Musashi Miyamoto's early life.

Details about the early life of legendary Samurai Musashi Miyamoto are difficult to verify as Musashi left only writing that are related to Kenjutsu technique and strategy. Most Japanese historians agrees that Musashi Miyamoto was born around 1584 (Year of the Monkey), a period of turmoil and civil War as Japanese Warlords were fighting for the supremacy over the Japanese territory.

Musashi Miyamoto was born in Miyamoto Village in Harima province into a Samurai family. His full name was Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Genshin, his childhood name was either Bennosuke or Takezo, it is unsure. Musashi choose his name from the name of his birthplace, Miyamoto Village.

Musashi's father was a Samurai named Shinmen Munisai, an accomplished swordsman, expert in Kenjutsu (swordmanship) and Juttejutsu. Munisai taught Kenjutsu and Juttejutsu to Musashi at a young age, like it is the tradition in Samurai family. The young Musashi Miyamoto has an early talent for Kenjutsu. Shinmen Munisai's father, Hirata Shogen, was a vassal of Lord Shinmen Iga no Kami of Mimasaka Province.

Musashi Miyamoto's mother died soon after he was born, so he was raised by his step mother, a woman named Toshiko from which very little is known. When his father Munisai divorced Toshiko, Musashi was sent to live with his uncle Dorin, a monk of the Shoreian temple. While staying with the monk, he was thought Zen Buddhism and basic skills such as reading and writing.

"Seconds after the begininng of the fight, Musashi thew Arima on the ground and hit him with his bokuto..."

Munisai was very a harsh, strict and demanding man, especially towards his son. Their relation was tumultuous and no love was shown by Munisai towards young Musashi. It is unsure, but his father had either died or totally abandoned the boy when Musashi was around 9 or 10. Some historians say that Shinmen Munisai was killed during a duel facing a swordsman named Ganryu Yoshitaka.

Based on the personal details given by Musashi Miyamoto in his 'Book of Five Rings', the Go Rin No Sho, Musashi said that he had his first duel at the age of thirteen years old. His opponent was a Samurai from Tajima Province, a swordsman from the Shinto-Ryu Kenjutsu school, a man named Arima Kibei. Seconds after the begininng of the fight, Musashi thew Arima on the ground and hit him with his bokuto (wooden sword - also known as bokken). Arima Kibei die vomiting blood.

Musashi left the Temple when he was between 16 or 20 years old (this is unclear), to perfect his Kenjutsu technique and his skills with the Katana, following his ambition to become Japan's greatest swordsman.