The Book of Five Rings

by Miyamoto Musashi, William Scott Wilson (Translator), Shiro Tsujimura (Illustrator)

Overview

Along with Sun Tzu's The Art of War, The Book of Five Rings is considered to be one of the most insightful texts on the subtle arts of confrontation and victory to emerge from Asia. Composed in 1643 by the famed duelist and undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings analyzes the process of struggle and mastery over conflict that underlies every level of human interaction. For Musashi, the way of the martial arts was a mastery of the mind rather than simply technical prowess—and it is this path to mastery that is the core teaching in The Book of Five Rings. This brilliant manifesto is written not only for martial artists but for anyone who wants to apply the timeless principles of this text to their life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780834827868
Publisher:	Shambhala
Publication date:	05/15/2012
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Miyamoto Musashi, who lived in Japan in the 1600s, was an undefeated dueler, a masterless samurai, and an independent teacher. He spent the last decades of his life refining and teaching his military science.

Table of Contents

Foreword by William Scott Wilson
Introduction by William Scott Wilson
The Way of Walking Alone
The Book of Five Rings
The Earth Chapter
The Water Chapter
The Fire Chapter
The Wind Chapter
The Emptiness Chapter
Notes
Bibliography
Crest Motifs

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"On Wall Street, when Musashi talks, people listen." —-Time

Editorial Reviews

On Wall Street, when Musashi talks, people listen.

Time

Written by legendary Japanese swordsman Musashi, this 17th-century exposition of sword-fighting strategy and Zen philosophy has been embraced by many contemporary readers, especially business school students, as a manual on how to succeed in life. There are many English translations, but every one, including this one, suffers from inadequate cultural, literary, and philosophical commentary. Musashi's work should be studied, not simply read, and Cleary's translation lacks commentary; it also makes the prose seems flat and the philosophy simplistic. Yet what makes this new translation worthwhile is the second text, buried deep in the back like an appendix: Yagyu Munenori's The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War . This text, also an exposition on sword fighting and Zen philosophy, is difficult to find in an English translation, and its availability is welcome. Recommended for academic libraries generally.-- Glenn Masuchika, Chaminade Univ. Lib., Honolulu

Library Journal

Here are two Japanese martial arts classics from the seventeenth century, of more than ordinary interest because of their distinguished translation and because of their identification with Zen. Musashi says things like "It is crucial to think of everything as an opportunity to kill," and there's no question his primer on training the would-be warrior's mind and body is, in that respect, as effective as ever. What might interest readers not inclined to bloodlust is Musashi's pared-down philosophy, as exemplified in his nine rules for learning any art. These include "Think of what is right and true," "Understand the harm and benefit in everything," "Become aware of what is not obvious," and the delightful "Do not do anything useless." Following Musashi's last meditation, "The Scroll of Emptiness" (about how, when one masters an art, one separates from it into a state of perfect, contented clarity), is Yagyu's short essay on the art of war. Yagyu, apparently quite a bloody warrior in his youth, in late life worked hard to link martial arts concepts to Zen, and his short essay has a distilled, aphoristic quality. Both writers are marvels of clarity and, oddly, peacefulness.

John Mort

"On Wall Street, when Musashi talks, people listen" -Time Magazine

"Musashi's teachings read like lessons from the latest business management gurus. Who couldn't succeed in business by applying Musahi's insights to conflicts and strategy." -Inc. Magazine

From the Publisher

This Zen classic was written by the seventeenth-century swordsmaster Musashi. His instruction on how to become proficient with the sword explores such topics as rhythm, harmony, knowledge of one’s enemy, and decisiveness. For more than three centuries, it has provided lessons that may be applied in many contexts. This edition includes biographical information and general background that put the author and the work into historical context. Scott Brick assumes the tone of a teacher standing before a group of passionate students. He speaks with authority without being pedantic or condescending. The audio format may not be useful to those who wish to study the material, but it lends itself to using individual chapters as guides to introspection and meditation. J.E.M. 2011 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

MARCH 2011 - AudioFile