15 Quotes from Miyamoto Musashi to Help You Crush It
Advice From Japan’s Greatest Swordsman
The beginning of the Tokugawa Shogunate brought many things to Japan, most of them good. The Sengoku Jidai (‘Warring States Period’) was brought to a violent end and peace became the norm. But with peace came Shugyosha, vagabond swordsmen with no war to fight.
During this period, martial artists took to mastering the sword. To build their reputation, they would challenge schools to a duel. Someone in that school would have to accept or they would be branded as cowards and no one would attend there.
They took their swordplay and honor pretty seriously.
Then there was Miyamoto Musashi, who cared far less about honor, at least in the traditional sense. He was a Ronin (‘Masterless Samurai’) who had sworn off any master — some correlations to modern entrepreneurs could be made there. Musashi was a writer, philosopher, and strategist, but what he is most well-known for is his skill with a sword.
Musashi had scored his first kill against an experienced swordsman when he was 13 years old. Later, Musashi would go on to win 60 duels before retiring, setting the record that had never been broken and earning him the title of Kensei (‘Sword Saint’).
