[:it]Yagyū Jūbei era uno dei più grandi spadaccini del Giappone e abbiamo deciso di dedicargli un blog. Nonostante le poche informazioni, è conosciuto come guerriero poeta, protettore dei deboli e grande sostenitore del codice dei samurai.

photo credits: deviantart.com

Nonostante la poca documentazione esistente sulla vita di Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi (nato “Shichirō”, 1607 – 12 aprile 1650) sappiamo che è cresciuto a Yagyū no Sato un piccolo villaggio di Nara. Suo padre era Yagyū Tajima no Kami Munenori, maestro spadaccino degli ormai celebri Tokugawa. Sia il padre che il nonno di Jubei erano stati grandi maestri nell’arte della spada. Suo nonno era il fondatore della scuola di Yagyu Shinkage, ancora oggi esistente ed era famoso per aver sconfitto samurai armati a mani nude all’età di 70 anni. Suo padre invece era il tutor personale di tre shogun e sembra avesse sconfitto sette assassini in una battaglia. Jubei ha ereditato da loro l’abilità e a 9 anni stava già mostrando segni di grande forza. Infatti, sostituì suo padre nell’insegnamento della spada agli shogun Tokugawa.

La vita

A 24 anni divenne il più grande spadaccino del famoso clan Yagyu. Sucessivamente espulso dal tribunale di Edo senza alcuna motivazione, non si sa se fu licenziato dallo shogun, o per una partenza di un pellegrinaggio.

Nei 12 anni successivi non si hanno più notizie, fino alla sua riapparizione all’età di 36 anni ad una dimostrazione di scherma assolutamente impressionante. Da lì, fu nuovamente integrato al governo. Riuscì a prendere il controllo delle terre di famiglia fino alla morte di Yagyū Tajima no Kami Munenori nel 1646. Scrisse il suo libro di scherma e filosofia, Tsuki no Shō (月之抄) o The Art of Looking at the Moon. Morì all’età di 43 anni in circostanze non chiare, non si sa se fu a causa di un infarto, di un incidente durante la caccia o addirittura assassinato da uno dei suoi fratelli. Yagyū Jūbei fu seppellito accanto a suo nonno, Yagyū Munetoshi, gli fu poi dato il nome postumo buddista di Sohgo.

La Leggenda di Yagyū Jūbei

Secondo la leggenda, Yagyū Jūbei aveva un solo occhio, l’altro sembra l’avesse perso in una sessione di scherma con suo padre. Nonostante questo, alcuni lo ritrassero invece con due occhi, anche se la figura dello spadaccino con una benda sull’occhio rimane sempre la preferita.

photo credits: taigong788.skyrock.com/

[:en]Yagyū Jūbei was one of Japan’s greatest swordsmen and we decided to dedicate a blog to him. Despite the little information, he is known as a warrior poet, protector of the weak and a great supporter of the samurai code.

photo credits: deviantart.com

Despite the lack of documentation on the life of Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi (born “Shichirō”, 1607 – 12 April 1650) we know that he grew up in a small village near Nara, Yagyū no Sato. His father was Yagyū Tajima no Kami Munenori, master swordsman of the famous Tokugawa family. Both Jubei’s father and grandfather had been great masters in the art of the sword. His grandfather was the founder of the Yagyu Shinkage school, which still exists today and was famous for defeating armed samurai with bare hands at the age of 70. His father, on the other hand, was the personal tutor of three shogun and seems to have defeated seven assassins in a battle. Jubei inherited the skill from them and at 9 he was already showing signs of great strength. In fact, he replaced his father in teaching the sword to the Tokugawa family.

The life

At 24 he became the greatest swordsman of the famous Yagyu clan. He was expelled from the Edo court without any reasons, it is not known whether he was fired from the shogun, or for a pilgrimage departure.

In the following 12 years, there is no more news, until his reappearance at the age of 36 at an absolutely impressive fencing demonstration. From there, he was again integrated into the government. He managed to take control of the family lands until the death of Yagyū Tajima no Kami Munenori in 1646. He wrote his fencing and philosophy book, Tsuki no Shō (月之抄) or The Art of Looking at the Moon. He died at the age of 43 in unclear circumstances, it is not known if it was due to a heart attack, an accident during the hunt or even murdered by one of his brothers. Yagyū Jūbei was buried next to his grandfather, Yagyū Munetoshi, he was then given the posthumous Buddhist name of Sohgo.

The Legend of Yagyū Jūbei

According to legend, Yagyū Jūbei had only one eye, the other seems to have lost it in a fencing session with his father. Despite this, some portrayed him with two eyes, even if the figure of the swordsman with an eye patch always remains the favorite.

photo credits: taigong788.skyrock.com/

[:ja]Yagyū Jūbei was one of Japan’s greatest swordsmen and we decided to dedicate a blog to him. Despite the little information, he is known as a warrior poet, protector of the weak and a great supporter of the samurai code.

photo credits: deviantart.com

Despite the lack of documentation on the life of Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi (born “Shichirō”, 1607 – 12 April 1650) we know that he grew up in a small village near Nara, Yagyū no Sato. His father was Yagyū Tajima no Kami Munenori, master swordsman of the famous Tokugawa family. Both Jubei’s father and grandfather had been great masters in the art of the sword. His grandfather was the founder of the Yagyu Shinkage school, which still exists today and was famous for defeating armed samurai with bare hands at the age of 70. His father, on the other hand, was the personal tutor of three shogun and seems to have defeated seven assassins in a battle. Jubei inherited the skill from them and at 9 he was already showing signs of great strength. In fact, he replaced his father in teaching the sword to the Tokugawa family.

The life

At 24 he became the greatest swordsman of the famous Yagyu clan. He was expelled from the Edo court without any reasons, it is not known whether he was fired from the shogun, or for a pilgrimage departure.

In the following 12 years, there is no more news, until his reappearance at the age of 36 at an absolutely impressive fencing demonstration. From there, he was again integrated into the government. He managed to take control of the family lands until the death of Yagyū Tajima no Kami Munenori in 1646. He wrote his fencing and philosophy book, Tsuki no Shō (月之抄) or The Art of Looking at the Moon. He died at the age of 43 in unclear circumstances, it is not known if it was due to a heart attack, an accident during the hunt or even murdered by one of his brothers. Yagyū Jūbei was buried next to his grandfather, Yagyū Munetoshi, he was then given the posthumous Buddhist name of Sohgo.

The Legend of Yagyū Jūbei

According to legend, Yagyū Jūbei had only one eye, the other seems to have lost it in a fencing session with his father. Despite this, some portrayed him with two eyes, even if the figure of the swordsman with an eye patch always remains the favorite.

photo credits: taigong788.skyrock.com/

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