Kingfisher Perched on a Withered Branch by Miyamoto Musashi
“When I apply the principle of strategy to the ways of different arts and crafts, I no longer have need for a teacher in any domain.”
– Miyamoto Musashi, 1578-1645
Musashi is one of the most famous of all Japanese samurai. Living in a time of great upheaval, broke free of society and forged his own path, devoting his life to study of the sword. In Japan he is remembered as a Kensei or swordsaint. Before his death he wrote a seminal book on strategy, the Go Rin No Sho or Book of Five Rings. But perhaps the most interesting thing about Musashi is that he constantly stressed that mastery in the sword allowed him to master many other arts, and he is consequently remembered for his calligraphy, poetry, ink painting and sculpture.
Rather than dabbling in many subjects, he discovered that mastery in one art opened up others for him. (more…)
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