It’s been some time since I last sat down to detail my thoughts on Musashi, Eiji Yoshikawa’s dramatic novelization of the life of Japan’s Greatest Swordsman.
I've never been one to put much stock into the ideas of high and low literature. I've found their definitions to be too nebulous to be very useful since quality writing can and does appear in any genre or style. I will say this much: based on the strengths Yoshikawa has shown in his writing so far, and based on my continued investment in the story, I can see why his novel is considered one of the classics for the Japanese people. It's a dramatization of Musashi's life story that has stood the test of time for well deserved reasons.
But do you think it is high literature in the same sense that the well-known great classics of world literature are, such as the works of Dickens, Dumas, Victor Hugo, etc.?
I wouldn't say Takuan is my favorite across the whole story, but I thoroughly enjoyed him in Book I. Across everything so far, I'd say Musashi is firmly set as my favorite, and that's how it should be. It's his story, after all.
Speaking of, I was doing some more thinking on the lack of duels and more detailed fights early on. With the way Yoshikawa wrote this story, meaning how he published chapter by chapter in serialized format in a newspaper originally, I got the distinct feeling early on that he was more of a drama writer than an action writer. The fact Musashi's bouts tend to either be blazed through quickly or get overlooked in favor of someone else related to what he's doing, particularly early on, really has me wondering if the sort of action we finally started seeing displaye a little more clearly in Book II, and then much more clearly in Book IV, might be due to a lack of comfort and confidence with that sort of writing at that earlier stage. Having not read any of Yoshikawa's other works I can't say for sure, but it's a suspicion I've been wondering about.
I think you might be onto something, from what I understand he was something of a pacifist despite being descended from a warrior-race. He was to write some action-packed stuff but always he seems to prefer to gloss over it, his Kiyomori story does the same thing it’s pretty frustrating.
I think this is why I prefer the Vagabondo manga it confronts it, but also tends to focus on the spiritual side a lot as Inoue Takehiko is a pretty religious guy.
Do you think Musashi novel is high literature?
I've never been one to put much stock into the ideas of high and low literature. I've found their definitions to be too nebulous to be very useful since quality writing can and does appear in any genre or style. I will say this much: based on the strengths Yoshikawa has shown in his writing so far, and based on my continued investment in the story, I can see why his novel is considered one of the classics for the Japanese people. It's a dramatization of Musashi's life story that has stood the test of time for well deserved reasons.
But do you think it is high literature in the same sense that the well-known great classics of world literature are, such as the works of Dickens, Dumas, Victor Hugo, etc.?
If we're looking at high literature as representing those sorts of great classics, then yes, I would say Yoshikawa's novel falls under that umbrella.
can you tell why (or maybe make a post about it)
?
Perhaps once I finish the book. I’ve still got a ways to go yet.
I'm glad you like Takuan so much, Musashi is still King for me!
Really glad you liked this part, I must confess to despise how the first duel isn't shown. It's why I loved the manga more in some ways.
I wouldn't say Takuan is my favorite across the whole story, but I thoroughly enjoyed him in Book I. Across everything so far, I'd say Musashi is firmly set as my favorite, and that's how it should be. It's his story, after all.
Speaking of, I was doing some more thinking on the lack of duels and more detailed fights early on. With the way Yoshikawa wrote this story, meaning how he published chapter by chapter in serialized format in a newspaper originally, I got the distinct feeling early on that he was more of a drama writer than an action writer. The fact Musashi's bouts tend to either be blazed through quickly or get overlooked in favor of someone else related to what he's doing, particularly early on, really has me wondering if the sort of action we finally started seeing displaye a little more clearly in Book II, and then much more clearly in Book IV, might be due to a lack of comfort and confidence with that sort of writing at that earlier stage. Having not read any of Yoshikawa's other works I can't say for sure, but it's a suspicion I've been wondering about.
I think you might be onto something, from what I understand he was something of a pacifist despite being descended from a warrior-race. He was to write some action-packed stuff but always he seems to prefer to gloss over it, his Kiyomori story does the same thing it’s pretty frustrating.
I think this is why I prefer the Vagabondo manga it confronts it, but also tends to focus on the spiritual side a lot as Inoue Takehiko is a pretty religious guy.