Art +Author Project
Antihero/Hero
Musashi Miyamoto
According to the Miyamoto Musashi website, Musashi was born to a samurai named Shinmen Munisai, Miyamoto Musashi is believed to be born around 1584. His mother died soon after his birth. Musashi was raised by his step-mother, Toshiko until the divorce of the couple had his father send him to the Shoreian temple where Musashi’s uncle was a monk. Musashi remained at the temple until his late teen years. Thereafter he went on to perfect his kenjutsu, or swordmanship skills. The first battle that Musashi partook in was in 1600, in the Battle of Sekigahara.
After a brief hiatus from combat, Musashi arrived in Kyoto and initiated a series of duels to establish his name and solidify his skills. Musashi first dueled Yoshioka Seijuro, leader of the Yoshioka clan. Upon defeat, Seijuro retired from the warrior’s life to become a monk in the Zen order. Brother and new leader of the Yoshioka clan, Yoskioka Denshichiro challenged Musashi in an attempt to preserve the honor of his family. The duel ended with the death and defeat of Denshichiro. The desperation of the Yoshioka clan was heightened and in an desperate attempt to restore their honor and reputation the Yoshioka clan Denshichiro’s successor, 12 year old Yoshiola Matashichiro, was next to duel Musashi. The final duel proved to be a trap set by the Yoshioka clan to kill Musashi. Musashi escapes the trap with victory in hand, showing a new technique of dueling dual sword in lieu of the single long sword that was the current style.
From 1605 to 1612, Musashi journeyed over Japan on a Musha Shugyo, or a warrior’s journey. Musashi met his most skilled opponent in 1612. Sasaki Kojiro fought with a single, one-handed sword with a speed and precision that left him undefeated. Musashi devised a plan, used for the second time in his dueling years, to arrive late and disturb the inner peace of his opponent. Enraged by the disrespect of his opponent, Kojiro threw away his sheath against a spiritually awakened Musashi. The duel left Kojiro dead and caused Musashi to renounce lethal duels (Miyamoto).
1614 brought a war between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa families, in which Musashi participated. Afterwards, Musashi entered the service of Ogasawari Tadanao of the Harima Province as a construction supervisor. Musashi helped in the construction of the Akashi Castle and helped organize the layout of the town Himeji. During his stay, he taught martial arts, particularly kenjutsu and shuriken throwing, and he perfected his Enmei-ryu kenjutsu style.
After adopting a son named Mikinosuke, Musashi ran a dojo for a few years. His reputation grew and he began to be considered one of Japan’s best swordsmen. Musashi’s reputation brought him the challenge from Honda Tadamasa, the lord of the Himeji castle, who send skilled swordsman Miyake Gunbei to Musashi’s dojo for a duel. The challenge was to no avail as Gunbei was defeated in a matter of seconds (Miyamoto).
In 1622, Musashi’s adopted son, Mikinosuke became a vassal to the Himeji fief giving Musashi leave to travel again. He ended up in Edo in 1623 and became friends with Confucian scholar, Hayashi Razan. There, Musashi adopted his second son Miyamoto Iori. In 1626, Musashi lost his first son when the death of Mikinosuke’s lord brought about seppuku or a ritual suicide in alignment with the tradition of junshi (Miyamoto).
Iori and Musashi settled in Ogura in the service of Lord Ogasawara Tadazane in 1627. Musashi fought in the Christian Rebellion of Shimabara in 1637. He was injured by a rock falling on his leg early in the battle causing Iori to take up the sword in his place. Iori was awarded “Advisor of the Lord” for his contributions in defeating the Rebellion.
In 1641, Musashi wrote Hyoho Sanju Go, or The Thirty-five Instruction on Strategy for Hosokawa Tadatoshi. A book dedicated to his fighting philosophy and technique, Hynoho Sanju Go served as the basis of Go Rin No Sho. When Musashi began to suffer from attacks of neuralgia, a painful disorder of the nerves, he retired to a cave named Reigando near Kumamoto to write Go Rin No Sho. He finished in 1645 and died Reigando around the nineteenth day of the fifth month (Miyamoto).
John Williams
Williams is one of the most respected music composers in the cinema. Born on February 8, 1932, he is a conductor and pianist. He has led countless national and international orchestras. Williams' music remains on the whistling lips of people around the globe. In the concert halls, on the promenade, in album collections, sports arenas, and parades, this writer hopes, touching some place in ourselves( Wheeler).
Miller Oberman
UConn Today reports that Miller Oberman is a contemporary poet and Ph.D student at University of Connecticut. She has many accolades, including a national award for translating 8th century “Old English Rune Poem” (Ruggiero). Oberman is a freshman English teacher. She works in translating poetry to English and hopes to spark an enthusiasm for the art of translation.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Born on January 1, 1798 in Edo, or present day Tokyo, Kuniyoshi was considered a creative genius in the field of ukiyo-e, “pictures of the floating world” ("Utagawa"). Specializing in woodblock prints, his technical merit is highlighted in his use of color and subtlety when criticizing the Shogunate (Lent 691). Kuniyoshi studied under Utagawa Toyokuni. He established himself professionally by painting warrior prints. Kuniyoshi refused to cooperate with the Shogunate and barely escaped imprisonment in 1842 with a fine. He worked as an instructor, producing another acclaimed ukiyo-e artist, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi ("Utagawa").
