Utagawa Kuniyoshi: woodcut of Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi, woodcut by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1852.
Miyamoto Musashi
Japanese soldier-artist
Also known as: Miyamoto Masana, Niten
Miyamoto Musashi (born 1584, Mimasaka or Harima, Japan—died June 13, 1645, Higo) was a famous Japanese soldier-artist of the early Edo (Tokugawa) period (1603–1867). Musashi began his career as a fighter early in life when, at age 13, he killed a man in single combat. In 1600 he was on the losing side of the Battle of Sekigahara (which paved the way for establishing the Tokugawa shogunate), becoming one of the rōnin (masterless samurai). In...