The Book of Five Rings

by Miyamoto Musashi

Overview

Miyamoto Musashi's Go Rin no Sho or the book of five rings, is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, much like Sun Tzu's The Art of War and Chanakya's Arthashastra. The five "books" refer to the idea that there are different elements of battle, just as there are different physical elements in life, as described by Buddhism, Shinto, and other Eastern religions. Through the book Musashi defends his thesis: a man who conquers himself is ready to take it on on the world, should need arise.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781935785972
Publisher:	Bottom of the Hill Publishing
Publication date:	09/01/2010
Pages:	60
Sales rank:	15,411
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.20(d)

About the Author

Miyamoto Musashi was born around 1584 into a samurai family in Harima province. His mother died soon after his birth, so he was raised by his step-mother and then his uncle, a monk from the Shoreian temple. While staying with his uncle, he was taught Zen Buddhisma and basic reading and writing. He had his first duel at the age of thirteen and went on to have 59 more, claiming never to have lost a single one. He completed his influential book on swordsmanship in May 1645, the year he died.

Victor Harris (1942-2017) was an experienced kendoka, an expert on the Japanese sword (President of the Token Society of Great Britain), and head of the Japanese Department of the British Museum. He translated The Book of Five Rings into English for the first time.

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

"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