The Book of Five Rings - Softcover

Musashi, Miyamoto

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1935785974 ISBN 13: 9781935785972

Publisher: Bottom of the Hill Publishing, 2010

Synopsis

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.

About this title

Review:

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

About the Author:

Miyamoto Musashi, born Shinmen Takezo, was the author of The Book of Five Rings, an insightful text on the subtle art of confrontation and victory. Musashi was a famed swordsman who claimed to have defeated his first opponent at the age of thirteen. He wrote that he engaged in sixty duels without suffering a single defeat, and was noted for his skill at handling two swords at once.

About this edition

• Publisher: Bottom of the Hill Publishing
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1935785974
• ISBN 13: 9781935785972
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 60