Review of Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa

Reports of Sri Chinmoys recent visit to Japan have sent my thoughts longingly eastward, to a country which I have never visited. From pickled ginger to origami, Japanese culture has always brought a mysterious thrill to my heart.

Miyamoto Musashi is Japans most famous swordsman. The account of his life, meticulously researched and documented by Eiji Yoshikawa in the 1930s, was carefully crafted into English by Charles S Terry 50 years later; a work transparent enough to preserve Yoshikawas exquisite poetic style.

This is ostensibly a book of swordsmanship, and includes its share of martial combat, but that element is neither gratuitous nor glamourised it serves to support rather than blemish the storys purpose. Musashi transforms himself from a brute and selfish thug, to a hero of great depth and honour. Through the teachings of Takuan Soho and through his own self-discipline and one-pointedness, he transcends his natural capacities in the pursuit of his lifes mission.

Although Musashi was the maven of martial arts in his time, Yoshikawa portrays his many human aspects so as to bring his character into real and living relief not a mere legend, but a man struggling with failings and weaknesses, in whom one can surely glimpse ones own self. Never coldly observing from outside any character, Yoshikawa becomes the character and writes straight from that beating heart, or racing mind, or pulsing body. Each character has its place in the tale and its own unique lesson for the reader.

Yoshikawas research is such that every angle of the culture and every level of the social hierarchy is revealed in robust detail. The writing is complete and completely satisfying, pristine and elegant. No single word is superfluous, yet no detail is trivial enough for exclusion. One may well take any sentence from any of the 970 pages and let it stand as a striking, intriguing work of prose.

More graceful than grisly, this is the accoun t by one master of another master's life. Whether you choose to read this book for its historical content, its study of martial arts, its celebration of Japanese culture, its portrayal of human transcendence, or simply as a heroic piece of writing, you will not be disappointed.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Do:

* Read this book, even if it takes you the rest of your life.

Dont:

* Bother watching the Musashi Films made in the mid 1950s!

* Bother reading Taiko by the same author unless you can read Japanese unfortunately the English translation is careless and ruthlessly abridged.

Sumangali Morhall is a member of the Sri Chinmoy Centre in Cardiff Wales. She works in a running shop Run and Become Sumangali enjoys writing prose and poetry and edits a website about the music of Sri Chinm oy

Author:: Sumangali Morhall
Keywords:: Film
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