Fate/Stay Night

IronPoke · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:51 am Post subject:

I'm glad that I read this thread about Musashi before watching Samurai Champloo. Without it I wouldn't have understood the joke about that hermit.
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Mugen Rocket!!!

swollenlymphnodes · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:18 am Post subject:

Refresh my memory poke. I started rewatching Champloo, and it's making a bigger impression on me now than the first time.
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nodes aka GTBaka
PDT_Zamourai_11

eh?
*Eternally Lurking*

IronPoke · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:34 am Post subject:

Jin battles a blind woman on a bridge, falls into a river and is taken in by a strange, slightly mad hermit. This hermit teaches him about moving with the flow of the river in order to catch fish that can sense the movement of the water all about them. Then Jin asks his name...

It was a "lol, i get that joke" moment for me, that's all, based on Dread's contributions to this thread about samurai and Musashi.

Incidentally, if any of you have read the book Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, I was reminded of the book's final chapters when Siddhartha rebuked materialism and chose a life of exile by a river and learned how to 'listen' to it, if I recall that correctly. Similar concepts in that episode of Samurai Champloo, though I don't think it was even intentional. Some things differed, too. I mean, Siddhartha glowed with the inner light of a fully enlightened bodhisattva; Jin just ate some fish.
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Mugen Rocket!!!

jjjynx · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 1:55 pm Post subject:

That as good as sums it, I'm getting a book on Musashi as well. You guys are making me envious of the things you find in bookstores.

Dread_Knight^Samurai · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 2:05 pm Post subject:

Well, I am not that of a great help but I guess you guys understand why I am so interested in these swords, samurai, knight and the likes of it. Their codes of honor, codes of chivalry and such. And seems like I couldn't get them all out of my mind...obsess, I think. Anyway, even while playing games, I prefer choosing melee fighter, swordsman, any classes that specialized in swords rather than ranged attackers and magic users. Anyway...glad you like it nodes. But I was a bit surprised to see that you actually like it.

Uhh...I never thought my few bits of infos on Musashi could have this kind of outcome.
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The mark of my divinity shalt scar thy DNA.

jjjynx · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:18 pm Post subject:

The butterfly effect, but perhaps larger.

I still prefer mages over melee fighters...unless the one weilding a sword is as cool as Rachel from Wild Arms 4...that's one melee fighter I spammed in a rpg game...probably the only one.

swollenlymphnodes · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:45 pm Post subject:

Oh I knew I would like it. If it got comparisons to Shogun... then it'd have to be on par, if not better. Two different animals, but while you are drawn to the swordsmanship, I am drawn to that period of Japanese history. Your obsession may be no more than what Musashi and the others had in a religious zeal or fervor for utilizing the sword as a way of life.

I wouldn't be surprised if anyone else likes it, because besides the japanese history or the swordsmanship, it's simply a must-read novel. The characters are real, their motivations and intentions are genuine, the hero's are valiant, the villians... despicable. The intertwining story lines and the thread of everyone's fates are woven masterfully. Before Musashi takes center stage, the creation of Takuan's character to me is brilliant, one of the greatest fictional characters ever created.

Now obviously comparisons to Shogun will come out, so let me set the record straight. There are two fundamental differences between each story. 1) The level at which conflict takes place 2) The vantage point of the viewer which basically stems from who wrote each novel. First off, the level at which conflict takes place in Shogun is amidst it's most powerful men, which is why it is aptly named Shogun or Supreme General. The conflict of Musashi is at a more lower-class level. Between ronin and lesser known samurai's and sword-schools. Musashi crosses over, but for the most part stays at that level. As such, you are more likely to see nature or peasant-life in musashi (think Samurai Champloo), whereas you are exposed to the luxuries of Tea Ceremony, flower arranging or Sakura Groves in Shogun. The second difference is your vantage point. Shogun introduces a foreign element, in the form of a foreigner who finds himself amidst the whirlwind of political struggel. Because of this, cultural differences are extremely pronounced... and you are able to get a clear view of Japanese culture. Mostly by way of culture shock. Not surprising, the author is a foreigner in James Clavell. Whereas, the picture painted in Musashi is from someone who is speaking of his homeland in Eiji Yoshikawa. Initially reading, I noticed that with no preconceptions, Musashi could be anywhere... the fact that it was in Japan was as oblivious to the reader as to one's lack of awareness to where they reside. I live in Hawaii, but it doesn't don on me that I live in Hawaii unless I leave.

Anyway, if you like powerful old guys manipulating other people like chess pieces... read shogun. If you like sword-fighting and self-discipline under a waterfall... read Musashi. Read both though. I would recommend reading Shogun first for the simple fact of it being a great way to be introduced to Tokugawa-era Japan and it's cultures.

I myself am hooked on Musashi, and plan to go out and buy some Vagabond..., hope they still carry it at borders. even look up maybe the Yagyu Jubei stuff.

Anyway... diatribe ends here.

spoiler

and killing Sasaki Kojiro with a wooden sword he just happened to carve out of a broken oar he found in the boat transporting him to the fight is just boss. simply sick. Blue_PDT_01_07

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nodes aka GTBaka
PDT_Zamourai_11

eh?
*Eternally Lurking*

IronPoke · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:00 pm Post subject:

Wasn't there a series or a movie of the name Shogun? About a white guy in old Japan?
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Mugen Rocket!!!

swollenlymphnodes · Posted: Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:19 pm Post subject:

Youuuuu Got It!!!!

The novel is sooooo much better though.
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nodes aka GTBaka
PDT_Zamourai_11

eh?
*Eternally Lurking*

GrinfilledCelt · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 12:50 am Post subject:

Indeed, it is.

Nice avatar, Poke. That's from Mind Game isn't it?
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Songs for the flash frozen.

Hungry Mongoose · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:42 am Post subject:

I thought it was from the episode of Samurai Champloo when the field of pot caught on fire and everyone got high.
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PARTY TIME.

swollenlymphnodes · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:29 am Post subject:

Correct.

Episode Nine: Beatbox Bandits.
_________________
nodes aka GTBaka
PDT_Zamourai_11

eh?
*Eternally Lurking*

IronPoke · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 6:44 pm Post subject:

Yep, hence the Mugen Rocket!!! whoosh!
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Mugen Rocket!!!

Dread_Knight^Samurai · Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 10:02 pm Post subject:

I dunno how it end up in my HD....
_________________
The mark of my divinity shalt scar thy DNA.

jjjynx · Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 2:08 am Post subject:

I must seriously say, that looks alot closer to Arthur then I'd liked it to be. But I don't mind the female version either, really.