The Two-Fold Way

Taylor · Yellow Belt

In The Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi says that, “The Way of the Warrior is the two-fold way of the pen and sword.”

The metaphor applies to martial arts in many ways, the most fundamental to the context of Miyamoto Musashi’s time is in the art of calligraphy. In Japanese, and in Chinese the techniques one uses to properly control the pen in calligraphy are the same as those applied in the art of swordsmanship. In other words, the practical techniques in artistic calligraphy in Chinese and Japanese are directly applicable in the practical techniques for utilizing the sword. So, each Chinese or Japanese word translates into a technique when wielding the sword.

This metaphor becomes more profound, however, when we consider that how we move, act and live, the very motivations that determine what we do are based on a construct in our psyche about ourselves, about our world and about others is based in language. We think in language, and this language then becomes the fundamental construct that determines our conscious and even unconscious motivations, which determine how we act and move.

When we look into the training a warrior develops in battle, we learn to predict, account for and eventually even control an opponent’s activity in a conflict. The advanced martial artist can move an opponent around like a puppet in a conflict utilizing various subtle and overt tactics. When we begin to consider the power that language has over our own and others thoughts, motivations and activity both on conscious and unconscious levels, we see how significant this line becomes.

A warriors skill in Miyamoto Musashi’s time was not only determined by his ability to defeat a foe in single combat, but also by his ability to lead men. In a feudalistic time, this ability must be profound or one will face betrayal at every turn in the constant changing tides of politics in a feudalistic system. Therefore, it is in the sword that the warrior learns to defeat people, it is in the pen that the warrior learns to lead them.

Perhaps this helps to bring some of Miyamoto Musashi’s thinking on this point into a modern context and open up the idea for some discussion.

I hope I’m placing this post in the correct forum.

bushido_man96 · KF Sensei

That is an interesting post. Thanks for sharing it. There is another swordsman that talked about the "Two-fold Mind;" he was a contemporary of Musashi's, but he was an Englishman named George Silver. Although he does not discuss it in concert with the use of the pen, he does have his own view, nonetheless.
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Taylor · Yellow Belt

Yes, I read your post in the articles section on "The Four Grounds" in which you mention him. I found it very interesting and parallel with many of the points I was making in the "Controlling the Ground" post, but yours was explicit on different points, which needed to be drawn out, and I thought you did it quite well.

My angle couldn't quite address those important ideas from the way I was approaching it, so I was glad to read your angle on it. I'm glad to know there's someone here who gets that concept. It's quite subtle and a lot of people miss it.

So I'm curious what George Silver's view is on this "Two Fold Mind"?

bushido_man96 · KF Sensei

I will oblige, when I get some time to look at my book again.

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Success is where preparation meets opportunity.

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bushido_man96 · KF Sensei

The "two-fold mind" as described by Silver involved the ideas behind pressing in and flying out.

Pressing in is the pressing of the attack; going on the offensive. Flying out is seeing that you are caught on the defensive, and must act accordingly.

The two-fold mind is always engaged with both. When flying in, be prepared to fly out, and vise versa.
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