Master swordsman Miyamoto Musashi was a "good-natured old man"? The face of a man of culture

In the Edo period, in Kumamoto, where the great swordsman Musashi Miyamoto spent his later years, a copy of a letter was newly discovered from the feudal lord at the time, stating that he was invited to a dialogue with cultural figures along with leading figures in Confucianism. rice field.

A total of four items were found, including copies of letters sent by the feudal lord and chief retainer of Kumamoto, where the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi spent his later years, during the three years starting in the 17th year of the Kan'ei period in the Edo period.

It was discovered among historical materials related to the Hosokawa family owned by Kumamoto University.

It shows that Musashi was invited to the place of dialogue with the samurai code of conduct and the leading figures of Confucianism, while Tadatoshi Hosokawa, the lord of the domain at that time, had many dialogues with intellectuals in his later years. is.

From this, it is said that Musashi is highly regarded as a "cultured person" and can be seen as an open "tactician" who pursues the path while interacting with those around him.

Professor Tsuguharu Inaba, director of the Eisei Bunko Research Center at Kumamoto University, said, ``The conventional image of Musashi is that of a lone swordsman who is difficult to approach and scary, but from this historical document, he has a lively personality that pursues the path while discussing with those around him. I can hear it," he says.

Some of the discovered historical materials are scheduled to be released at Kumamoto University for three days from November 3rd.

"Good-natured old man" Sometimes he can keep his neighbor's luggage

Some of the historical materials found this time show that Musashi took care of the luggage of the people who lived next door. is.

Professor Tsuguharu Inaba, director of the Eisei Bunko Research Center at Kumamoto University, said, "It can be considered that he was a 'nice old man' who looked after the neighborhood's luggage in his daily life."

In addition, researcher Noriko Goto, who found the historical materials, said, ``When I peeled off the paper from the historical materials with a skewer for yakitori, the characters of Miyamoto Musashi came out, so I shouted, 'I'm Musashi,' and stood up with joy.In his later years. Although he spent his time in Kumamoto, historical materials are hard to come by, so I thought he was a legendary person, but Musashi actually existed."