Member-only story
Empty Your Mind to Become a Better Writer
I don’t often write about… well, writing. But I feel like this concept needs to be communicated. To my subscribers to my Ukraine War analysis, I’ll be back tomorrow.
To best understand the concept of shibumi, I must first tell you a story that was verbally passed down to me by my Iaijutsu instructor when I was a child in Texas. For the uninitiated, Iaijutsu is the fast-drawing of the sword — admittedly, it’s a martial art without much utility in modern-day America.
I used to tell this story to U.S. military veterans who wanted to start their own businesses. Shibumi has many applications.
A lone samurai was passing through a small village in Yamashiro Province of feudal Japan. While making his way through the crowded village square, he turned and banged his sword scabbard, which was hanging at his side, against a tea master’s leg.
The samurai gazed at the tea master and yelled, “You banged my sword. This is a grave insult and I shall kill you for it.”
The tea master understood instantly that the samurai sincerely meant to kill him and was paralyzed with fear.
“I meant you no insult, noble sir. Please excuse my clumsiness and let me live. As you can see, I am no warrior and have no sword.”
