Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵; Japanese pronunciation: [mʲi.ja.mo.to (|) mɯꜜ.sa.ɕi], c. 1584 – 13 June 1645), was a Japanese swordsman, strategist, artist, and writer who became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 62 duels. Miyamoto is considered a kensei (sword saint) of Japan. He was the founder of the Niten Ichi-ryū (or Nito Ichi-ryū) style of swordsmanship, and in his final years authored A Book of Five Rings (五輪の書, Go Rin No Sho) and Dokkōdō (獨行道, The Path of Aloneness).

Both documents were given to Terao Magonojō, the most important of Miyamoto's students, seven days before Musashi's death. The Book of Five Rings focuses on the character of his Niten Ichi-ryū school in a concrete sense; his own practical martial art and its generic significance. The Path of Aloneness, on the other hand, deals with the ideas that lie behind it, as well as his life's philosophy in a few short aphoristic sentences.

It is believed that Miyamoto was a friend of Mizuno Katsunari, a Tokugawa shogunate general. They fought together in the Battle of Sekigahara, Siege of Osaka, and Shimabara Rebellion as part of the Tokugawa Army.

The Miyamoto Musashi Budokan training center in Ōhara-chō (Mimasaka), Okayama Prefecture, Japan, was erected to honour him.