Competition Corner
 

WIN THE WORLD'S SMALLEST BLUETOOTH ADAPTER!

Connect your PC or laptop to your mobile phone and transfer files, browse the Internet, download & send emails, backup & synchronise contacts/calendar, or even transfer videos, pictures, ringtones & music. This device requires no complex installation and will simply plug into your computer, being ready for use straight away. With an effective operating range of 20m, you'll be able to work flexibly without being tied to the desk.

We have thirty of these units to give away to entrants that can answer November's question correctly.  Winners will be randomly selected, drawn from the pool of correct entries.

The famed swordsman Miyamoto Musashi was born Shinmen Takezo in Harima Province and fought at Sekigahara under the Ukita as a common soldier.  In his brief biography Miyamoto claimed to have defeated his first opponent (a certain Arima Kihei) at the age of 13, following this up with a victory over "powerful martial artist called Akiyama of Tajima province." After 1600 Musashi drifted to Kyoto and became involved in a well-known battle with the Yoshioka School of swordsmanship, emerging victorious.  He wrote that he engaged in sixty duels without suffering defeat once, and was noted in this regard for his skill at handling two swords at once.  He was also remembered for employing a simple bamboo sword, which he used to deadly effect.

Much of Musashi's life between 1600 and 1640 is the stuff of legend and some have postulated that he served at Osaka Castle (1614-1615) on the defending side, taking quite a few heads in the process.  In a similar vein, he is sometimes said to have helped quell the Shimabara Rebellion of 1638 - a theory which, as with his glories at Osaka, is impossible to prove. On the other hand, many of the important events depicted in Yoshikawa Eiji's famous novel Musashi have a basis in reality, to include his battle with the Yoshioka School, his defeat of the noted spearman Inei (chief priest of the Hôzô-in), and his duel in 1612 with Sasaki Kojiro, another famed swordsman. Less well-known is his skill as a painter, his works including a number of self-portraits and naturescapes.

Musashi the man must have cut a forbidding appearance: he was said to have rarely bathed or changed his clothes as well as suffering from a somewhat disfiguring skin condition. Following his duel with Sasaki, he seems to have focused his energies on perfecting his style of swordsmanship, spending much time in travel and reflection - thus epitomizing the much-beloved image of the brooding wanderer samurai.

In 1640 Musashi accepted service with the Hosokawa clan, and three years later, in Higo Province, began work on his great book, Gorin no shô.  He finished this influential work on swordsmanship in May 1645 - the same year he died.

• What is the name of Musashi's great book?
  
  To enter this competition, please complete the form below.  Winners will be announced on the 15th December 2005.