Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings
by Kenji Tokitsu
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Book Summary Information
Author: Kenji TokitsuTranslator: Sherab Chodzin Kohn
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-06-20
ISBN: 0834805677
Number of pages: 528
Publisher: Weatherhill
Book Reviews of Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings
Book Review: Good Biography and Translated Works
Summary: 5 Stars
This book opens with one of the best biographies I have read in a while. Since it concerns a historical figure about whom much is unknown, the author presents multiple viewpoints and conjectures prevalent in the current historical scholarship of Japan. Some readers have noted this and consider it annoying double-talk, but I found it useful to know the multiple opinions of the scholars. It lets me know Tokitsu is not simply saying "this is my opinion, and mine is the correct one."
The fact that Musashi's writings are all translated in the second part of the book is very nice. The selections are very readable in English, but don't lose their enigmatic and ambiguous nature. Of course, the major composition is the Gorin (no) Sho, or Book of Five Rings, while the other writings are mostly earlier sketches which reveal the evolution of Musashi's ideas up into the writing of the book. Also included is the list of life principles he wrote shortly before death, Dokkodo.
The third part of the book is a big section about principals of the martial arts and opinions of practitioners on Musashi's ideas. This section will not appeal to non-martial artists or non-enthusiasts. The ideas are mostly deeply rooted in Zen, or describe technicalities the non-enthusiast will find generally uninteresting. It has been said that this book is a very dry read, but I disagree. The life narrative of Musashi was quite entertaining, and his writings are as most writings of that type go, but it was this last section, focused on the practice of budo, that probably lead to that opinion of dryness. I found it interesting myself, being a practitioner of the arts. Don't take this description the wrong way, this section does not ruin the book by any means. It is worth reading for the first two parts no matter what. I'm simply saying that the third section only really appeals to practitioners and enthusiasts like myself.
This book is a must read for anyone who practices or simply likes martial arts. It is even good if you are simply a fan of biographies. The book is also very well bound, and will be quite durable.
Summary of Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings
Miyamoto Musashi, who lived in Japan in the fifteenth century, was a renowned samurai warrior. He has become a martial arts icon, known not just as an undefeated dueler, but also as a master of battlefield strategy. Kenji Tokitsu turns a critical eye on Musashi's life and writings, separating fact from fiction, and giving a clear picture of the man behind the myth.Musashi's best-known work, The Book of Five Rings , provides timeless insight into the nature of conflict. Tokitsu translates and provides extensive commentary on that popular work, as well as three other short texts on strategy that were written before it, and a longer, later work entitled "The Way to Be Followed Alone." Tokitsu is a thoughtful and informed guide, putting the historical and philosophical aspects of the text into context, and illuminating the etymological nuances of particular Japanese words and phrases. As a modern martial artist and a scholar, Tokitsu provides a view of Musashi's life and ideas that is accessible and relevant to today's readers and martial arts students.
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