| Today, many people know of Japanese Samurai | | | | long sword technique is one of his most famous, |
| Swords and their legendary beauty, efficiency, | | | | as it teaches through the use of the Daito (or |
| and craftsmanship. However, they aren't exactly | | | | long sword) and Wakizashi (known for shorter |
| aware of one of the greatest influences on Japan | | | | blade length), how to defend oneself through fluid |
| and Samurai culture. Miyamoto Musashi is one of | | | | motion and calm control. |
| the most famous Japanese swordsmen and | | | | Religion: What we know today about Musashi's |
| Samurai to ever unsheathe a blade. His Samurai | | | | religious beliefs comes from his "Book of Five |
| Swords were known for their size, strength, and | | | | Rings," a treatise on his travels, experience, and |
| artistic elegance. But to stall there in remembering | | | | philosophies. He doesn't appear to disrespect any |
| the man and his weaponry would be a great | | | | religion, but does state that man should not |
| injustice to just how strongly both sword and | | | | depend on the gods for his deliverance in times of |
| man impacted the history of Japan and the | | | | war. In a sense, man is to forge his own path and |
| Samurai. Here are four areas where, even today, | | | | not rely on the providence of supreme beings to |
| the legend of Miyamoto Musashi Samurai Swords | | | | find favor in the eyes of nature and the world at |
| can be seen and felt: | | | | large. "...these things [religious teachings] are not to |
| Beauty and craftsmanship: With a slick curvature | | | | be found in the Way of the Warrior," he writes. |
| and a modest grip, the light yet deadly blades of | | | | Literature: While his famous "Book of Five Rings" |
| Miyamoto Musashi's Samurai Swords are too | | | | remains one of the greatest texts ever written |
| beautiful and finely crafted to be as fearsome as | | | | on the craft of swordsmanship, Musashi's influence |
| they are. Like a siren song, it is a thing of | | | | on literature and popular culture does not end |
| elegance, which must be respected. Just as | | | | there. Since his birth and death, he has been the |
| Miyamoto Musashi took great time and care with | | | | subject of many different films, TV shows, |
| his techniques, so, too, must one respect this | | | | books, and traditions; in an indirect sense, his |
| advanced piece of weaponry. But that does not | | | | mark is felt even further in the many different |
| stop the fact that of all Japanese Samurai | | | | works pertaining to the Samurai which have come |
| Swords, these remain the most famous, not only | | | | and gone over the years. |
| for their look, but also for the legend their creator | | | | The man's life cannot be separated from the |
| carved with his 60-plus successful duels. | | | | legend of his Samurai Swords. They defined him |
| Warfare: Miyamoto Musashi is said to have fought | | | | and have since defined the entire world of |
| his first duel while just 13 years old. It is said that | | | | Japanese Samurai Swords, which continues to |
| he cut down a brash, arrogant opponent that day | | | | capture our attentions and imaginations even |
| before continuing a life of warfare and bloodshed | | | | today, through people in every culture. And the |
| that was tempered only by his great respect for | | | | end will not come any time soon! |
| knowledge, technique, strategy, and culture. His | | | | |