Miyake Gunbei

Miyake Gunbei a famous vassal serving under Honda Tadamasa, the lord of the Himeji castle during the Edo period (17th century) of Japan. Following a few years after Tadamasa had established himself at Himeji as governor over the region, the famous Miyamoto Musashi had opened up a certain dojo within the town, putting up a certain sign that said, "Miyamoto Musashi, the number one adept of the sword in Japan.". After Lord Honda had seen this, in his fury, he ordered his most skilled retainer, Gunbei to be sent out as to teach Musashi that he was not truly the greatest of swordsmanship. Miyake had then visited Musashi, in which Musashi had kept him waiting for more than the length of an hour. Miyake than said, "What an ill-mannered man! Keeping me waiting, me, one of the principal vassals of the fief, whereas he is a warrior without a lord!". After Musashi had come out to see Gunbei, Musashi replied to Gunbei, "If I had been informed that the purpose of your visit was for us to measure ourselves against each other in combat, I would have come sooner. Only I was in the midst of playing Go with a guest. Would you care to come out in the garden? I will leave the choice of weapons up to you, either a real sword or a wooden sword, as you prefer.".

Miyake became very irritated after hearing these words from Musashi, but he recalled through his lord's orders that he was to test the abilities of Musashi, not to kill him. Before their duel had begun, Miyake then cut a piece of bamboo that was within the garden and took it for his own weapon, while Musashi wielded his ordinary wooden sword. The combat ended up being over within an instant, in which Gunbei had then acknowledged that he lived up to his title. Gunbei had then passed this information on to his lord. Gunbei's past is not known past this point.

References

Miyamoto Musashi - Life and Writings