Analyse
The statement **'Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world'** (身を軽く持ち、世を深く考えよ, *mi o karuku mochi, yo o fukaku kangaeyo*) appears as **Precept 3** in Musashi’s *Dokkōdō* (*The Way of Walking Alone*), a 21-point ethical manifesto composed in 1645. The phrasing aligns with multiple authoritative translations, including those by **William Scott Wilson (1995)** and **Kenji Tokitsu (2004)**, and reflects Musashi’s emphasis on humility and strategic awareness. No credible sources dispute its attribution or meaning in context.
Achtergrond
Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645), a legendary Japanese swordsman and *ronin*, wrote *Dokkōdō* a week before his death as a distillation of his life philosophy. The work blends Zen Buddhist principles with pragmatic advice, targeting self-discipline and detachment. Precept 3 specifically contrasts ego minimization with a profound engagement with external realities—a theme consistent with Musashi’s earlier *The Book of Five Rings* (1643).
Samenvatting verdict
The quote is accurately attributed to Miyamoto Musashi in his *Dokkōdō*, written shortly before his death in 1645.