The Martial Artist's "Book of Five Rings": The Definitive Interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi's Classic Book of Strategy

Stephen F. Kaufman

ISBN 10: 0804830207 / ISBN 13: 9780804830201

Published by Tuttle Publishing, 1994

About this Item

96 pages. 8.30x5.50x0.50 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # 0804830207

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Martial Artist's "Book of Five Rings": The Definitive Interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi's Classic Book of Strategy
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
• Publication Date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0804830207
• ISBN 13: 9780804830201
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.2 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

This classic work interprets Miyamoto Musashi's famous Book of Five Rings specifically for the martial artist—as Miyamoto Musashi originally intended. It explains the underlying truths necessary for a full understanding of Musashi's message for warriors. The result is an enthralling book on martial strategy that combines the instincts of the warrior with the philosophies of Zen Buddhism, Shintoism, Confucianism and Taoism. It is a crucial book for every martial artist to read and understand. Like the original, this book is divided into five sections. The Book of Earth lays the groundwork for anyone wishing to understand Musashi's teachings; the Book of Water explains the warrior's approach to strategy; the Book of Fire teaches fundamental fighting techniques based on the Earth and Water principles; the Book of Wind describes differences between Musashi's own martial style and the styles of other fighting schools; while the Book of No-thing describes the "way of nature" as understood through an "unthinking" existing preconception. Famed martial artist Stephen Kaufman has translated this classic without the usual academic or commercial bias, driving straight into the heart of Musashi's martial teachings and interpreting them for his fellow martial artists. The result is an enthralling combination of warrior wisdom and philosophical truths that Musashi offered to other warriors who wished to master the martial way of bushido.

From the Publisher

Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings is well known book of strategy and has been used to understand contemporary Japanese business. However, Musashi was not a business person but a martial artist, a swordsman--the greatest warrior Japan has ever known--and his Five Rings was his definitive treatise on mortal combat. Kaufman, the "Founding Father of American Karate" has 40 years of experience and holds the highest rank attainable in the martial arts. His interpretation of Musashi's classic is specifically for the martial artist as it was originally intended. The result is an enthralling treatise on martial strategy that combines a warrior's instinct with the philosophies of Buddhism, Shintoism, Confucianism, and Taoism.