Miyamoto Musashi won a duel against Sasaki Kojiro, in which he carved an oar into a practice weapon and killed Kojiro with a single strike to the skull. Answer some questions about his life, for 10 points each:
[10h] Musashi wrote this work on strategy and philosophy based on the five Japanese Buddhist elements. Its final book, “Void,” ends: “Wisdom has existence, principle has existence, the Way has existence, spirit is nothingness.”
ANSWER: The Book of Five Rings [or Go Rin no Sho]
[10e] Musashi’s technique of Niten Ichi-ryū, translating as “two heavens in one,” refers to his innovation of fighting with both a short wakizashi and a long katana, two types of this class of weapon traditional to the samurai.
ANSWER: swords [or tō]
[10m] The only record of Musashi in a battle outside of duels is from the Shimabara Rebellion, whose aftermath included a ban on traders from this country. Traders from this country began the nanban trade at Tanegashima.
ANSWER: Kingdom of Portugal [or Reino de Portugal]
<Clemson A, World History>