Legend of the Swordsman who gave birth to the Nitenichi Ryu School and the Five Rings Scroll.
An essay by Yoshikawa Eiji (1892-1962).
-Translated and edited by Chaweewong Asawasena
1
Phra Taguan is fed up with the rhetoric of a toxic old lady. The foolish is always arrogant and above the wise. and the more he overlooked the other’s wisdom, the more arrogant he became. But it’s still better than someone who knows the middle and becomes an arrogant idiot that’s hard to talk regarding.
Reverend Brother used his eyes that were seen as hollow holes in the skull to look around the area and realized that the corpse was not Osu. But still can’t breathe, it’s the best The old woman shouted before saying,
“Oh, I’m relieved that the corpse is not O Zi.”
and then sarcastically said
“But it’s not strange. because he saw that he was a matchmaker who encouraged Mrs. Osu and Prince Takezo very well.”
Taguan doesn’t argue.
“You will think so as you wish. I just wanted to know if a Dharma-mo like Yom would throw a pitiful dead corpse down his throat.”
“Although Matahachi is the one who kills with the sword, my son is not at fault. If Luang Pu saw the condition of this Vanipok Swordsman, he would know that even if he didn’t get killed by anyone, he would die by himself.”
The innkeeper, who was standing there listening, interjected.
“By the way, this masterless samurai looks weird, like a bad mind. I saw staggering drooling in the streets of the city. Poo’s head must have been hit by someone who threw something on it.”
Grandmother didn’t listen because she was focused on finding a way to escape. Monk Tagu An prayed for the innkeeper to deal with the corpse of the victim and followed her from a distance.
But following walking a few steps, Grandma Osu realized it, but when she turned around, she had to stop.
“Mom…mom”
A whisper called from the shadow of the tree as the owner of the voice rushed over with delight.
Matahachi
The old woman whispered to herself in her heart with joy. and appreciate the kindness of the son who did not run away but ambush and watch the old and old mother nearby, not abandoning each other
Monk Taguan saw what the two mother and daughter were whispering regarding and walked hurriedly as if afraid of themselves. and the closer it gets to the edge of the hill, the faster it becomes running.
“I can’t do it. It’s too much to heal. It seems that the son must have put something wrong in his head once more. Alas, the world if I remove any misunderstandings because of the soft ears. Life would be so much easier.”
Reverend Father complained while looking following the two mothers and daughters. but did not speed up the pace
Their duty is to find Osu immediately. Although he looked around and saw no sign, he was relieved and delighted that the surroundings indicated that Osu had escaped the mother-daughter’s sword.
Maybe it was because of the blood that was blazing red on the ground grass that caused Elder’s confusion and thought that he would continue to search for her until the break of dawn. Because his mind wouldn’t be at peace until he saw the face of the living O Zue.
while looking for another Just then, a group of seven-eight people, the tavern owner, came back down with the temple-wielding lanterns walking down the valley. to bury Akabe Yasoma, the pathetic masterless samurai.
When they arrived, everyone digged a hole. The rhythmic sound of a spade hitting the ground echoed in the darkness of the night.
While digging into a deep hole, the hole should have been the size of the corpse itself.
“Hey, here’s another corpse, a beautiful woman.”
Someone cried out in panic. from the marsh grasses that were not so far away
“But… but still breathing.”
“Not dead yet”
“Yes, just fainted.”
The monk Taguan ran back to the crowd, who were groaning. Almost at the same time as the tavern owner called out.
2
There are very few houses that use water to live as wisely and as cost-effectively as this house.
Musashi thought as he listened to the sound of running water around the house.
This is Honami’s house. Koetsu is located in a corner of an alley in the southeast of the former Jissoin Temple in northern Kyoto. It wasn’t too far from the Rendai field that the young swordsman remembered well. Oetsu’s house is not alone. but surrounded by grandchildren’s houses, relatives’ houses, and many houses of the same occupation, both in front and behind the alley It is a large community that lives together peacefully like a big family in ancient times.
Life in this area seems strange to Musashi’s past. Normally, when he entered the city, the young man lived a simple life, mingling with the poor inhabitants of the lower tiers. but never had a chance to associate with a villager who lived in a big city like Kyoto before
Honami was a warrior family descended from the great general of the mighty Shogun Ashikaga. Today, it has also been honored with annuity allowance from the military. having a face in the royal court Also, Tokugawa Ieyatsu, the Eastern Army Commander of Fushimi Castle, was also watching. Therefore, despite his social status as a swordsman who lived a life of humility. But it was difficult to determine whether this family was a warrior or a commoner. But looking at Koetsu’s pose, this person should have realized that he was a craftsman… rather a townspeople.
Craftsman has become a profession that is considered low-class because the craftsman has made himself inferior. Like the peasants, which in the past were so revered that even the emperor himself said that peasants were a high-class occupation that benefited people. But as the era passed, the peasant farmer turned into a profession that was despised and was called a peasant farmer. And craftsmen were originally not a humble profession in the slightest.
Koetsu wasn’t the only one in that position. Other urban craftsmen such as Suminokura Zoan, Chaya Shirojirou, and Haiya Shoyu were all descended from warrior families. This was due to the fact that elite warriors during the Ashikaga Shogunate were assigned to trade positions and, in turn, became independent from the government and did not apply for any position to engage in private trade. Because he realizes that running a business or socializing doesn’t require the privilege of being a warrior. and while inheriting the concept from generation following generation until eventually becoming a full-time Kyoto merchant and all are wealthy and wealthy with wisdom and diligence
Therefore, despite the power struggle between the warriors The residents of this group will be protected from both sides. Helping to do business continuously for a long time It may sometimes be forced to help the army, but it is considered a tax that will not be wasted in the fires of war.
A corner of the former Jissoin Temple, adjacent to Mizuojidera Temple, flanked by the Arisugawa and Kamikogawa rivers, was burned to the ground during the war. Onin To this day, when digging in the ground and planting trees in the garden, there are still broken swords and helmets of warrior armor. The Honami family first moved into this neighborhood following the Onin War.
The pure, clean water of the Arisugawa River for a time flows slowly through the Koetsu estate into the Kamiogawa River. Passing through many vast vegetable fields, into the trees, came out through the pond beside the entrance door of the house. branched out through a kitchen line Go to one of the shower rooms. And a line passed by the side where the sound of water dripping from the rock crevices thought that there was probably a quiet teahouse there. But it was actually a house that everyone in this house called a sword-hinging house. At the entrance, stranded straw ropes are decorated as seen in shrines. And inside, there were many sharpeners focused on sharpening the swords assigned by customers. These were all famous swords that were the work of master blacksmiths Masamune, Muramasa and Osafune.
Musashi has been staying at this house for the fifth day.
3
Since joining the tea ceremony with Koetsu and the old nun Myoshu on the field Musashi always thought that he would like to have a chance to meet and have a close conversation with the two mothers one more time.
And it was as if fate was in his favor, because a few days later, the young swordsman met the two mother-daughters as he had imagined.
There is a story that Musashi had intended that upon arrival in Kyoto, he would search for the home of his patriarch Akamatsu. which died with the fall of the powerful Shogun Ashikaga during the Muromachi period. Known to be near Rakan Temple on the bank of the Kamiogawa River towards the east of the downstream. Even though I knew that the house wouldn’t even have any remains, I still wanted to see it with my own eyes.
When I was a child, my father always told me that
I might just be a country warrior. But do not forget until the day of your death that our ancestors descended from Akamatsu. A mighty and reputable lord of the region during the Muromachi period. And within you, this hero’s warrior blood flows. Therefore, it must be realized and preserved with life.
One day Musashi went for a walk to find Rakan Temple on the banks of the Kamiogawa River, next to the area that used to be the home of the Akamatsu family. to inquire if there are any records of his ancestor named Hirata left And his father Munizai also came to worship the spirits of his ancestors at this temple on one of his visits to the capital. But did not expect much because the story was a long time ago, probably no one knows what the story is. Just being able to stand on the same ground where our ancestors lived in the distant past was enough. The young swordsman was determined to meet Ragang Temple first.
Musashi walked to the Rakan Bridge spanning the Kamiogawa River. and asked the villagers there, but no one knew Rakhang Temple.
“At this point, everything would have changed.”
The young swordsman stood perched on the railing of a bridge, contemplating the rapid changes of the capital city in the span of a lifetime from his father to him.
Crystal clear waters in the shallow waters beneath Rakhang Bridge. Sometimes it looks cloudy and white like leach from clay. But soon it became clear as before.
He looked and saw that turbid water flowed down periodically from the undergrowth along the left bank. and when it flows down, the water will become cloudy white in a wide area.
I know, there must be a house of sharpening swords around here.
Musashi thought, unexpectedly that he would become a Alex Reed of that house and stay for four or five days.
“Isn’t that Musashi-sama?”
The old nun Myo Shu shouted. The gesture was similar to going back and forth on some errands. And that’s when Musashi realized that it was close to Honami Koetsu’s alley.
Struggling to find us here Today, Koetsu is at home. I would be very glad that you came to invite, invite, do not be considerate.
An old nun rejoices in meeting Musashi by chance. I assumed that the young man was trying to come home to him. Kuliku invites you to the house. ordered the servants to go following the son as soon as possible.
Neither Koedzu nor the old nun Myoshu had taken the wrong turn when they met in the fields.
Right now I’m sharpening my very important sword. You talked to your mother for a moment. When the work is done, I’ll be right back. We have more time to chat comfortably.
Koetsu said, then hurried back to the Sword Workshop. Let Musashi talk to the old nun and relax.
Musashi wanted to learn how to sharpen the sword, but saw that it was late today and stopped it. The next day, when the young swordsman made a request Koetsu took him to the sword smithy himself and explained and showed him how to sharpen his sword in detail. Before he woke up, it appeared that he had slept at the house of two mothers and daughters for three or four nights.
Even the owner of the house was willing to welcome him and he lived happily. But being inattentive for too long might not be suitable. Looks like I’ll have to say goodbye but not yet able to speak This morning, Koetsu said the same thing as always.
“We live in a very basic way, nothing particularly welcomes you. But if you are not bored, you can invite them to stay for as many days as you want. My writing room has enough of my collection of old books and love things. If you want to see anything, you can take it out as you like. When I have some free time, I’ll make teacups and bowls burned in the hearth in the corner of the garden. Swordsmen are interested in swords. But the pottery is no less interesting. I want you to try and grab some clay.”
Koetsu’s well-being at home was already peaceful with such a lure. Musashi mightn’t help but let him go.
