Musashi

Introduction.  Musashi was the first major work by Japanese historical novelist Eiji Yoshikawa that was translated into English.  Translating this novel for New York: Pocket Books was a major undertaking by Charles S. Terry, spanning 14 years from 1981 to 1995, despite its original release as a newspaper serial in Japan: Asahi Shimbun between 1935 and 1939.  The English translation of Musashi is between five and seven books, depending on the publisher, not including notes, introductions, etc.  Yoshikawa has written several other novels that have subsequently been translated into English, including Taiko ki (translated by William Scott Wilson from 1992-2000), Shin Heike monogatari (translated by Fuki Wooyenaka Uramatsu from 1956-2002), and Wasurenokori no ki (translated by Edwin McClellan in 1993).  Additionally, Japanese publisher Kodansha currently publishes an 80-volume series of Yoshikawa’s works, the majority of which have not yet been translated.

Analysis.  The Blackstone Audio Inc. publication of Musashi is presented in seven books – Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Sky, Sun and Moon, and The Perfect Light.  Musashi (the man) was a famous Japanese swordsman who roamed the countryside and taught lessons in the martial arts, circa early 1600s.  Not to be confused with Musashi’s own book, The Book of Five Rings, which is a technical guide on combat and the martial arts, Musashi (the book) is about the life and exploits of the legendary man.  The book follows Musashi’s life from the crushing defeat at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, through many duels, battles, and lessons learned, to his climactic and ultimate challenge against his rival, Kojirō.  The novel covers the stories of several tangentially-related characters, many dedicating their lives to ruining him, allowing readers to gain insight into how he managed difficult relationships.

Discussion.  This novel is ‘epic’ in every sense of the word.  The tale of Musashi depicted in this novel is one of maturity, growth, and judgement – topics which resonate especially with the demographic comprising most military forces.  The lessons portrayed convey timeless and invaluable wisdom; I, personally, feel that I have grown immensely, both mentally and spiritually, from reading Musashi.  This book is an immense treasure among the available literary works translated into English.

Conclusion.  I highly recommend this book to every reader who possesses the perseverance to follow the tale through to conclusion.  It is a monumental commitment, given the sheer volume of the text, but is well worth the investment of time and energy. 

Interested? Get the book on Amazon here.