Myamoto Musashi, born in 1584, is Japan’s most famous samurai.
Musashi was a Ronin (Samurai without a master) who traveled around Japan to face the most famous Masters. He was never defeated in more than 70 fights to the death. He annihilated the Yoshiyoka school alone against 60 fighters by developing his two-sword technique.
At the age of 60, feeling death coming, he retired to a cave in the mountains to write the “Gorin No Sho” literally the “Book of five rings” which will inspire the Japanese Bushido spirit “The way of the Warrior” and which still influences today the soul of Japanese people, especially businessmen.
This way of thinking has structured the soul of the Japanese until today and these principles are still very present in the social and economic organization of Japan.
The notions of righteousness, courage, Kindness, politeness, sincerity, honor and loyalty are very much impregnated in the business world in Japan.
The principles of Musashi, which inspired the code of honor of the Samurai, are therefore at the origin of the industrial and economic ideology of modern Japan. It is by drawing inspiration from these values that Japanese businessmen have managed the miracle of making devastated Japan the second power in the world.
Gorin no sho
The “Gorin No Sho” refers to the 5 elements of the Japanese tradition:
Land: Outline of your strategy.
Water: Forge yourself intellectually and physically.
Fire: Tactics to win your fight.
Wind: What is the philosophical spirit of your company ?
Emptiness: Emptiness is your ideal. Emptiness is the goal to be achieved.
The 7 Principles of Bushido “The Way of the Samurai”
- Gi: Righteousness. The right decision, the right attitude, the truth.
- Yu: Courage. Bravery.
- Jin: Kindness. Universal love towards humanity.
- Rei: Politeness. Right behavior. Respect. Courtesy.
- Makoto: Total sincerity.
- Melyo: Honor.
- Chugi: Devotion. Loyalty.
The 9 principles of Musashi
- Avoid all evil thoughts.
- Forge yourself on the path by practicing it yourself.
- Embrace all the arts and not just one.
- Know the path of each job.
- Distinguish advantages and disadvantages of each thing.
- Get used to intuitive judgment.
- Instinctively knows what you can’t see.
- Pay attention to the smallest detail.
- Don’t do anything unnecessary.
A famous book is dedicated to him, “The stone and the sword” by Eiji Yoshikawa and its sequel “The perfect light” traces the life of Musashi.
“The Art of Peace can be summed up like this: the real victory is the victory over oneself: let this day come quickly! “True victory” means unyielding courage; “victory over self” symbolizes continuous effort; and “let that day come quickly” represents the glorious moment of triumph here and now. » Ueshiba Morihei founder of Aikido.
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