Vagabond - The tale of The greatest swordsman

Vagabond

"Preoccupied with a single leaf, you won’t see the tree

Preoccupied with a single tree, you’ll miss the entire forest"

The past is a part of one’s life that cannot be changed or erased. It is everlasting and unchanging since we have no control over time. Contemplating about the past seems like a popular hobby for us humans, especially the ones we regret. We love to explore the different kinds of outcomes and whether or not it affects on how we perceive those moments today. Will the regret still persist if i had done something different? What could possibly happen if I did this or that? Everyday everytime the questions that we may view as mediocre, actually presents a much deeper topic regarding one’s dependency on their past.

"Whether that life was blessed or not, everyone is born into this world"

Miyamoto Musashi, a ronin whose life story could teach us a few lessons regarding acceptance and redemption.

Miyamoto Musashi is the main protagonist of the Japanese manga "Vagabond", created by Takehiko Inoue

The thing about Musashi is that we really don’t know all that much about him. Despite that, there are tons of recreated novels, mangas, movies, and TV series about him. Anyone concerned about the accuracies of the man’s life would be shocked at such liberal interpretations, but I think this stems from people’s interest in his story.

Not just his life, but his story.

"There is no light for those who do not know darkness"

What we get with each interpretation is a different view of the story of a man striving to be the greatest swordsman of his time. Each interpretation is a brushstroke on the giant canvas that is the influence of Miyamoto Musashi.

What we get with “Vagabond”, is an incredibly beautiful and honest story.

I'm not going to explain whole manga, I'm just expressing my thoughts after finishing it.

"Heaven doesn't laugh. It just smiles and stares"

Great warriors and mythologies are themes that are always present in everyone's imagination. Even though I'm a big fan of warriors and superhero, It’s a taste that has many influences and different origins, but it’s always something that catches attention. And a class of great warriors that is highly acclaimed and respected,

The Samurai.

Idealistically, everyone knows what a samurai is or at least can draw a picture of one. “Great warriors with armor and swords killing each other in some corner of Japan”. This is not a wrong analogy at all because for many things in life, Yeah it is the stereotypes that define them. But something like that is ok

"Being incomplete is what pushes us onward to the next something"

The story is based on Musashi and his journey as a Samurai. Throughout the plot he undergoes several transformations, from youth to becoming a disciplined and powerful warrior. And faces many battles.

Throughout the story, Musashi confronts his own demons inside him, including his violent past and his search for meaning in life. It’s a complex and richly layered character, torn between his hunger for power and his deep desire to understand the world around him. The manga is amazing and explores all samurai themes like honor, loyalty, self-discovery, etc.

But it’s the philosophical side of Vagabond and the entire structure that builds Musashi that makes this manga so special. Vagabond is very complex and touches on many things, which the readers can even bring into their lives as Musashi’s entire journey takes place through a profound study of self-knowledge, violence, understanding and the meaning of life.

Thanks,

Gaurav