The Words of the Samurai – Episode 8

The Lesson of the Three Arrows: Mōri Motonari’s Timeless Wisdom

In the second episode of this series, we already encountered the figure of Mōri Motonari, one of the most skilled strategists of the Sengoku period. At that time, we announced that we would return to one of the most emblematic episodes linked to his name: the teaching of the three arrows. In this eighth episode, we delve into the famous lesson with which Motonari transmitted to his sons a principle both simple and fundamental: unity is strength. Behind this symbolic gesture lies a timeless reflection on the value of cohesion — essential in the wars of the past, and in the challenges of contemporary society.

Unity as Strength: A Sengoku Legacy That Still Inspires

The Mōri family was originally a small local lordship ruling part of Aki Province (in today’s western Hiroshima Prefecture).
Mōri Motonari aligned himself with the powerful Ōuchi clan, rulers of the Chūgoku region, and succeeded in repelling the Amago, rivals of the Ōuchi, during the Battle of Koriyama. This battle marked the beginning of his expansion, which culminated in control over ten provinces in the region.
One of his most famous phrases is:

“A single arrow breaks easily. But if you bind several together in one bundle, they are difficult to break. You must learn from this and remain united with one heart.”

These words appear in the anecdote known as The Teaching of the Three Arrows (Mitsuya no Oshie), in which Motonari gave each of his three sons — the eldest Mōri Takamoto, the second son Kikkawa Motoharu, and the youngest Kobayakawa Takakage — a single arrow to demonstrate its fragility, and then three arrows together to show the strength of unity.

Although the anecdote is considered an invention from the Edo period, it is believed to originate from a real didactic letter called 「三子教訓状」(Sanko Kyōkunjō, Instruction Letter to the Three Sons), in which Motonari urged the three brothers to collaborate in strengthening the Mōri house.

Behind the apparent simplicity of the three arrows story lies a fundamental message for any era: unity is stronger than the sum of its parts.
Whether it is a family, a clan, or a nation, Mōri Motonari reminds us that only through solidarity and shared purpose can the greatest challenges be overcome.
A warning that, today as in the past, has not lost its force or truth.