Miyamoto Musashi, also known as Shinmen Takez?, Miyamoto Bennosuke or, by his Buddhist name, Niten D?raku, was a Japanese swordsman and r?nin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age. He was the founder of the Hy?h? Niten Ichi-ry? or Niten-ry? style of swordsmanship and the author of The Book of Five Rings, a book on strategy, tactics, and philosophy that is still studied today.