The end of the Earth Chapter is a bit difficult to follow, because so many ideas are being discussed. In the Epiloge Musashi gives us the advice that anybody following the path of the swordsman should be aware of the following:
1.Do not harbor sinister designs
2.Diligently pursue the path of Niten Ichiryu
(the school of two swords, using a tachi (long sword) and a wakasachi (short sword))
3.Cultivate a wide range of interests in the arts
4.Be knowledgeable of a variety of occupations
5.Be discreet regarding one’s commercial dealings
6.Nurture the ability to perceive the truth in all matters
7.Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye
8.Do not be negligent, not even in trifling matters
9.Do not engage in useless activity
To Miyamoto Musashi knowledge is power, but not quite in our modern sense of power, but rather in that of a warrior and a general. Knowledge not just of sword fighting, but of all kinds of things in order to master one’s world. Following his own principles, or better, on the way of discovering his principles, he had learned how to do calligraphy, he was a metalworker, making tsubas, the small circular hand guards on Japanese swords, he painted and he wrote poetry.
“From one thing, know ten thousand”, a sentence which appears often in Musashi’s work, perhaps makes more sense then in light of his own accomplishments. Musashi is talking about how, if you learn many things, you will be able to apply your knowledge to everything else. Let me cite an example often used in an SCA context. A fighter is heavily reliant on his foot work. Without foot work, his sword work will be dull, stationary and not very versatile. One of the ways that a student of sword work may achieve this is by dancing. Dancing requires body control, grace, a sense of speed and rhythm, all of which are needed for sword fighting. Another example that Musashi actually explains in some detail is knowledge of weapons. But while he is comparing more the effectiveness of particular medieval weapons, I would like to focus on this in terms of know how to handle any weapon. An advanced fighter should be able to pick up any weapon and make a presentable showing with it. After all, knowledge of one weapon should transfer in some degree to knowledge of all sorts of weapons within a certain class of weapon.
Musashi says that one should study with a broad field of vision. That if one studies and masters the way of Heiho, he will not loose against twenty or even thirty opponents. This seems like an odd statement and I am struggling with it to this day.
However, he also adds another important facet which is often ignored by SCA fighters – that of fitness, which may in part explain this.
Fighting is about controlling your body, completely. The speeds at which our fights happen do not allow for normal thoughts to be processed. The subconscious must control the body and for this to happen, you must train diligently to give your subconscious that ability.
The other is the mind, which must be mastered. Fear, uncertainty, stress all have negative impacts on your ability to control your mind. As Musashi points out, if one is able to discipline one’s mind, one will be psychologically superior.
Think of the following two examples.
A fighter approaches a field upon which another opponent, more or less equal in skill, is waiting for him to join in combat. If the fighter who approaches has any doubts as to whether he can win this fight, then he has already lost.
If a fighter is engaged with another in an exchange of blows, the most beautiful and rewarding exchanges are those where the opponents are equally matched. Swords fly, feints are thrown and thwarted, openings are created just to have them closed in time – there is perfect rhythm, no thought, only speed, the swords and the two opponents.
Then, a doubt enters the mind of one of the opponents and the fight will be over, lost by doubt.
As an aside, rhythm is very important and we will deal with it separately, in the last chapter.
While the Earth Chapter deals with how things are, the next chapter, the Water Chapter, deals with the psychology and the techniques of his teachings.
As in my copy of Musashi’s book, let me set the stage for the next article with a couple of poems.
The first, going back to what we just spoke of.
The second about where are going.
Both are taken from the Tao te Ching.
Maximilian, Ritter von Brandenberg, a warrior, perhaps
Back to part 3
Continue to part 5
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