Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954)

Kurôemon Onoe: Takuan Osho

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Takezo is suspended off the ground on a rope with his hands tied behind his back] 

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Takuan! Takuan!

  Takuan Osho : What is it?

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : I have something to tell you. Come closer!

  [Takuan approaches the prisoner] 

  Takuan Osho : Here I am. What do you want?

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Why don't you behead me? You shame me this way! And you call yourself a priest? Don't you know how to treat a samurai? Damn fool!

  Takuan Osho : You're feisty.

  [He laughs] 

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Shut up! I could have crushed you!

  Takuan Osho : Too bad you didn't.

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : I surrendered believing you were a man of high virtue.

  Takuan Osho : A true sign of stupidity.

  [Takezo struggles and rages] 

• Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Why are you here?

  Takuan Osho : To capture you.

  [Takezo gives Takuan and Otsu a look of betrayal] 

  Takuan Osho : If you surrender to a Buddhist priest, consideration shall be given to you.

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Never!

  Takuan Osho : My boy, do you think you can win?

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : [stoutly]  Yes.

  Takuan Osho : Are you trying to defeat yourself, too?

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : I don't mind dying in a good fight. But before I die, I will have some blood!

  Takuan Osho : What about your relatives? They're prisoners on your account.

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : What relatives? They all hate me!

  Takuan Osho : Some are suffering.

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Hang them all! Better off dead, all of them!

  Takuan Osho : Even the women?

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : [close to tears]  Quiet!

  Takuan Osho : And their children?

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : I don't care! Let all of them...

  [Takezo starts sobbing. Takuan gets up, grabs him by the back of his collar with one hand and beats him with the other] 

  Takuan Osho : Fool! Wild fool! I shall punish you, with the hand of your parents!

• Takuan Osho : The world is vast and boundless. Be steadfast.

• Takuan Osho : [watching Takezo climb up the wall to try and free Otsu]  Are you still an animal?

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Otsu rescued me. Now I gotta rescue her in return!

• [Takuan leads Takezo to a stairway in Himeji castle leading to an attic, where Otsu is supposedly waiting. Takezo gives Takuan a look of verification, and sees Takuan's encouraging expression. Takezo rushes up to the attic to look for Otsu, but she's not there. Takuan shuts the door to the attic. Takezo rushes to the door and pounds on it] 

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Takuan! Priest Takuan!

  Takuan Osho : She is safely sheltered near Hanada bridge.

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Damn you! You dirty lying rogue!

  [In a panic, Takezo rushes to the window. Outside there is nothing but lofty shingled roofs. He would break his neck trying to climb out. He pulls on the thick wooden window bars but they won't come loose. Takezo rushes back to the door, pounds on it and tries to pull it open] 

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Open up! Open the door!

  Takuan Osho : Takezo. This room is yours for some time. Otsu will wait.

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : You're lying. She's alone!

  Takuan Osho : She will wait. In those books are many of the things you need. After you master them, I will see you again. Farewell.

  [Takezo sinks to a sitting position, then collapses to the floor and cries uncontrollably] 

• Takuan Osho : Forgive me. I didn't mean to make you cry. Otsu, play the bamboo flute. It heals sorrows.

• Takuan Osho : Wait. Come here. We will not harm you. Here are fire and food to warm you up. We're not your enemies. No, not at all. Let us talk by the fire. Come. Here. Come over here.

• Otsu : Priest Takuan. Look at yourself.

  Takuan Osho : [naked, wearing only a loincloth]  "Throughout the heavens and earth, I alone am noble."

  Otsu : [giggles]  Drink, my newborn Buddha!

  Takuan Osho : Find me a drying pole instead. I washed my only clothes.

  Otsu : What will you do in the meantime?

  Takuan Osho : I'll stay like this.

  Otsu : Please! It's unbecoming.

  Takuan Osho : What do you mean? Human beings are born naked.

• Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Behead me!

  Takuan Osho : It's dangerous. Even after death, your head would jump at me. Isn't the moon beautiful tonight?

• Takuan Osho : Do you want to kill me? Good. Deliver my head to Himeji Castle, to Lord Ikeda. He would probably say, "Good priest Takuan, where is the rest of you?"

• Takuan Osho : Easy now. Such a futile struggle. But you could use that force for the good of humanity. God and man would be moved. Nay, even the universe. A man must know awe, and fear God. Conceited in your strength, you ignored wisdom and virtue. You thought you could defeat the world. Look at yourself! Wisdom and strong virtue combined make a man. Understand? Think it over till dawn. I shall behead you then.

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Wait. Good priest, is it true? I am truly a man. Do not let me die like an animal. Spare my life! I want to live. God help me live!

  Takuan Osho : Well said. However, life is like a real battle. There is no rematch. Prepare for death, recite the Sutras of the Buddha.

• Takuan Osho : In those books are many of the things you need. After you master them, I will see you again. Farewell.

• Takuan Osho : A priest has little understanding of love matters. Farewell.

• Takuan Osho : Takezo, cut off the past. You are a new man. Reborn, as it were. Break free from the past.

• Takuan Osho : Since Takezo comes from Miyamoto village, Musashi Miyamoto will be his new name.

  Terumasa Ikeda : Musashi. It is good. You do not wish to be in my service? Why?

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : I am far from ready, sir.

  Terumasa Ikeda : So you will take a journey to continue your training?

  Musashi Miyamoto (Takezo) : Yes, my Lord.