Musashi (Novel by Eiji Yoshikawa) – More Than Just A Martial Art Novel

The Origin of the Musashi

One of those novels that have a worldwide reputation is Musashi written by Eiji Yoshikawa. The novel was first published as a serialized story in a Japanese newspaper during 1935-1939. The original Japanese novel has been translated into Indonesian, English, Italian, French, Portuguese, and many other languages.

Eiji Yoshikawa, the author, whose real name was Yoshikawa Hidetsugu, was a Japanese historical novelist who wrote several books. According to Wikipedia, he was born on August 11, 1892 in Kanagawa prefecture, and died at the age of 70 on September 7, 1962 in Tokyo. He began his writing career by writing comic haiku under the pseudonym Kijiro. His persistence in writing led him to win the first prize in a novel writing contest sponsored by Kodansha publishing house in 1914 with his novel The Tale of Enoshima.

Translation into English

The English edition was first published in 1981 with the translation done by Charles S. Terry. Terry is a translator known primarily for translating Musashi into English. According to Wikipedia, Terry has a Master's degree in Japanese history from Columbia University. He began studying all things Japanese while serving in the US Navy in World War II. Furthermore, he also earned a Master's degree in Chinese history.

Terry's work in translating Musashi was perhaps one of the pivotal points for Musashi to make its reputation as a world-class novel. Terry's deep knowledge of Japanese tradition and history allowed him to translate Musashi while maintaining the essence of Japanese culture and philosophy in the narrative and at the same time conveying it to the English-speaking public in an engaging and easy-to-understand manner.

Musashi in Indonesian Literature

In Indonesia, Musashi began its history when PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama (Gramedia, one of the major book publishers in Indonesia) issued an Indonesian edition in the mid-1980s. Musashi is a very long novel, so when Gramedia first published the Indonesian edition in 1985, it broke it into seven volumes, namely:

• Buku Pertama : Tanah (Book One: Land)
• Buku Ke Dua : Air (Book Two: Water)
• Buku Ke Tiga : Api (Book Three: Fire)
• Buku Ke Empat : Angin (Book Four: Wind)
• Buku Ke Lima : Langit (Book Five: Sky)
• Buku ke Enam : Matahari dan Bulan (Book Six: Sun and Moon)
• Buku Ke Tujuh : Cahaya Sempurna (Book Seven: Perfect Light)

Each volume depicts Musashi's life journey from his youth through the pivotal events of his rebellious and turbulent life to his crowning achievements in martial arts and his philosophy of life.

In December 2001, Gramedia published a complete edition of 1248 pages, with a size of 15 x 23 cm. In 2012, it published a hardcover edition of the novel.

Another Languages

In my internet search, I found on goodreads.com a French translation published on January 10, 2000. The Italian version has been available since at least 1994. The Portuguese version was first published in Brazil in 1998. A list of Musashi translations into various languages held in the goodreads.com library can be seen at this link.

But, Who is Musashi?

This novel by Eiji Yoshikawa is based on the life of a swordsman named Miyamoto Musashi who lived between 1584 and 1645. Miyamoto Musashi whose real name was Takezo Shinmen was a samurai (sword master), artist, writer, and strategist. As a master of sword fighting, he was well-known for his unique two-sword technique, and he never lost a single duel in the 62 duels he fought during his lifetime. As a writer, he left behind a famous book called “Book of Five Rings” and another legendary like The Way of the Warrior and The Way of Walking Alone.

What is the Musashi Novel All About?

Conveniently, one would put Musashi into the categories of history and martial arts. But the truth is that this novel transcends both. It is also about the honor and wisdom of life as portrayed through the journey of the main character Musashi. Along with all the duels depicted in it, set against the social upheaval of Musashi the swordsman's lifetime (Edo era), the story is also a kind of philosophical guide to life and self-discovery.

Musashi, whose real name was Takezo Shinmen, began his story as a wild and ambitious young rebel. After suffering defeat at the Battle of Sekigahara, Takezo became a fugitive and was labeled a troublemaker. After that defeat, his long journey to discover the true meaning of being a samurai began. The various characters encountered on his journey have helped him grow and develop, both as a warrior and as an individual. However, through a journey filled with encounters and challenges, he transforms himself into a respected swordsman, renowned for his skill and deep principles.

Musashi's journey was not free from romance. A woman named Otsu had become a filler for the romantic side of his life journey. Otsu was a woman who faithfully waited for him despite having to face various obstacles.

Eiji Yoshikawa describes Musashi's journey as more than just a mastery of the art of the sword. It is a spiritual journey that leads him to understand the meaning of life, honor, and responsibility towards others. Musashi learns that true strength lies not only in victory in battle, but also in the ability to conquer the ego and find peace within oneself.

Adaptations