Miyamoto Musashi

>>1545757
Yagyuu Jubei was the greatest samurai.

He was just a smart man who knew how to use his opponent's weaknesses against them in one-on-one duels.

He probably wouldn't be nearly as well known if he also wasn't a decent writer either. So to answer your question, sort of but not really.

>>1545757
Is there even evidence that he actually existed?

>>1545790
Isn't The Book of Five Rings proof?

File: Miyamoto-Musashi-A.jpg (20KB, 232x400px) Image search: [Google]

20KB, 232x400px

>>1545757
He was a badass, but he has become overblown.

most of his duels probably were not to the death, but simply matches with wooden weapons which although dangerous, only occasionally resulted in death

http://www.musashi-miyamoto.com/musashi-the-retainer.html
>fter running his dojo successfully for a few years, Musashi's reputation started to grow even more and he began to be considered one of Japan's best swordsmen. When Honda Tadamasa, the lord of Himeji castle heard about him, he ordered Miyake Gunbei, his most skilled samurai, to go to Musashi's dojo and show him that he was not actually Japan's greatest swordsman. Musashi accepted the fight and left the choice of the weapon (either a real sword or a wooden sword) to his opponent.

>Miyake's orders were to test Musashi's ability, not to kill him, so he decided to cut a piece of bamboo from the garden to use as a weapon. Meanwhile, Musashi wielded his bokuto. Seconds after they had faced off, Miyake Gunbei was defeated.

So as you can see there was no real intent to kill in this, one of his latter duels.

Many great swordsmen of the period were perhaps his equal or better.

>>1545790
Yes, during the period he was perhaps better known as an artist, and several pieces made by him survive.

I believe this is a self portrait