Miyamoto Musashi

Japanese swordsman, philosopher, strategist, writer, artist, and rōnin (1584–1645)

text on kenjutsu and the martial arts, written by Miyamoto Musashi

Japanese school of swordsmanship

The Dokkōdō (The Path of Aloneness, The Way to Go Forth Alone, or The Way of Walking Alone) is a short work on philosophy, written by the Japanese swordsman and strategist Miyamoto Musashi a week before he died in 1645. It consists of 21 precepts and was largely composed on the occasion of Musashi giving away his possessions in preparation for death. The work was dedicated to his favorite disciple who took the precepts to heart, Terao Magonojō, and to whom his earlier Go rin no sho (The Book of Five Rings) had been dedicated. Dokkōdō expresses a stringent, honest, and ascetic view of life.

thumb|250px|Reigandō is a cave that lies to the west of Kumamoto, Japan, that became a temporary home to the legendary rōnin, Miyamoto Musashi. From 1643, Musashi spent many of his last months in the cave, meditating and writing his Book of Five Rings. The cave is accessed easily by bus from Kumamoto City and nearby Tamana.

railway station in Mimasaka, Okayama prefecture, Japan

adopted son of Miyamoto Musashi

Japanese Budōkan