Musashi

[scruffysmileyface]

Anyone else read any Eiji Yoshikawa? I'm halfway through Musashi and wondering about the historical accuracy. It's a novel and was intended as such, but still I can't help wondering...

So, anyone with any thoughts?

~scruff

[Peter Rehse]

A great book. I actually spent one Saturday morning training with the spear fighting monks described in the book.

The places and events he describes are pretty accurate although the story is well a story. The love interest is a little implausable and one doubts whether some historical characters actually even met led alone had a long term relationship (Musahi and Takuan for instance).

Still. Enjoy the book.

Please read this.

http://ejmas.com/jcs/jcsdraeger_musashi.htm

[Chrono]

The places and events he describes are pretty accurate although the story is well a story. The love interest is a little implausable and one doubts whether some historical characters actually even met led alone had a long term relationship (Musahi and Takuan for instance).

That's basically it. Please correct me if you know I'm wrong here.

There's really not much known about Musashi's life except, basically, all that's told in that and in William Scott Wilson's book "The Lone Samurai". I would say that all the details in Yoshikawa's book are fictional. Most of the names and places are probably accurante.

[kabutoki]

Hi,
the best non-japanese book I have ever read was written by Kenji Tokitsu.
Here is the info from amazon.com:
Musashi : His Life and Writings

He refers a lot to the novel by Yoshikawa because thats where most people get their knowledge about Musashi from.

Karsten

[scruffysmileyface]

Thanks all!!! Especially Peter for the Draeger / Smith letters. You studied with the Hozoin?!

There are places in the book wherein it appears that virtually every young, single woman in Japan was threatening suicide if she couldn't have Musashi, so it's obviously fiction, and of course was billed as such - I'm not casting dispersions on Yoshikawa for his historical inaccuracies. I was just wondering how far afield it was.

As for the tsuba mentioned in the letters, there are different "Musashi" tsuba, depending on one's sources. Seems unlikely to me that he designed them all. Difficult, though, one imagines, to pin down historical accuracy when it comes to a man who lived 300-400 years ago in Japan.

But I'll just enjoy the book for the novel that it is, and worry about historical accuracy with the more important subjects.

Again, Thanks!!

~scruff

[Chrono]

If it's a biography you want, Jerry, then William Scott Wilson's book is what you want. I have it, but I haven't read it yet. Sorry. Enjoy the book. I know I did.

[Chizikunbo]

Anyone else read any Eiji Yoshikawa? I'm halfway through Musashi and wondering about the historical accuracy. It's a novel and was intended as such, but still I can't help wondering...

So, anyone with any thoughts?

~scruff

Hehe I just started Book II "The Art of War"
tonight, its a great series, Im not sure about the historical fact vs. fiction but I dont think anyone every will be able to but it has some facts like about Benkei Bo Musashi and the Shoguns, and such, it was well researched and is a great story either way.

[Peter Rehse]

You studied with the Hozoin?!

One whole mornings worth and then spent the rest of the day with one of the senior guys - first lunch, then the temples museum and finally my place for spinach pie and conversation. A great day although my thighs hurt for a week.

[Chizikunbo]

One whole mornings worth and then spent the rest of the day with one of the senior guys - first lunch, then the temples museum and finally my place for spinach pie and conversation. A great day although my thighs hurt for a week.

that would have been quite an experience.