Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa

This novel by Eiji Yoshikawa entitled Musashi has been republished no less than fourteen times, produced as feature film seven times, presented on countless stage plays and has been often made into mini-series on few of Japan’s nationwide networks.

So, it is a humbling experience to read such a gem first hand without being tainted by numerous adaptations floating around. I am unable to put too much of my thoughts about the book because this is an epic to begin with. Plus, this is the kind of book which book reviewers are at loss of words because it encompasses the very essence of life and living of another culture. This literary gem is so profoundly good that penning review and giving points will seem like an act of sacrilege to the sanctity of the novel itself.

This novel is about the life of Musashi Miyamoto and his journey towards becoming a legend/epic personage. The novel began with the aftermath of the battle of Sekigahara when Musashi was still known as Takezō Shimmen. His life was depicted as an angst ridden boy trying to grow up and made it big in the adult’s world while trying to become an accomplished samurai along the way. But as fate has it, Takezō (and his contacts around him) are embroiled in the circle of fate and karma until the beginning of his reemergence as Musashi Miyamoto and his ultimate transcendence as the master of swordsmanship and completing works which affects the very essence of the Japanese culture.

Do allow me to divert a bit because the review of this novel will not be complete without explaining on the significance of Musashi Miyamoto in helping to sculpt the unique Japanese culture.

For the uninitiated, Musashi Miyamoto published one of the most famous works of the Japanese bushidō (“The Way of the Warrior”) that date from the first half of the Edo period. The bushidō literature is called “Gorin no sho” which roughly translates as “The Book of the Five Rings”. His bushidō concept drew parallel comparison with Yamamoto Tsunetomo; another bushidō master of roughly the same era who published his bushidō concept called “Hagakure” which roughly translates as “Hidden among the Leaves”.

The main differences between these two works are the bushidō concept itself. For Musashi Miyamoto, the most important thing is not readiness to die, but winning. Where else Yamamoto Tsunetomo emphasise that the idea on readiness to let go of one’s life at any moment is the soul of bushidō.

This brings us back to the novel, which was beautifully sculpted along the life of Takezō Shimmen /Musashi Miyamoto albeit with slight dramatization or something to that effect. The beauty of this novel is that it sort of “explained” on his journey towards greatness and the change of perception from a humble beginning to become one of the great folklore heroes in Japan. Takezō Shimmen /Musashi Miyamoto practically came back to life and was given flesh, blood and soul in the hands of prolific and well-loved Japanese writer; Eiji Yoshikawa.

In my very humble opinion, this is the kind of hardcover that everyone should have in their book collection. The storyline is written in such a way that it “flows” from one chapter to the other. The linkage is so finely done that turning the pages and reading the paragraphs will elicit a feeling of being transported to the era when swords and honour reign supreme.

I’m so glad that that someone translated such a fine book into English language :-) An absolute must read. Period.

Personal rating: N/A

Cons:
1) None

Pros:
1) Too good. Read the review itself :-)