Musashi's biography, "Buko-den," written in 1755 by Masanao TOYOTA (an instructor of Niten Ichi-ryu in the Matsui family), describes his talent as "Musashi spent his spare time quietly (…omit…) making renga (Japanese poetry), studying calligraphies, painting pictures, making crafts and so on, so many of his works remain including a saddle, a bow made from a willow tree, wooden swords, renga, calligraphy and pictures."
『武公伝』（松井家の二天一流師範が著した武蔵伝記・宝暦5年（1755年）豊田正脩編）には、「武公平居閑静して（中略）連歌或は書画小細工等を仕て日月を過了す、故に武公作の鞍楊弓木刀連歌書画数多あり」と書かれている。