    Since only by delving into the technology of production and the culture of production, you can make the first predictive assessments of product quality.

                    It is very strange to hear that a person works with partners in Japan and does not respect the history and culture of this country - a very dubious statement. It's amazing that someone generally works with you.
                    The first thing in business is respect for partners.
    2. +3
      14 March 2017 12: 43
      kamikaze.html
      Quote: Lock36
      Why, then, does all this veneration of "great Japanese culture" gush out?


      A true warrior always respects the courage of the enemy - albeit a loser.

      "... On October 25, 1944, the first massive kamikaze attack against enemy aircraft carriers was carried out in Leyte Bay. Having lost 17 aircraft, the Japanese managed to destroy one and damage six enemy aircraft carriers. It was an undoubted success of the innovative tactics of Onisi Takijiro, especially considering that on the eve of the Second Admiral Fukudome Shigeru’s air fleet lost 150 aircraft without any success at all. The first Zero hit the stern of the Senti aircraft carrier, killing 16 people in an explosion and causing a fire. A few minutes later, the Swanee aircraft carrier was also disabled. resulting from a kamikaze falling into the deck of the St. Law escort carrier soon detonated the arsenal, which caused the ship to be torn apart, killing 114 crew members. As a result of this attack, the Japanese sunk one and disabled six aircraft carriers, losing 17 aircraft ... "

      "... Initial success led to the immediate expansion of the program. Over the next few months, more than 2000 aircraft made suicide attacks ..."

      On October 29, the Franklin aircraft carriers were damaged by kamikaze aircraft (33 aircraft were destroyed on board the ship, 56 sailors were killed) and Bello Wood (92 killed, 44 wounded). On November 1, the destroyer Ebner Reed was sunk, and 2 more destroyers were disabled. On November 5, the Lexington aircraft carrier was damaged (41 people were killed, 126 injured). On November 25, another 4 aircraft carriers were damaged.

      "... On November 26, kamikaze hit the transport and cover ships in Leyte Bay. The destroyer Cooper was sunk, the battleships Colorado, Maryland, the cruiser Saint Louis and 4 more destroyers were sunk. In December, the destroyers" Mahan "," Ward "," Lamson "and 6 transports, several dozen ships were damaged. On January 3, 1945, a kamikaze hit the Omani Bay aircraft carrier, caused a fire, soon as a result of detonation of ammunition, the ship exploded and sank, taking 95 sailors with it On January 6, the battleships of New Mexico and the California that was reborn after Pearl Harbor were damaged.
      In total, as a result of the kamikaze actions in the battle for the Philippines, the Americans lost 2 aircraft carriers, 6 destroyers and 11 transports, 22 aircraft carriers, 5 battleships, 10 cruisers and 23 destroyers received damage ...

      .... the greatest damage to the kamikaze caused in the battles for Okinawa. Of the 28 ships sunk by aviation, kamikazes were sent to the bottom 26. Of the 225 damaged kamikaze ships, 164 were damaged, including 27 aircraft carriers and several battleships and cruisers. 4 British aircraft carriers received 5 hits of kamikaze planes. A total of 1465 aircraft participated in suicide attacks.

      By the end of World War II, Japanese naval aviation trained 2525 kamikaze pilots, and another 1387 were provided by the army. In accordance with Japanese statements, as a result of kamikaze attacks, 81 ships were sunk, 195 damaged.
      According to American data, losses amounted to 34 sunken and 288 damaged ships. In addition, the psychological effect produced by American sailors was of great importance ...

      ... Japanese aviation never had problems with a shortage of kamikaze pilots, on the contrary, there were three times as many volunteers as there were planes. The bulk of the kamikaze were twenty-year university students, the reasons for joining the suicide squads ranged from patriotism to the desire to glorify your family.
      But still the root causes of this phenomenon are inherent in the culture of Japan itself, in the traditions of bushido and medieval samurai. A special role in this phenomenon is also played by the special attitude of the Japanese towards death.
      "To die with honor for his country and for the Emperor was the highest goal for many young Japanese of that time."

      http://slavyanskaya-kultura.ru/vtoraja-mirovaja-v
      oina / geroi-smertniki-vtoroi-mirovoi-letchiki-

      Japanese warriors can be treated differently, but during the Second World War, in his memoirs he did not meet the neglect of the Japanese by their opponents.
      Everyone noted the courage of the Japanese soldiers and neglect of death.

      So why is this of you gushing out of neglect of Japanese culture?
  6. +7
    10 March 2017 10: 34
    By the mid 30-ies of the XX century, the concept of nipponism (Japaneseism) was finally formed in Japan, which defined the special “divine” mission of Japan to establish social “harmony”, a single “family-state” led by the emperor and the idea of ​​leadership “ Higher Yamato Race ”in Asia. The peculiarity of this ideology is the combination of the Shinto national religion and the ideas of the samurai code bu-shido.
    Youth required idols appropriate to the ideology. And in 1935, Eiji Yoshikawa wrote a novel designed to give young people the image of the ideal hero. So Miyamoto Musashi Shimman gained "all-Japanese" fame.
    During the Second World War, a radio show about him was very popular in Japan.
    Musashi knows little about real life. But the legends from the book of Yoshikawa under the guise of biographical details - a lot
    It is enough to note that under the name Miyamoto Musashi in those days, about a dozen samurai (Miyamoto Musashi Nagayoshi, Miyamoto Musashi Masana) walked with a sword, and gradually began to attribute all their exploits and victories to our hero. They were not relatives or copycats. Just Musashi is the name of the province, so it was more like a nickname.
    1. +2
      10 March 2017 20: 07
      Thank you for the important addition, which, incidentally, the author had to insert into the article.
  7. 0
    10 March 2017 11: 18
    The main commandment of the samurai: "Do not interfere! And only to increase!"
  8. +3
    10 March 2017 12: 14
    According to other sources, Musashi conducted this battle so quickly that Kojiro did not even have time to pull his sword from its scabbard!

    rather, this could only be done through the use of the iai movement. With the oar, this is impossible. And many thanks for the article, dear Author!
    Off-topic question: Musashi battleship, one of the two largest, named after the province? Hardly in honor of the famous swordsman.
    1. +2
      10 March 2017 12: 40
      Of course, the provinces!
    2. +4
      10 March 2017 13: 42
      The tradition of naming ships in honor of the historical areas (provinces) of Japan was formed at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. Among the first ships so named were the sloops Yamato and Musashi. These names gained wider fame during the Second World War - they were carried by the most powerful battleships in the world. It must be said that with respect to the word "Yamato" a second interpretation is possible. This is one of the oldest names in Japan, and until now, in high-flown speech, the Japanese call their homeland "Yamato country." In rich Japanese, there are other words in ancient legends and poetry that denoted Japan: "Fuso" ("Fuso"), "Yashima" ("Yashima") and "Sikishima" ("Shikishima"), these names were called armadillos. The name Akitsushima, similar in meaning, had an armored cruiser. The Russo-Japanese War also included the provincial names of the cruiser Izumo (Izumo) and Izumi (Izumi).
      Spread the names in honor of famous places in Japan: "Naniwa" ("Naniwa"), "Takasago" ("Takasago"), "Akashi" ("Akashi"). For the names, as a rule, the places chosen for the beauty of their nature were chosen. So, built in 1888-1894. the cruisers of the same type Itsukushima (Itsukushima), Matsushima (Matsushima) and Hashidate were named after places that have been praised for centuries for Japan’s most beautiful landscapes.
      1. +5
        10 March 2017 14: 36
        all the familiar names! But “Yamato” and “Musashi” for them do not care that for us, “Azov” and “Varyag” are just as legendary.
        There is a 2011 Japanese film, 2199: A Space Odyssey. He was even shown in the movies, though quickly turned away. The plot is weak, the play of the artists below is not that much of criticism, I was generally amazed how in the country of Kurosawa and Kitano they could make such a thing .. negative But! The plot revolves around a campaign against the aliens of the last spaceship of earthlings - the space battleship Yamato, which, in fact, was a copy of the same battleship. And the film became the record holder for viewing in Japan and box office, ahead of all other films! fellow That is, "Yamato" for the Japanese is a strong symbol of patriotism, as for us the Brest Fortress soldier it is typical that the name of the chief engineer of the battleship in the film is Tokugawa wink the samurai spirit is still alive!
        1. +3
          10 March 2017 17: 26
          By the way, the film is so-so ... but the original anime is even very personal. My daughter got hooked on him and I also looked at the old stump ...
          1. +3
            10 March 2017 17: 37
            exactly! after watching the movie, I also said: "It would be better if they removed the cartoon!" True, he is not an anime lover. I will say this: my feeling is that Japan has very mediocre cinema (Kurosawa and Kitano do not count). But they conditionally "replaced" his anime, in the genre of which they shoot everything - from horror films and melodramas to pornography. A unique phenomenon!
            My friends, thank you for today's discussion, all of you have a good weekend! drinks So that in the family circle, friends, it is possible with beer, or one hundred and fifty grams, and not sake! fellow drinks But without fanaticism! wink
            1. +4
              10 March 2017 21: 02
              By the way, why not sake? There are very nice varieties.
  9. +5
    10 March 2017 17: 24
    When the last warrior leaves
    On the eternal night
    Star light on a blade pattern
    Escorts him.
    Fading like lightning glitter ...
  10. +3
    10 March 2017 21: 23
    By the way, someone like me personally very kendo went. The blade technique is close to perfection.
    1. +5
      10 March 2017 22: 44
      Horror flying on the wings of the night!
    2. +1
      11 March 2017 15: 13
      Quote: Taoist
      The blade technique is close to perfection.

      If essentially: the Japanese are very weak fencers. For example, a two-handed fighter in Japan is a rarity. In Europe, including Russia, it was quite common and commonplace.
      1. +3
        11 March 2017 17: 59
        What kind of weapon is often and routine for?
        1. +1
          11 March 2017 20: 39
          Cold long blade. More questions?
          Or are you also an expert in military history? laughing Anything to argue about the disproportionately hyped image of Yamato's low-quality army?
          Maybe you want to talk about bows? Or about low-grade steel swords? laughing
          Or maybe about the magnificent armor? laughing
          I just admire this "worship of losers" - HOW? How are people brought to this?
          1. +3
            11 March 2017 20: 43
            Good luck in business.
            1. 0
              12 March 2017 17: 17
              Quote: Curious
              Good luck in business.

              Thank you Well, do you object to me at least for decency? You so accurately defined the level of my competence - I set myself up, such a wonderful occasion to convict me of ignorance.
      2. +2
        12 March 2017 13: 49
        You know, I do not agree with you, at least from personal experience. I have in my “baggage” both kendo classes and rather serious classes in “historical reconstruction”. I work quite freely with different blades and in general I can compare not only "according to the textbook". And this has nothing to do with "worship of losers." I can also tell you a lot about the shortcomings of a particular school. And here we are talking about the technique of an individual duel that has been honed in a closed society for centuries. That is why I think the Japanese sword technique is close to perfection (and ideals do not exist in reality) And do not confuse battle and duel. They are different. And the “big-armed" fighters in Japan were no more and no less than everywhere, taking into account the difference in tactics and features of warfare.
        1. 0
          12 March 2017 17: 16
          Quote: Taoist
          And here we are talking about the technique of an individual duel that has been honed in a closed society for centuries. That is why I think the Japanese sword technique is close to perfection (and ideals do not exist in reality) And do not confuse battle and duel.

          Well, in general, I agree - you, by the way, quite accurately noticed. A kind of sport - "one on one". Type, boxing. It is for military use that a thing can be useful, but no more.
  11. +3
    11 March 2017 13: 33
    Wonderful article. I read it with great pleasure.
  12. +4
    12 March 2017 09: 55
    Shpakovsky still not tired of translating Japanese tales? Right now, poor Russian Gridni and European knights in coffins tossing and turning, how do they mean you fuckers have fought all their lives, and now, as much as you can, musashi with one left can do it all !!!!
  13. +1
    12 March 2017 10: 01
    Quote: Lock36
    Cold long blade. More questions?
    Or are you also an expert in military history? laughing Anything to argue about the disproportionately hyped image of Yamato's low-quality army?
    Maybe you want to talk about bows? Or about low-grade steel swords? laughing
    Or maybe about the magnificent armor? laughing
    I just admire this "worship of losers" - HOW? How are people brought to this?

    You are a plus! And then a whole generation has already grown which believes that japas are super duper fighters !!! Yeah, and everyone else was standing aside! And Shpakovsky always drags on VN like hell!
    1. +2
      12 March 2017 17: 20
      Thank you Watching the people of feature films and admiring .... the skill of Hollywood directors.
      With China - the same trouble. laughing
  14. +1
    13 March 2017 09: 27
    It is already difficult to understand that it is true that - not very, which is fantastic - a lot of "curls" add time.
    But apparently the person was - and not collective !!!
  15. +2
    13 March 2017 19: 48
    In the movie "The Last Samurai" IS! Real swordsmen!
  16. +1
    April 17 2017 00: 24
    I understand that the samurai did not have a duel code.

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