The Book of Five Rings (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior)
by Miyamoto Musashi
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Book Summary Information
Author: Miyamoto MusashiTranslator: William Scott Wilson
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: Japanese (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2002-03-01
ISBN: 4770028016
Number of pages: 160
Publisher: Kodansha International
Book Reviews of The Book of Five Rings (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior)
Book Review: Great book on Zen, sword fighting, and defeating you enemies.
Summary: 4 Stars
Miyamoto Musashi is a famous Japanese Samurai who was in at least 60 duels often to the death across Japan fighting various warriors from many styles of fighting. Musashi supposedly never lost a duel which is not entirely true as at least on one occasion he fled a battle when the odds were against him. Musashi lived until the ripe old age of 60 which was old back in the time of the samurai. He did not write this book until he was in his fifties after countless battles, contemplation, and practice in becoming a true martial artist. Mushashi's belief system in the five rings or elements that must be mastered to defeat your enemy is the same belief system that the Ninja in ancient Japan had. The Ninja originally adopted these ideas from an ancient Chinese scroll on warfare. The five elements or "rings" as Musashi calls them are Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, and Void. It is interesting to note that Musashi also believes like many people do that the greatest enemy is in fact oneself. This is a very good book from the philosophical standpoint of following Zen and overcoming obstacles and opponents. However, in later chapters Musashi goes into great detail on sword fighting techniques which are not very useful as there is no visual aide to assume the forms he describes. If you want to learn sword fighting techniques I suggest "Shinobi Gatana" (GHOST BLADE) by Steven Hayes - one of the only Americans ever trained by the last Grand Master of Ninjitsu (unfortunately it is hard to come by and only available on VHS). Musashi's book is a journey into the mind of a true martial artist, his ideals and techniques were just as relevant in his time as our own.
Summary of The Book of Five Rings (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior)
Setting down his thoughts on swordplay, on winning, and on spirituality, legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi intended this modest work as a guide for his immediate disciples and future generations of samurai. He had little idea he was penning a masterpiece that would be eagerly devoured by people in all walks of life centuries after his death.Along with The Art of War by Sun Tzu, The Book of Five Rings has long been regarded as an invaluable treatise on the strategy of winning. Musashi's timeless advice on defeating an adversary, throwing an opponent off-guard, creating confusion, and other techniques for overpowering an assailant was addressed to the readers of earlier times on the battlefield, and now serves the modern reader in the battle of life.
In this new rendering by the translator of Hagakure and The Unfettered Mind, William Scott Wilson adheres rigorously to the seventeenth-century Japanese text and clarifies points of ambiguity in earlier translations. In addition, he offers an extensive introduction and a translation of Musashi's rarely published The Way of Walking Alone. This gift-book edition also features original art by Musashi himself as well as new calligraphy by Japanese artist Shiro Tsujimura.
To learn a Japanese martial art is to learn Zen, and although you can't do so simply by reading a book, it sure does help--especially if that book is The Book of Five Rings. One of Japan's great samurai sword masters penned in decisive, unfaltering terms this certain path to victory, and like Sun Tzu's The Art of War it is applicable not only on the battlefield but also in all forms of competition. Always observant, creating confusion, striking at vulnerabilities--these are some of the basic principles. Going deeper, we find suki, the interval of vulnerability, of indecisiveness, of rest, the briefest but most vital moment to strike. In succinct detail, Miyamoto records ideal postures, blows, and psychological tactics to put the enemy off guard and open the way for attack. Most important of all is Miyamoto's concept of rhythm, how all things are in harmony, and that by working with the rhythm of a situation we can turn it to our advantage with little effort. But like Zen, this requires one task above all else, putting the book down and going out to practice. --Brian Bruya
Military Science Books
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