Page "Miyamoto Musashi" Paragraph 20

In 1600, a war began between the Toyotomi and Tokugawa clans.

Musashi apparently fought on the side of the Toyotomi's " Army of the West ", as the Shinmen clan ( to whom his family owed allegiance ) had allied with them.

Specifically, he participated in the attempt to take Fushimi castle by assault in July 1600, in the defense of the besieged Gifu Castle in August of the same year, and finally in the Battle of Sekigahara.

Some doubt has been cast on this final battle, as the Hyoho senshi denki has Musashi saying he is " no lord's vassal " and refusing to fight with his father ( in Lord Ukita's battalion ) in the battle.

Omitting the Battle of Sekigahara from the list of Musashi's battles would seem to contradict the Go Rin No Shos statement that Musashi fought in six battles, however.

Regardless, as the Toyotomi side lost, it has been suggested that Musashi fled as well and spent some time training on Mount Hiko.