Soho Takuan (
Appearance[]
Bearded Takuan. (Don't know why it's upside down)
Takuan is a well-built man of around 40 years old. He has the shaven head of a Buddhist monk, though frequently both his hair and beard grow to a stubble. While staying in Kyoto during chapter 32, Takuan grows long hair and a beard that makes him almost unrecognizable. He wears standard monk garb, and whilst travelling, a basket-hat.
Personality[]
Takuan is an eccentric monk of some renown currently serving at the Shippoji Buddhist temple in Miyamoto village. He is straightforward to the point of rudeness, paying little mind to the structured social manners of his time. He is wise and insightful, able to read people and their weaknesses. Despite his often formidable nature, he also has a playful, humorous side; a common trait found with all of the strong and wise characters in Vagabond.
Principles and Teaching Methodology[]
Although Takuan did not teach martial arts and didn't encourage the killing of people, he was excellent at incorporating Zen Buddhism into swordsmanship. He was able to teach martial arts by using Zen Buddhist beliefs. For an example, Takuan states that fixation on certain things is a fatal error in not only combat but also in enlightenment. Additionally, Takuan is able to train Musashi about swordsmanship by teaching him what state the mind should be in before the sword strikes its opponent.
Takuan's beliefs revolve around teaching everyone, especially swordsman, that a peaceful society and the way of the sword can only be achieved if they commit to virtue and humility.
When teaching Musashi, although Takuan's methodology is seen as cruel, it taught Musashi much about humility. When Takuan caught Musashi, tied him to a tree and mentally tormented him, it was a lesson that changed Musashi and the course he was headed on.
Although Takuan's ways of teaching can at times be brutal, for a young Musashi they were the best forms of lessons since violence was the language he best understood. Many criticize Takuan's methodology since it violates the Buddhist belief of 'do not harm'.
Biography[]
A senior monk at Miyamoto village's Shippoji Temple, Takuan serves as something of a mentor and big-brother figure to Otsu. He helps capture Takezo and later renames him as Miyamoto Musashi, setting him free to travel and evolve as a person. Takuan appears frequently throughout the story, and helps facilitate Jotaro's apprenticeship to, and Otsu's search for, Musashi. He is also shown to have encountered a very young Sasaki Kojiro, warning the child of the dangers of the sword.
Abilities[]
A shrewd, insightful, and brutally honest man, Takuan is able to see through people and strip them down to their core. Although not a swordsman, through his own pursuit of the Way he possesses a keen understanding of swordsmanship principles.
Real history[]
Soho Takuan (1573-1645) was a Zen Buddhist monk, specifically, representative of the Rinzai sect. In 1610, he was appointed as abbot of the main temple, Daitokuji, at just 37 years old. Takuan was known for his brute honesty and meticulously perceptive personality, which was sought after by monks, swordsmen, and politicians alike (such as Tokugawa Iemitsu and Go-Mizunoo). Takuan's shared correspondence with Yagyu Munenori was captured in a treatise called "The Unfettered Mind."
Gallery[]
Quotes[]
"Musashi... You've become kind. That means you're strong. The strong are always kind." (Chapter 224)
"You keep your nerves on edge and you're always ready to lash out. You distance yourself from everyone. It's because you are afraid of people. You are the weakest person in this village” (Volume 3, Chapter Unknown)
Trivia[]
- It is said that in real life, Takuan invented the dish also called "Takuan". A yellow pickled radish popular in Japanese and South Korean dishes.
- Inoue's physical depiction of Takuan greatly resembles himself.