What does it mean to be truly strong? Vagabond and Vinland Saga analysis
Strength can be measured in many ways, Tom Stoltman, currently the strongest man on the planet, holds the heaviest stone lift record, with a weight of 286 Kilos and Eddie Hall, holds the world record for the heaviest deadlift with 500 kg (1,102 lbs). It’s no doubt that Tom or Eddie are really strong, I mean, if you see them in person you can tell.
But, having physical strength it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Real strength can’t be developed by pushing your body to the limit.
In this article, I want to dive into the lessons that two of the most important seinen manga, Vinland Saga and Vagabond, have taught me. Heads up, spoilers ahead!
Vinland Saga: I have no enemies
Vinland Saga is a fictional historical series that follows the journey of Thorfinn, a young man who becomes a warrior in the Viking Era. The story starts with Thorfinn’s father, Thors, leading a group of warriors on a journey to Vinland, a land said to be rich in natural resources and free of war. But, things take a turn for the worse, and Thorfinn ends up watching his dad get killed by some mercs.
As a child, Thorfinn is consumed by a desire for revenge, anger, and justice against the man who killed his father, Askeladd. This desire leads him to become a skilled warrior and eventually join the mercenaries that killed his father. His only goal in life is to kill Askeladd, even if it means doing Askeladd’s dirty work.
But, once Askeladd is dead, Thorfinn’s life doesn’t get any better at all because his death meant the end of Thorfinn’s primary purpose in life (revenge) and now that it’s over, he feels lost and without direction.
Empty and without purpose in life, Thorfinn is sold into slavery and forced to work on a farm.
This part of the story is huge for Thorfinn’s personal growth. His past actions, the death of loved ones and people he killed haunt him at night, making it hard for him to find inner peace.
But, as a slave and surrounded by different types of people, he starts to see things in a different way.
- He understands the value of hard work and the importance of working together with others.
- He learns the value of humility and to appreciate the simple things in life and to be content with what he has.
- He figures out that violence just leads to more violence and it’s never the real answer to anything. He also starts to see the consequences of his actions and other people’s actions.
- He learns to appreciate the people around him and starts to understand the importance of community and working together for the common good.
The true meaning of strength for Thorfinn
Throughout his journey, Thorfinn starts to understand the idea of true strength and the true meaning of being a warrior. He begins to see that true strength isn’t about physical power or the ability to kill, but about understanding oneself, having self-control, and being able to make the right decisions in difficult situations.
Thorfinn starts as a vengeful and angry child, but throughout the series he becomes more compassionate and empathetic, and his perspective on the world changes. He starts to see the value of peace and the importance of understanding and respecting other cultures. He becomes a wise and honorable adult who understands the true cost of violence and the nature of true strength.
Vagabond: The Legend of the Strongest Swordsman
“Vagabond” is a manga written and illustrated by Takehiko Inoue that tells the story of Musashi Miyamoto, the most famous swordsman warrior of Japan. Based on Eiji Yoshikawa’s novels of Musashi. The story is set in the early 17th century, during the peak of the samurai era in Japan.
The manga tells many parallel stories, but mainly about Shinmen Takezo and Sasaki Kojiro. The first part of the manga focuses on Takezo, a young man who is feared and rejected by his village from a young age due to his wild and violent attitude. He is driven by the desire to prove his strength and become the best swordsman in the country. He has a fierce warrior spirit and is willing to fight anyone who challenges him.
In his quest to become the strongest warrior, Takezo embarks on a solo journey throughout Japan, facing many opponents from different schools and in turn, learning from each battle.
In the manga, there’s a bunch of battles that change Musashi. There are many interesting stories like Matahachi’s journey from weakling to redemption, or Sasaki Kojiro’s path. It’s a little different from the book, but I’ll just stick to the most important fights for his journey to become stronger.
1. Battle against Inshun Hozoin
¿How many people have you killed? You must have faced so many enemies throughout your life, but you must understand… Enemies they were not until you forced them to become so… Your own bloodthrist turns everyone you encounter against you… That’s not true strength. You’re just clumsy and graceless. — Inei Hozoin to Musashi Miyamoto (Chapter 38).
In this arc, Musashi loses a battle for the first time and is afraid to die, which paralyzes him and he flees. In order to defeat his enemy (Inshun Hozoin), he must first learn to keep his mind and spirit calm. Inei Hozin, his temporary master, trains him in topics such as meditation and self-control, as well as improving his battle skills in order to succeed.
I was distracted from the very beginning. Fool! Coward!… I was distracted by his stare, by his stance. And i was distracted by one more thing, i was preocupied with the thought of my own strength, there’s no way i could’ve “seen” my opponent. Miyamoto Musashi (chapter 54).
The first time he meets Inshun Hozoin, Musashi fought with anger, bloodlust, and overconfidence. This caused him to lose sight of what is important in a battle as he let his ego take over. By recognizing his emotions and controlling them, Musashi starts to see things clearly, gaining discipline and control.
2. Battle against the Sekishusai School
In this part of the story, Musashi is looking for a new challenger, Yagyu Sekishusai, founder of his own martial arts school and creator of a unique sword fighting style. Musashi knows he gotta think outside the box to face Yagyu and after facing many swordsmen from the temple, and infiltrating his cabin, he tries to kill him while he is asleep, however, it is not easy and in the end, he decides to ask him about the meaning of strength:
Musashi, invincible it’s merely a word. The more you think about it. The more you squint your eyes in desperation to see, the more obscured the answer becomes… If something’s too obscure to see, then try closing your eyes. ¿Well? ¿Do you see how infinite you are? Yagyu Sekishusai to Miyamoto Musashi (Chapter 102).
This battle is one of the most important for Musashi as, just like for Thorfinn in Vinland Saga, Musashi’s only purpose in life was to be more powerful, not for revenge but for ego. However, Yagyu shows him that this perspective will only lead him to an endless abyss.
The true meaning of strength for Miyamoto Musashi
Gradually, Musashi started to become a well-known swordsman and was at the top of the game. Everyone who wanted to make a name for themselves wanted to fight him. But as he reached the top, he realized that it came with a price. He became the new benchmark. This far from making Musashi happy, only gave him more unease because now everyone would go after him and his position as the best. At this point, Musashi changed his way of seeing the world and what it really meant to be strong.
For Musashi, the pursuit of strength is not just about physical power, but also about honing the mind and spirit. He believes that true strength comes from understanding oneself and one’s place in the world, and that this understanding can be achieved through discipline, focus, and constant self-improvement.
Musashi’s philosophy is also heavily influenced by Zen Buddhism, which emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment and being aware of one’s surroundings. In summary, for Musashi, the force is a combination of physical, mental and spiritual strength, achieved through discipline, self-improvement, and a deep understanding of oneself, the world and its present moment.
Final thoughts
Both “Vinland Saga” and “Vagabond” deal with themes of seeking true strength. Both stories describe the journeys of the main characters as they struggle to find their place in the world, and both explore the idea that true strength comes from within, rather than external sources like wealth, power or physical strength.
In my opinion, to be truly strong, you need to train both your mind and your body. And anyone can achieve it by changing our habits: by exercising, practicing martial arts, meditating, etc. Only by achieving this harmony can we truly become strong and change our lives.
I really suggest checking out these manga. Trust me, I haven’t even told you half of what these stories have to offer. They are the type of stories that can really change you. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts and we’ll talk more soon.
