The Book of Five Rings: A Graphic Novel

Shipping Was Swift & The Book itself is extremely interesting, while reading it you get a sense of ' OMG this was written over 300 years ago & Here I am reading this. Great insight By Miyamoto Musashi Very Insightful & Mind Opening.

This book was a great read. The strategies can be applied to all areas in life. From my viewpoint, the underlying message is to adapt to your environments and do not get comfortable with certain ways. Always learn new tools, strategies, and techniques so you can be a well rounded person. I disagree with the final note on the book of void but that's just me. This also cross paths with the art of war by Sun Tzu which is another good book to dwell into.

The product came promptly and in great condition. I am just upon the 'Earth' portion and I already appreciate the wisdom. I am looking forward to a great book that I will be able to reference back to current life situations as a source for direction.

If you are thinking about buying this book, look up Miyamoto Musashi. This guy is 100% pure awesome, not 98% not 99% pure 100% pure awesome. If you would go out and core pure awesome, it would be about 70% pure, but after you refine it it would be really close to 99%(give or take the method that you pureifiy the awesome). Most companies dont say 100% on there stuff because its hard to get to 100% of any thing, but this guy he is 100% beleave me when i say this ONE HUNDRED PERCENT PURE AWESOME. the books ok.

While a cursory glance into the history of this book led me to believe it to be a treatise on strategy on par with The Art of War from Sun Tzu, actually reading through the pages of the Book of Five Rings has given me a firmer, better informed opinion.

The individual interested in this book should know that the Book of Five Rings is useless if he/she wants anything more than an anachronistic text on obsolete modes of warfare and conflict.

This book's value as a treatise on strategy requires the reader to have a mind that is ready to create metaphors specifically created to glean relevant information from the text...

I read the and the only thing I can think of is if I do Kendo this book would be perfect for me. this book basically tells you how to carry your self in a sword fight. the way of strategy in battle would be more like it. this was written by a man who sent his life learning all about his weapon and how to get in to his opponents head and throw him off his game.

This was a decent book, but not great. I bought it thinking it would be Japan's version of The Art of War and I figured it would be filled with useful strategic knowledge and great quotes that you can apply to everyday situations. Not so much, at least that's my opinion. Maybe I'm missing the correlation between life's situations and this book, but it just felt like a swordsman's how to manual and nothing more.

It could be argued that the things he talks about are symbolic and you have to translate it to modern day scenarios, but you could probably say the same thing about basket weaving. The Art of War is symbolic and needs to be translated to modern times as well, but it is not as much of a stretch as it is in this book.

The cool thing about this book is the fact that it was written by, arguably, Japan's greatest samurai dueler nearly 400 years ago. A lot of what is contained in the book made me want to ask "ok, so how can I relate this to real life?" such as when he writes of how to hold a sword, but the fact that it was written by a great warrior such as Miyamoto Musashi makes it a classic read that's good to have under your belt just to say you read it.

this samuri clearly knew what he was talking about he was truly enligthend when he wrote this book i would recomend it for any one who likes to read books would have came a day before the delviery estimation but snoweds so they were not delivering that day

Weather you are coach or a student, master or apprentice, parent or child you will benefit from reading this book. Great version that now sits next to the "Art of War" and "Tao Te Ching".

Well worth the investment and well worth reading a few times.

Just not for me really. Maybe good if you want to become a master swordsman. I understand you are supposed to be able to apply the lessons to everyday life, but the connection there is very vague and not really much depth. The style of writing was not my thing either really.

Surprisingly dull with little actionable content. I purchased the comic after a fellow member on an early retirement recommended it as life changing.
There was a focus on mysticism and poetry. Although I'm all for it when appropriate, this was mostly fluff and style. Not for me, not life changing.

Musashi was an unpleasant and extremely violent person who lived 500 years ago. His advice on how to live should be just the thing for the late anthropocene. It's somewhat obscure, so you can ascribe whatever meanings you like and apply them to you situation as appropriate.

From a historic standpoint I find this to be an interesting book. It tends to repeat itself and is often over simplistic so if you are looking for a quick read on tactics that can be applied today, this probably isn't it. If you are looking for a historic view of tactics, it might interest you.

Since this is a comic adaption of a full lenght book, only some ideas were used, but i must confess that the chosen ones are good enough to give you a fair taste of the complete work.
Why to read it the instead the original?
Its a fast way to get to the core and read the original later , without being overwhelmed by the full detail and know possesing an insight on the key ideas.

I hate translations and wish I could read the original, but this translation isn't as flawed and full of typos like the first translation I read. It's also a short read, the first one I bought had 192 pages... Fail!

I am a student of Zen for over 10 years now, recently getting interested and involved with Kendo. So, this was one of the first books I thought about reading that might combine the two interests. This is a very famous book from a very famous warrior/zen student/artist/eccentric. It is definitely worth a read, but I must say that it was short on both swordsmanship and Zen. It was too broad to be taken as a helpful guide for Kendo, although I'm sure it would be a great manual to supplement a student training with Miyamoto Musashi or one of his disciples. His thoughts on Zen are a little interesting and he seemed to have obviously been steeped in Zen and its teachings, but there are much better books on Buddhist/Zen thought. I am very interested in the seeming conflict in the Buddhist ideal of not killing and yet the practice of Zen was so attractive to many Samurai/warriors. In my humble opinion, The Life-Giving Sword: The Secret Teachings From the House of the Shogun by Yagyu Munenori, goes into that subject a little deeper and does make sense. I found the "Life-Giving Sword" much more interesting in terms of both swordsmanship guide and Zen thought and the combination of the two, although still not much help as a guide to Kendo without an instructor to help actually teach and guide a student through the material. I'm sure Miyamoto Musashi was an amazing person and would have been an impressive person to meet in real life, if we had time machines. ;) Still respectful of the man and his ideas, but too bad his book he left behind was more bones than flesh.

As stated, I've bought this twice and it keeps disappearing...I'm not sure if people take it or it has some kind of witchcraft, but I will NOT be buying it a third time. I'm giving it 5 stars because I don't know what on earth is going on.

In general, I was expecting much more from this. From the first page of the introduction, what should be a razor-sharp katana becomes a dull butter knife. Musashi killed an accomplished swordsman at the age of 13. The illustrations have him breaking his opponent’s shinai and leaving him prostrate but not dead in a dojo match. As someone who has studied Musashi for years, I would have appreciated more respectful research and representation. There are other illustrations with blood, a bit of gore, and death, so it is not due to censorship. I liked some of the adaptation, but it did live up to my expectations. They should have abandoned the modern-day tie-in angle and just focused on explaining more of the text itself, as there was some art in some of this that was admirable. As a whole, I cannot recommend it other than as a partial introduction or review.

I bought it for my boyfriend as a birthday gift. I ended up reading it too because he talk so great about it. I thought it was a great book and very well written. i enjoyed it very much and my boyfriend was very happy with it we plan on buying more books like this one.

It would make a good companion to the Denma version of "The Art of War". It is one expert's view on martial arts and does contain some good hints about strategy which can be applied to any physical conflict.

How would a Japanese feudal army fare against a Macedonian phalanx or a Roman legion? Or to be more historical, how would samurai force led by Musashi in 1643 fare against an equal force led by Gustavus Adolphus, his Swedish contemporary? Musashi asserts that the rules which govern the combat of armies apply equally to individual duels, so how would Musashi himself fare against Cyrano, or Richard the Lion-Hearted, or his enemy Saladin?

If you think the answers are "like duh, obvious, dude!", you need a surreality check. The Way of the Samurai, like all the arts of pre-Meiji Japan, evolved in splendid isolation, never battle-tested outside that sphere. One has only to watch a bout of "mixed martial arts" in comparison to the fantasy martial arts of a film like 'Hero' to realize that power often defeats art. Musashi Miyamoto never toyed with fantasy; the sole goal of swordsmanship, he wrote repeatedly, is to kill your opponent by any means possible.

I picked up this small translation of Musashi's writings at an exhibit centered on his career at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum. That museum tour also inspired me to re-watch some of the classic Japanese samurai films of Kurosawa and Kobayashi. Sure enough, The Book of the Five Rings reads like a script for the balletic duels fought in those films by Mifune Toshiro and Nakadai Tatsuyo. In other words, those films were grounded in historical realities, and thus were plausible enough to evoke suspense and empathy. They portrayed, within artistic limits and license, the ethics and aesthetics of Japan during the Shogunate, and they were high human entertainment, not game-boy escapism.

Does The Book of Five Rings contain useful wisdom for modern strategists of state-craft, war, or business? I'm told by the editors that it does, but I suspect that the wisdom is like that of pondering a mandala; it's the mind of the reader that finds validation in the reading. For practical help with exercising your personal opportunism, Niccolo Macchiavelli's The Prince would be a hundred times more useful.

Read Musashi Miyamoto for his historical interest, and try to arrange a visit to the SF Asian Arts Museum in the near future.

Aloof...comes off as ramblings and incoherent samurai murder babble. I really don't see what the hype is about, it was just samurai fetishism, but to each their own. "The Art of War" and "The Prince" are far superior books of thought.

Well, I have read this book before and I love it. I ordered this pocket edition to have a portable copy. The book I received was pretty good quality, and was nice looking. It even arrived earlier than it was supposed to. My only issue is that the book I received is not the book that I ordered. -

Whether you are a Martial artist or someone simply seeking knowledge, this book and the ideas presented are to be pondered at length. You should find applications for the various techniques, and ways to engage your opponent, for use in all aspects of life.

The Book of Five Rings is Thomas Cleary's translation of Miyamoto Musashi classic that is regarded by some as Japan's version of the Art of War. The writing is an attempt to relate the author's approach to sword and samurai mastery to a philosophical approach to all of life. Divided into sections called scrolls (earth, wind, fire and water). The author relates various fighting aspects to broader values. Given that translation is not only from Japanese to English, but also across several centuries of time, something as simplistic as Google translate is unlikely to be much help. This version seems crude at best and barely a step above Google. At the same time, there is a biblical quality about the writing (perhaps due to the translation) that allows for a wide range of interpretations from the banal to the profound. At the same time, each section ends with a statements, such as, "this should be considered carefully" or "demands careful examination" or "this is something that should be well understood." One gets the feeling that the original intent of the book was to solicit students for the author's school with the feel of an infomercial.

I was drinking tea at Samovar Cafe in San Francisco when I read a quote from this book in their menu. It got me quite curious about it and purchased a copy. I understand that it is a seminal piece of work during the time it was originally written. Apparently, there has not been much analysis of strategy for war/combat prior to this book. However, I think my expectations were not in-line with what I got out of reading it. There are some chapters on sword fighting techniques. And, there are also sections that can be best described as zen-like philosophy. But, I find it hard to absorb most as it is very sparse and have little to no elaboration (for example: If you are going to battle, you should learn everything about every weapon...period). Perhaps the knowledge contained in this book is best discussed within a group or to come from a mentor who has some knowledge about the subject. Having said that, I still did pick up some important learning from The Book of Five Rings. The one I will take away with me is the importance of infecting others (as opposed to being infected). As I understand it, Miyamoto asserts that your thoughts, mood and behaviour should always be consciously monitored and used to influence your surroundings and people around you. And on the flip side, also be aware of others not infecting you in a similar sense. It may sound basic but I do believe it is an important skill to learn...either for war, business, or just everyday interactions.

Great book, but rough translation. Especially the introduction. I don't know how this draft hit print, but there are grammatical errors, word errors, to the point that it makes the introduction tough to understand.

I've read three translations of this book thus far. One was terrible, one was excellent and this one is a good translation and a very good quality production.

Unfortunately nearly every page is littered with pictures of flowers and sickles (and what appear at times to be snowflakes) behind the print. For me these images are very distracting.

I give it four stars despite the images.

It would make a good companion to the Denma version of "The Art of War". It is one expert's view on martial arts and does contain some good hints about strategy which can be applied to any physical conflict.

How would a Japanese feudal army fare against a Macedonian phalanx or a Roman legion? Or to be more historical, how would samurai force led by Musashi in 1643 fare against an equal force led by Gustavus Adolphus, his Swedish contemporary? Musashi asserts that the rules which govern the combat of armies apply equally to individual duels, so how would Musashi himself fare against Cyrano, or Richard the Lion-Hearted, or his enemy Saladin?

If you think the answers are "like duh, obvious, dude!", you need a surreality check. The Way of the Samurai, like all the arts of pre-Meiji Japan, evolved in splendid isolation, never battle-tested outside that sphere. One has only to watch a bout of "mixed martial arts" in comparison to the fantasy martial arts of a film like 'Hero' to realize that power often defeats art. Musashi Miyamoto never toyed with fantasy; the sole goal of swordsmanship, he wrote repeatedly, is to kill your opponent by any means possible.

I picked up this small translation of Musashi's writings at an exhibit centered on his career at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum. That museum tour also inspired me to re-watch some of the classic Japanese samurai films of Kurosawa and Kobayashi. Sure enough, The Book of the Five Rings reads like a script for the balletic duels fought in those films by Mifune Toshiro and Nakadai Tatsuyo. In other words, those films were grounded in historical realities, and thus were plausible enough to evoke suspense and empathy. They portrayed, within artistic limits and license, the ethics and aesthetics of Japan during the Shogunate, and they were high human entertainment, not game-boy escapism.

Does The Book of Five Rings contain useful wisdom for modern strategists of state-craft, war, or business? I'm told by the editors that it does, but I suspect that the wisdom is like that of pondering a mandala; it's the mind of the reader that finds validation in the reading. For practical help with exercising your personal opportunism, Niccolo Macchiavelli's The Prince would be a hundred times more useful.

Read Musashi Miyamoto for his historical interest, and try to arrange a visit to the SF Asian Arts Museum in the near future.

Aloof...comes off as ramblings and incoherent samurai murder babble. I really don't see what the hype is about, it was just samurai fetishism, but to each their own. "The Art of War" and "The Prince" are far superior books of thought.

Well, I have read this book before and I love it. I ordered this pocket edition to have a portable copy. The book I received was pretty good quality, and was nice looking. It even arrived earlier than it was supposed to. My only issue is that the book I received is not the book that I ordered. -

Whether you are a Martial artist or someone simply seeking knowledge, this book and the ideas presented are to be pondered at length. You should find applications for the various techniques, and ways to engage your opponent, for use in all aspects of life.

The Book of Five Rings is Thomas Cleary's translation of Miyamoto Musashi classic that is regarded by some as Japan's version of the Art of War. The writing is an attempt to relate the author's approach to sword and samurai mastery to a philosophical approach to all of life. Divided into sections called scrolls (earth, wind, fire and water). The author relates various fighting aspects to broader values. Given that translation is not only from Japanese to English, but also across several centuries of time, something as simplistic as Google translate is unlikely to be much help. This version seems crude at best and barely a step above Google. At the same time, there is a biblical quality about the writing (perhaps due to the translation) that allows for a wide range of interpretations from the banal to the profound. At the same time, each section ends with a statements, such as, "this should be considered carefully" or "demands careful examination" or "this is something that should be well understood." One gets the feeling that the original intent of the book was to solicit students for the author's school with the feel of an infomercial.

I was drinking tea at Samovar Cafe in San Francisco when I read a quote from this book in their menu. It got me quite curious about it and purchased a copy. I understand that it is a seminal piece of work during the time it was originally written. Apparently, there has not been much analysis of strategy for war/combat prior to this book. However, I think my expectations were not in-line with what I got out of reading it. There are some chapters on sword fighting techniques. And, there are also sections that can be best described as zen-like philosophy. But, I find it hard to absorb most as it is very sparse and have little to no elaboration (for example: If you are going to battle, you should learn everything about every weapon...period). Perhaps the knowledge contained in this book is best discussed within a group or to come from a mentor who has some knowledge about the subject. Having said that, I still did pick up some important learning from The Book of Five Rings. The one I will take away with me is the importance of infecting others (as opposed to being infected). As I understand it, Miyamoto asserts that your thoughts, mood and behaviour should always be consciously monitored and used to influence your surroundings and people around you. And on the flip side, also be aware of others not infecting you in a similar sense. It may sound basic but I do believe it is an important skill to learn...either for war, business, or just everyday interactions.

Great book, but rough translation. Especially the introduction. I don't know how this draft hit print, but there are grammatical errors, word errors, to the point that it makes the introduction tough to understand.

I've read three translations of this book thus far. One was terrible, one was excellent and this one is a good translation and a very good quality production.

Unfortunately nearly every page is littered with pictures of flowers and sickles (and what appear at times to be snowflakes) behind the print. For me these images are very distracting.

I give it four stars despite the images.

I still haven't had time to finish it. But the book was in good condition on arrival and the parts of it that I have read is interesting, so yeah... I'm satisfied with my purchase! Maybe once I've finished it the rating will be higher. We'll see.

The book appears at first to be written simply; it stated the obvious. Written at a time when perhaps things were simpler.

This is NOT a book to read in one sitting, though you easily could.

Read just a bit, then put it down and walk away. Allow what you have read to be mulled over in your mind.

The book is really complex. It contains secrets to living every day, for dealing with everyone you encounter no matter what their state of mind is. It contains secrets about how to do business.

The title is a translation. Like English, words can have multiple meanings. What is translated into the word "ring" can also be translated into "spheres" which I think is a more appropriate translation. The sphere is the most perfect thing in the universe. Beginning at a point and drawing the ring/sphere/circle you will get to a point where the line begins again upon itself. This is a key to understanding the book.

Cleverly written, it holds the knowledge to live at peace with the universe.

An excellent read and mental workout.

Book of Five Rings is a fencing manual with a dose of philosophy added for good measure. It is considered to be a classic, but after reading it I cannot see why, for the book is of very limited use to the wider audience.

The Book of Five rings was written by a man named Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi lived in feudal Japan in the first half of the seventeenth century. Today he is a semi-legendary figure, and like all semi-legendary figures, most of the tales surrounding his life are more fiction than fact. What is known for certain is that Musashi came from very humble background. Most likely his parents were simple peasants or something similar. From very early age, he was fascinated (obsessed, one could say) with combat. He trained himself to be a warrior. When he reached early twenties, he started to travel the land far and wide, seeking renown warriors and challenging them to see who is better. It is estimated that he fought some sixty duels, all of them victorious. Many of the men he had defeated and killed were warriors of great prowess. Some were even (before meeting Musashi) thought to be the best fighters in all of Japan. Aside for duels, Musashi had also fought in a number of battles and other violent engagements.

By the time he had reached late thirties, Musashi had something of a spiritual revelation. While he did continue to train with weapons for the rest of his life, he gave up on violence and started to learn other crafts, such as tea ceremonies (a big thing in Japanese culture) and poetry.

Musashi died in his fifties from natural causes (most likely cancer). Shortly before dying, when he could feel death coming for him, he wrote the Book of Five Rings.

So much about the man; now about his book. Five Rings is martial arts manual first and philosophy treaty second. Most of the advice given in it is strictly of technical nature. For example, Musashi talks about how you should hold the sword one-handed rather than two-handed, or how you should position yourself in such a way that the sun stays behind you at all times. Most of the advice is about wielding a sword.

This part of the book would certainly be of interest to anyone practicing fencing and other martial arts, but few of it is revolutionary. For example, Musashi talks about constantly pushing your opponent onto difficult terrain. That is hardly a revolutionary idea. Even someone who has no fighting experience whatsoever would recognize this as common sense.

The other part of the book talks about conflict in general. Most of the advice can be boiled down to “study your opponent carefully, use his weaknesses and strengths against him, and always do the unexpected.” This is all good advice that can be used in any conflict from waging war to negotiating a business deal, but it is hardly revolutionary.

Five Rings does have some interesting general philosophical thoughts and advice, however. For example, Musashi says that combat is a way of life, but other people (craftsmen, artists, etc.) also have their own way of life, which is no easier or harder than the path of the warrior. Every occupation should be respected, and even be learned from. Musashi also says that in the end we must rely only on ourselves, that we should not seek out to acquire material possessions or money and, this one is my favorite, not to regret all the roads we have walked in life.

We all have made decisions at some point that we wish we could take back. We all have committed mistakes and, perhaps, even done shameful things. While I do believe that we should seek to atone for the bad things we had done in the past, making mistakes teaches us a lot. No matter what road you and I have walked in life, it had taught us many things and made us into who we are today. Even if you believe that the road you took was the wrong one, at least walking it helped you to come to that realization and now all that accumulated experience and knowledge can be used to walk a better road and make better choices in life.

I also liked the fact that after dispersing each piece of advice, Musashi says: “this should be studied thoroughly.” He recognizes that his book is not a repository of some secret, revolutionary wisdom that will all by itself change the reader’s life. It is an instruction manual, yes, but true understanding will come from practice, practice and more practice. Just as with modern martial arts manuals, they can show you detailed schematics of various combat moves, but staring at the illustrations won’t make you into a martial artist. To acquire skill in combat, you need to get your hands dirty and practice (with trained professionals, of course).

This humility on Musashi’s part is refreshing. Nowadays, many self-help books and other manuals claim that all you need to do is read them and your life will suddenly change for the better. Yeah, right.

To conclude, Book of Five Rings would certainly be of interest to people studying martial arts, especially sword fighting. As for other people, although it does contain useful tidbits of information and philosophy, you will need to dig through page after page and layer after layer of advice about combat to get to the interesting parts. If you are looking for life advice and eastern philosophy, there are better books out there.

But, in all fairness, I did enjoy this book nevertheless. Plus, it is short and to the point, which for me is always a good thing. I’ll be generous and give it four stars.

"th way of the sword", The entire book is riddled with spelling mistakes such as these.
A friend of mine lent me another version of this book a few months ago, I really enjoyed it. I decided to buy my own copy due to the excellent material presented within.
This copy however is overall poorly translated, and very badly written.
Many sentences make no grammatical sense, the translator chose a lot of English words that do not do justice to the piece, every page has at least one obvious spelling mistake.
Overall a very poor job from whomever was entrusted with making an English version of this book. Had I not already read a far superior version I would have been stuck trying to piece words together and figure out what the h**l is going on.

I studied martial arts when I was younger, karate to be exact, and at times you had to really reach to get into the Zen of the discipline. As a Christian American, you would need to study at length to fully grasp the nuances. This book is interesting on one level, however one dimentional. The most difficult aspect of this book is it's extremely vague and, at times, utterly bad translations that appear to make no sense at all. What's worse is that the author apparently expects you to except it anyway! Can I get a proofreader? Good luck.

For a 60 page book where 8 was just the introduction to it. I was under impressed with the initial discovery of how short this "book" was. As I paged through this "book" it was not worth the $8.00 for something that looked like a students notes from a class. Although a interesting short read this should be priced at $5.00 at the most.

I studied martial arts when I was younger, karate to be exact, and at times you had to really reach to get into the Zen of the discipline. As a Christian American, you would need to study at length to fully grasp the nuances. This book is interesting on one level, however one dimentional. The most difficult aspect of this book is it's extremely vague and, at times, utterly bad translations that appear to make no sense at all. What's worse is that the author apparently expects you to except it anyway! Can I get a proofreader? Good luck.

For a 60 page book where 8 was just the introduction to it. I was under impressed with the initial discovery of how short this "book" was. As I paged through this "book" it was not worth the $8.00 for something that looked like a students notes from a class. Although a interesting short read this should be priced at $5.00 at the most.

I expected this book to be similar to The Art of War, but it is very different. The book is full of vague instructions and much of it deals with swordsmanship, which has no relevance for most people today. I was not impressed.

Interesting as a document from the Edo period, but dated and awkward as a book targeted in translation for modern Western businesspeople dealing in Japan. Fascinating as a straightforward historical first person account of the life and personal philosophy of a warrior from Shogunate Japan, but almost silly to the extent that it attempts to be more. The commentary is can be skipped entirely, as it attempts to read far to much into the text (not much of which feels relevant today); but it leaves the reader suspicious of the translation iteslf, which seems strained in several places.

I didn't read this book and I don't think I will. It isn't really a book it's a miniature, only not as attractive. Perhaps this is the book tucked into the obis of baby samurais before they went off to play school, perhaps it's just a joke. An actual book it isn't. I suggest you check the stats of this book so you can buy wisely, something I wish I had done. It's 4 1/2" x 3" x less than a 1/2". So tiny.

I bought this book, because it was mentioned in another book I was reading about SEAL Team 6. It said all the SEALS called it a must read. I simply got bogged down, and a little bored, with it. Seemed more of a martial arts book than anything. It just depends on your interest. Not saying it is not a good book, just wasn't to me.

This book is based on the writings of a 16th centery master duelest, but is a little long from a narrative point

the shipping could be improved on this item. 17 days is just to long when it was shipped from a 10 hour drive away.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well I can say I did understood some concepts and all, however not all of them, if I have to be truly honest with myself it was a little hard for me to try and make sense of this book it was very cryptic.

Now I don't think it is a bad book, just that you need to have some good understanding of metaphors to really understand some things or that was my point of view.

I would recommend it for truly scholars.

I love reading ancient texts of martial arts, warriors, and the like because I find in their articulately crafted words such great wisdom about life in general. When it all comes down to it life is about that balance and realizing that everything comes full circle. Reading this book I was reminded that we must not focus all efforts into only one thing and to clear the mind of anything that could cause confusion. The illustrations were excellent to help shape the story. Perhaps things can be said best by text from the latter part of the book.
In emptiness exists Good but no evil
Wisdom is existence
Principle is existence
The Way is existence
The mind is emptiness

William Scott Wilson's translation of Miyamoto Musashi's 17th-century classic work of personal philosophy is in every way excellent, and captures the spirit as well as the meaning of the text to perfection. This small (not quite pocket-size but close) hardcover edition is also a very pleasing artefact and a quality piece of work.

Musashi's work focuses on practicing the `martial arts' - particularly swordsmanship - not from the perspective of learning technique but from internal spiritual development; the ascendancy of `mind' to which all technique must ultimately become subservient.

The `five rings' are in fact five chapters themed:

1. Earth (the South)

2. Water (the East)

3. Fire (the West)

4. Wind (the North)

5. Emptiness (the Center: all action and response is most effective when preceded by emptiness - i.e. no internal noise, no preconceptions; `this must be learned')

Each themed chapter incorporates short paragraphs explaining a specific aspect of how to win a contest or fight. For example, in the `Fire' ring, on `Imposing Fear:'

"...the heart of fear is in the unexpected...you do not frighten your opponents with what is right before their eyes. People may be frightened by voices...or by making the small seem large...something coming suddenly from the side also induces fear. You can frighten an opponent with your body, with your sword or with your voice. It is essential to do this suddenly, when your opponent is not expecting it. Take advantage of his fear and gain the victory immediately."

Musashi was allegedly self-taught, and learned everything through his own experience, introspection and native intelligence. The `Book of Five Rings' is not meant to be some kind of bible, but continuously exhorts the reader to "investigate this thoroughly" and do his own work, taking Musashi's guidelines as a starting point to guard against fatal errors.

The power of Musashi's work is in its conciseness and its completeness. He is reported to have written this text in his final two years, around age 60, to summarise and condense the essence of a lifetime of success in the martial arts. It was considered vital in that age for a respected Samurai to be not just an accomplished fighter but a poet, artist, ceramicist and philosopher; learned and accomplished in many things. The book contains some of Musashi's best-known sketches and artworks, including one of his self-portraits and the very famous, powerfully minimalist 'Shrike on a withered branch'.

Overall, if you want a good translation of this timeless classic, this edition can be unconditionally recommended as a fine choice.

Miyamoto Musashi was renowned as a self-taught, undefeated masterless Samurai (Ronin) in Japan in the early 1600s. To this day he is considered a national hero to the Japanese, a kind of Robin Hood-like figure. It's said he killed his first opponent at age 13. He fought all comers until age 29, when he turned to teaching his techniques to students. At age 60, Musashi retired to a Zen monastery where he wrote his unpolished but insightful guide to living, THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS.

Like Sun Tzu's THE ART OF WAR and Machiavelli's THE PRINCE, THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS has been seized upon by the shark-eating man population as a life's little instruction book on how to get the drop on your competitors, and there is that side to it. But like Sun Tzu and Machiavelli, Mushashi's lesson really is more about how a well-prepared warrior need not engage in violent, self-injurious combat to overcome his adversaries.

This edition also contains THE BOOK OF FAMILY TRADITIONS ON THE ART OF WAR written by Yagyu Munenori, a contemporary of Mushashi's. But where Mushashi was unlettered, rustic, masterless and entirely self-made, Munenori was the Shogun's tutor and head of the Imperial Secret Police, the quintessential insider.

It is fascinating to compare and contrast the writing styles, lessons and conclusions of the two men, so far apart socially, who are not so far apart in thought as might be imagined.

This is a great tool but I was incorrect to approach it as an audiobook. With frequent reminders to 'investigate this thoroughly,' it is little surprise that Musashi's classic was not build for a quick read. This is a sort of 'tactical reference guide,' which vague, general concepts that the author applies to swordsmanship, but which of course remain applicable to business and combat tactics more broadly. The ideal mastery of this text: slow, piecemeal, repetitive reading over a period of years. It's a short book, so you could read it any old afternoon, but it's better situation, like the Art of War or Aurelius' Meditations, as a coffee table book that you pick up now-and-again for instantaneous perspective, inspiration and reflection.

`A Book of Five Rings' (aka The Book of Five Rings) is Musashi's book of martial arts strategy and it has now become a classic for martial arts practitioners and also businessmen over the years.

This starts with an introduction by the translator with a brief biography of Musashi and some info to the put the book into context.

You then move onto the book itself which offers up plenty of advice and knowledge about Musashi's strategy of sword fighting (called Kendo here, but also known as Iaido and other terms). The entries can be interpreted on a number of levels, be it the simple ideas taken at face value or the deeper philosophy behind them. This book can be read many times and you can gain something new each time. This is broken up into five sections (hence the title) which are Ground, Water, Fire, Wind and Void and these cover topics as diverse as stance, mindset, competing schools of martial arts and more besides.

This also has numerous pages of calligraphy and Japanese woodblock prints which greatly add to the aesthetics and overall feel of the book. If you have an interest in martial arts, Samurai or Japan in general then is worth a read at some point and it would quite happily sit alongside other Japanese martial arts classics like `Hagakure' and `Bushido' on your bookshelf.

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The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.

The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".

Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."

The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".

Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet. A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."

The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.

The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".

Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."

The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".

Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet. A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."

Essentially a brains over brawn classic, "The Book of Five Rings" is a treatise on strategy to help you attain victory. There's the likes of Floyd Mayweather, who sports an unbeaten streak in boxing, and legendary boxer Muhammad Ali; then there's seventeenth century Samurai warrior, the omnipotent genius that is Miyamoto Musashi. Who better to learn from than an individual who, though not the strongest, mastered the arts of the mind. In the original version published in 1643, Musashi goes at length to note his observations and to allow the individual to discover his inner power. SmarterComics takes the concepts of the book a step further by making the book available to the 21st century and the largely visual age. Instead of picking up a thick book that will take days, maybe months to complete, SmarterComics condenses the content, but keeps the ideas and spirit of Musashi alive in the comic book edition. The beauty of SmarterComics is the stunning visuals and the impeccable choice of quotes from the original. The individual will marinate over each passage and every visual in this thought-provoking SmarterComics creation.

The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.

The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".

Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."

The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".

Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet. A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."

The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.

The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".

Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."

The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".

Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet. A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."

The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.

The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".

Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."

The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".

Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet. A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."

Musashi's now-famous 'Book of Five Rings' is simply not the most influential sword-fighting book written in Feudal Japan. The most important book on Japanese swordsmanship, and the text of the Shogunate's own selected shool of swordsmanship is 'The Sword and the Mind': available as a translation by Hiroaki Sato. Musashi had a very personal and unique style of fighting involving the long and short swords used together. Quite possibly his style developed through the influence of his father, who was an expert in the jitte: a parrying weapon held in the left hand. Even if wielding the long sword by itself, he recommends holding it only in one hand, and developing the strength to do so: he mentions how often you will have to grab enemy spears or other objects with your left hand while fighting, and how holding a sword in two hands limits your sword's movement. Musashi was fully devoted to swordsmanship, and it seems as if he spent all day every day of his life swinging his swords about: no wonder no one could match him! Musashi's main principles are: 1) Train as much as possible 2) Always be on the attack, and turn every defence into an attack 3) Do unexpected strange things to confuse the opponent 4) Attack while the opponent is in the middle of doing something else such as taking a step or breathing etc 5) keep yourself relaxed while fighting 6) Train to achieve complete control of movement. There are lots of little useful anecdotes he tells us about, such as how to keep the sun at your back and thus in the opponent's face. He also gives us a window into 17th Century battles concerning the benefits and detriments of the various weapons and so on. What clearly rings through the entire book is that this is the work of someone who is intimate to an incredible degree with the movements of the sword and the body. A great deal of his strategy involves timing and rhythms: catching the opponent at just the right moment. There is no doubt that these principles are of the utmost importance in winning any kind of sport; however, they are very simple principles and really depend on the swordsman having an incredible amount of skill and training which gives him enough freedom of movement and acute sense of timing to carry them out. One can sense the love Musashi has of fighting and the thrill he gets at his feeling of superiority at winning. However, Japan was not as impressed with his style as he was. It was the two-handed style outlined in 'The Sword and the Mind' that became the standard for samurai. I am not a duellist who's life is on the line, so I am not in a position to muse about why the preference remained for a two-handed grip, but certainly having more control of the blade, more speed, and a longer sword must have been factors. So, even though Musashi was undefeatable, he became so using apparently inferior weapons. While this is all the more impressive, it also means that his style is defective in its most basic element: its weapons! I should probably add here that Musashi clearly was acquainted with literature, and the fact that he was trying to immortalize himself through his book is obvious on every page. He was a great artist too, and his paintings and sculptures have been prized ever since he created them. He wanted to remain the best swordsman after his death, and this book was conceived as his means to that end. There is a great deal to be sure to be learned from this work - it is quite possibly the best book ever written on hand to hand combat, and it is very well organized. I should add too that where Musashi speaks of large-scale military manoeuvers he is speaking from experience, since he fought in and commanded in several battles. We however must remember that in his own time and later his style of two swords hardly had any students - and there are no fencers from his Nito school that ever became famous. While his very seemingly-practical 'hands-on' approach to swordsmanship appeals to us impatient moderns, the deeply introspective, psychological mind-games of Munenori's "The Sword and the Mind" appealed to the samurai of the Edo period. However, the samurai of that period took on the role of civil servants and their role as warriors became less and less important, so practical advice on winning battles such as Musashi gives seemed less relevant to them than spiritual cultivation. It is really a miracle that Japan's greatest samurai actually wrote a book telling us how to become as great a fighter as himself! This book is a guide to success in martial arts, and it will give your martial arts knowledge a touch of 'class', since this book is a true classic of the best kind: if you can quote Musashi in your teaching, it can only look good for you! I ought to note that Thomas Cleary's edition of the "Book of Five Rings" also contains the entire "Sword and the Mind" of Munenori, so Cleary's book would be ideal to buy!

I did not see any positive reflection in this book at all. For business? For life? These are the ramblings of a man who has been lucky enough to not have died at a young age. He has devoted himself to the art of fighting, and there is no doubt that he knows what he is talking about, though he is no teacher. This book is a loose-leaf effort of self glorification. What business gurus get out of it is also as much.

This book was originally written many centuries ago, in feudal Japan, a period of "great social change." The country was united, and many samurai were out of work. Therefore, master-less samurai roamed across Japan looking for other samurai, against whom to test their blades (swords). Miyamoto Musashi was one of these master-less samurai.
However, Musashi was also a philosopher, a sumi-e painter, and a sculptor. Sumi-e, for those who are unfamiliar, is a form of Japanese painting, that emphasizes the white space in the painting, as well as the lines painted.
When Musashi was an old man, he was able to write down coherently, the philosophy that had determined the course of his life path. This writing is the Book of Five Rings.
Reader's knowledgeable about Zen thinking will find Musashi's philosophy to be familiar. For those don't know, Zen is a philosophy, that focuses on being aware of one's surroundings, and of knowing intuitively how to respond to events. Zen, unlike Buddhism, is a philosophy that believes you can achieve enlightenment in the present lifetime.
Heiho, Musashi's philosophy, is predicated on this belief. It is also, as Musashi explains, "necessary to keep in mind that the essence of Heiho is to build an indomitable spirit and an iron will; to believe that you cannot fail in doing anything." It is a demanding but optimistic philosophy.
The Book of Five Rings is a short, but challenging read. It will probably be most appreciated by practitioners of the martial arts, and others who want to learn a specific method of applying Zen-like principles to their everyday existence. I doubt that anyone will be able to fully grasp the meanings and intricacies of this book after one reading. Small matter though, because it's about the size of a back-pants pocket and is great reading material on the bus, the subway, or elsewhere.

We live in a world where "dog-eat-dog world" and "it's me against the world" stigmas are prevalent. While it would be nice to live in a utopian world of peace and comfort, this is simply wishful thinking. Winning isn't simply an ambition, but a necessity for survival in the 21st century. 17th century Samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings is available in comic book edition through SmarterComics. As sequels and remakes re-kindle fond memories of original classics, Franco Arda's SmarterComics takes prominent books such as The Book of Five Rings and Machiavelli's The Prince and essentially transitions these books for 21st century audience consumption. With more pictures, stunning visual graphics, shorter lengths, and much the same substances, SmarterComics The Book of Five Rings conveys the same essential points as the original, while creating a finished product that will cater to the majority of demographics. For all of the warrior mentality, swordsmanship aficionados, and the ultimate strategists, The Book of Five Rings from SmarterComics is a must.

This book has a singleness of mind and directness that are hard to describe. It is about one thing only, and about forging oneself into the tool that can do that one thing.
The writing is earthy and practical. However blunt and direct it may seem, I get the impression that the translator softened its style. The second translation in this book, from about the same time, is more literary, more refined, and alludes to a much wider range of the educated person's reading. Next to Musashi, and embodying so much of what he disdained, it simply looks foppish.
I do technical work. Much of the process of design and debug has the feel of facing intelligent, determined opposition. For that reason, large parts of Musashi's advice seem true and fresh. He advises that a warrior to become master of all tools, not some just some favorite - today, he would call that the "golden hammer." In 'Letting Go Four Hands,' he advises a prompt change of attack when the first assault deadlocks. In 'Mountain and Sea Changing,' he advises against repeating an approach that has already failed against a given opponent. All those are things that work as well in the lab as on the battlefield.
The Five Rings should be in the library of any professional, artist, or technical worker. Cleary's translation is modern and readable. I would give it five stars, except that so many classics from China and Japan discuss not only tactics but strategy as well. It's not about any flaw in this book, but about the excellence of the other books that this one complements.

This is a review of Musashi's Book of Five rings divorced from any particular translation, which is my first point--is there nobody working for the store literate enough to understand the insanity of mashing together all of the reader comments on translated classics in one place, as though all the translations and editions were interchangeable? It's a maddening tower of babble for readers of five different editions to make comments specific to an edition not knowing they will be lumped together with all the others. Bezos needs some librarians or scholars on staff to sort this out and make intelligent policy.

As for the work itself, while we all love the idea of reading old classic works and discovering nuggets of universal wisdom applicable to modern life, I don't find Musashi's Five Rings to be especially pleasing as an example of that. Other than his sarcastic critiques of rival schools as teaching style over substance, which the MBA enthusiasts of this work seem to absorb without any sense of self-parody, I find it troubling that his technical instructions for the martial arts he taught are in many cases implausible and incoherent; the few nuggets of philosophy thrown in don't gel into a consistent world view the way we see in Sun Tzu or Confucius or many others. A reader using their own judgement against the tide of mindless book promotion blurbary will likely be disappointed that this early Japanese classic is such a thin intellectual morsel, like a little bowl of plain rice...

This is powerful book to read and UTILIZE in your life. While it can easily be taken for face value as a book on physical fighting strategy, it is more than that. One can take many of the thoughts and translate them to a more theoretical use on strategy. For example, a quote speaking of "the gaze" relating to seeing an enemy and their movements: "It is important in strategy to know the enemy's sword and not to be distracted by insignificant movements of his sword". This could easily be translated to business, sports, etc. Just substitute "sword" for the essence of the thought to apply to "business", "army", "team", etc.

The first 3rd of the book is a historical account of events of Musashi's life, and also includes many images of artwork created by Musashi. They are black and white however. The rest of the book is the actual "Book of Five Rings". It consists of 5 "books": ground, water, fire, wind and the void. It is to be noted Musashi after a time found he did not need to follow any particular "Way" and practiced many.

Regarding the layout of the book, I like the footnotes at the bottom of many of the pages which help describe words or thoughts you may not have easily or readily known otherwise.

---*** THE BOTTOM LINE ***---

A good book to have, with worthwhile strategy, although, regarding strategy I prefer Sun Tzu's "Art of War".

Samurai in today's boardrooms? So the cover of this book would seem to suggest... Despite the somewhat tacky artwork, this book, being a translation of a classic on strategy, is worth the read.

This particular translation of Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings was found on a recent trip to a local used book seller. It would seem that the target audience of this book is businessmen intent on advancing their careers. The date of publication (1982) would seem to support this in that the 1980′s were a time of Japanese economic growth, a time when people were looking to Japan, much as individuals are looking to China today for understanding and insight into the country's development. Below is an excerpt, which demonstrates some of the commentary, provided by the editors throughout the book:

"The kind of patience demonstrated by the samurai trained in Bushido can still be found in modern Japan... (At the start of business negotiations) after tea is served, the Japanese will simply sit, wait, and say nothing. They are waiting for the opponent to make the first move... (enabling them to see their adversaries intentions, without giving away their own) The experienced foreign negotiator who knows his Miyamoto Musashi Bushido or Heiho will just silently sip his tea and wait, no matter how long, for the Japanese hosts to open the talk."

While this book was written for businessmen, the initial writings by Musashi were meant to impart a greater understanding of swordsmanship and its associated way of life - the way of the warrior. But, just as military and business leaders often borrow from each other, so too can this book be applied to those interested in politics, martial arts and life in general; not to mention that it offers greater insight into Japanese culture.

The introduction of the book covers the concepts of Zen (a philosophy of willpower), Bushido (the way of the warrior), and Heiho (the path to enlightenment). Together these concepts provide a foundation from which to better understand Musashi's worldview.

Miyamoto Musashi was born in 1584. He was a ronin (a master-less samurai) who roamed the country looking to engage in contests of martial skill. His first such encounter occurred at the age of 13 in which he slew his opponent. From that time until the age of 30, Musashi engaged in 60 plus battles, never losing a single encounter. However, it was not until his final years that Musashi set about writing this work, which he completed just prior to his death in 1645.

Each chapter in this book opens with a brief commentary by the translators, providing background to Musashi's work. The book is comprised of the following five chapters:

CHI NO MAKI: The Earth Book
MIZO NO MAKI: The Book of Water
HI NO MAKI: The Fire Book
KAZE NO MAKI: The Wind Book
KU NO MAKI: The Book of Emptiness

The Earth Book provides the reader the context from which to understand the rest of the chapters. The Book of Water explains Musashi's technique. The Fire Book provides strategy for combatants. The Wind Book describes the techniques of other competing schools at the time (from which Musashi says there is no competition). The Book of Emptiness provides a Zen inspired conclusion to the book, bringing all of the chapters together.

In sum, this reviewer found the book to have a number of gems tucked away in its pages and would recommend the book to those interested in gaining a deeper understanding of strategy and / or Japanese culture. It should also be noted that Musashi's work is one which deserves several readings in order to fully grasp the concepts which he attempts to impart. Furthermore, it is recommended that readers take the time to digest what is being read by reflecting upon ones own experiences as they relate to Musashi's teachings.

See this and other reviews on books concerning Asia at ObservAsia.com

IF YOU READ THIS ONLY AS A SWORD FIGHTING BOOK YOU HAVE MISSED THE POINT. THIS COULD AND SHOULD BE A WAY OF LIFE. YOU ARE TOLD TO LOOK BEYOND WHAT YOU SEE. IT IS MORE THAN A MILITARY instructional, It is a way of life. SHORT BOOK MUST BE READ MANY TIMES TO FIND THE WAY.

I have studied this book for years, and have read five different translations. The William Scott Wilson translation is by far the best. I always get the feeling that other translators are putting too much of themselves or their ideas about what Musashi is saying into the translations. Wilson's translation is clear and concise and yet does not feel filtered.

Here is a passage from the Thomas Cleary translation "Upset happens in all sorts of things. One way it happens is through a feeling of being under acute pressure. Another is through a feeling of unreasonable strain. A third is through a feeling of surprise at the unexpected."

Here is the same passage translated by Wilson "There are many kinds of agitation. One is a feeling of danger, a second is a feeling that something is beyond your capability and a third is a feeling of the unexpected. This should be investigated thoroughly."

They say the same thing, but Wilson is clearer.

As for the book itself, it is a classic masterpiece that describes not only a style of swordsmanship, but a way of living.

The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.

The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".

Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."

The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".

Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet. A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."

This edition includes a very interesting tidbit that many translations lack, that being an explanation by Musashi about why he felt justified in writing the book. That actually indicates a certain level of humility that stands apart from many, and may conflict with interpretations you might get from reading the rest of the book.

The primary text focuses on looking at a foe and understanding their strengths and weaknesses, as well as empathizing with them. It also covers looking at surroundings for assets and liabilities available.

All in all, it's a book discussing adaptability in very practical ways. As such, it's valuable to far more than merely those interested in the martial arts. I cannot think of a single point made that wasn't beneficial to consider, regardless of whether or not you agree.

My only real criticism of the translation is that I'd prefer if there were more information about the translation itself peripherally displayed. (footnotes or sidebars.) All in all, though, this was quite a readable text.

This book is only a translation of the original. You may not find the extensive commentary you seek. While written centuries ago, Miyamoto Musashi, in my judgment, didn't write a book just about how to fight.

Reading this book with an open mind will surprise the reader. Deep thought and reflection will be needed. The areas to which the principles in this book may be applied (such as lessons in leadership and politics) and the success in said application are only limited to the amount of imagination and study put forth by the reader.

It offers a great deal of knowledge for every day life, and even if you never pick up a sword, or raise your fists, you will find his philosophy extends well beyond the realm of martial arts and battle strategy.

To some readers you will not be able to fully grasp all of the concepts and ideas presented after one reading. This book is invaluable and definitely invites repeated readings as new insight is to be found as your understanding deepens. I'm not sure if a single review could do this book justice because each time you re-read this book your thoughts are guaranteed to be provoked and you will definitely walk away each time with a new form of enlightenment and that is my reason for giving it Five stars *****.

Read this as well as Sun Tzu for a good over view of staragy. Sun Tzu offers more practical advice while this offers more insight in to the proper state of mind ( and as such is probably more generally applicable to different situations, war, bussiness, personal relationships, etc.) I have only recently begun my study of these two great works but if I were to lay out an easy ( and maybe erroneouse ) distinctino then it seems to me that this is more for the individual in combat ( negotiations, love, whatever) while Sun Tzu is more organizational ( But they are both still stratagy and tactics not one or the other ). As someone else here pointed out, Musashi does not tell you how to fight ( run a bussiness, argue, etc ) instead he descibes what your state of mind should be. ( there are specific references to different type of sword cuts but this is not the bulk of the advice). Mushashi presupposes that you know the the mechanics of your art, he is teaching you how and most importantly when to apply them. He probably dwells on timeing more than anything ( other than practice and reflection.) There is a short list of things to always do, remember the importance of training, percive that which can not be seen, pay attention even to the trifle, etc. Probably most importantly ( other than the chapter on the void but I expect most will skip that, pity ) is putting yourself in the others place wich he illustrates with a simple but effective analogy.
As a trial attorney this book is invaluable and invites repeated readings as new insight is to be found as your understanding deepens. I recall a case I won once, with a great witness but bad physical evidence, when it came time to look at the physical evidence the judge stated that it did not look like what it was purported to be to him. He was right and had I argued, pointed out that he was not an expert in that necessary feild etc, I would have lost all credibility with him. Instead I humbly agreed and mentioned that I probably would not have brought the case if the creadibility of the witness was not so compelling and persuasive. We won. As Mushashi points out, put yourself in the place of your enemy and remember timeing is everything.

I bought this book in the early 2000s and I've been reading it every since. Martial Arts is my life, I've always been attracted to Asian culture and philosophy, but you don't have to be to enjoy this book. If you're looking for success, knowledge, wisdom, discipline or your "inner warrior" you need look no further. I have the pocketbook version which is easy to carry when I travel. The book is simple and direct with a mature taste. Some parts may not go down as smooth as others, but this gives it longevity. Musashi's principals are as relevant today as they were in his time. If you're looking for the meaning of truth, honor, and self-respect or inspiration during the dark times in life, this book will fill your cup. Enjoy.

MoPop

I had first heard about this book in a course dealing with terrorism. The instructor was making a presentation about 4th generation warfare, which in layman's terms is an insurgency. This book was cited as a resource for that course. Being a Marine infantry officer, I am intimately familiar with other military philosophy works and was interested in comparing this work with Sun Tzu's "Art of War." My first impression is that you can not read it one time and grasp all of the concepts and ideas presented here. It is meant to be read many times and studied under the direction of a "master" or someone familiar in the martial arts to explain and demonstrate the concepts presented. It focuses on how to become a better swordsman, but unless you are already familiar with how to be a swordsman, a great deal of the text may seem useless. It is not a true military tacticians bible the way Sun Tzu is, but more generally serves as a means of "enlightening" one's own inner self. Many of the concepts that were presented here can be used to make one a better warrior, which in my opinion was the original design for the text. However, many of the concepts force you to think, which was also a design of the text.

I agree with many of the other reviews presented here that on the surface, if you are looking for concepts to make you a better business person, this book may fall short. However, if you are looking for something that will make you a better warrior (which Marines are) or a leader, or perhaps a more enlightened person, this book will help you along that path. Additionally, There are a number of different translations available for the original work of which this is but one. It may be wise to read a selection of different translations to see if they all come across in the same way to you.

I've read several books on sword techniques, methods, philosophies, etc... This book takes all that knowledge and adds an edge to it I haven't found anywhere else. It makes you think about your movements, and style of fighting... and answers the questions on things like why the samurai used a long and short sword instead of two long blades.
Musashi fought back when it meant living or dying, and never lost. He wrote the book years after he retired from fighting and tried to capture the very essense of how to win in any situation. This book does not have any pictures of techniques, but it makes you evaluate every technique.
It offers a great deal of knowledge for every day life and even if you never pick up a sword or raise your fists, this book can teach you how to win in life's battles by way of your mind. A great book, and I feel lucky to have it on my shelf... available when I need it.

"Writer Sean Michael Wilson and artist Chie Kutsuwada deliver a stately and respectful adaptation of this classic work that is a truly a tribute to the original... complex themes to be conveyed in fascinating ways...Kutsuwada's style is wonderfully resonant of Japanese art and design, and is often tremendously creative. That's particularly true in the end section that discusses the theme of nothingness in a cleverly symbolic and oblique way that made me smile hard at its matter-of-fact cleverness... Interesting, almost playful scenes like those show that this book isn't dry."
- Jason Sacks, Comics Bulletin

This is a graphic novel approach to the perennial classic of strategy. Illustrations are used to show the parallel between Mushashi's ancient words and modern day sports, business, and combat. While some of the analogies can be a little strained, overall this was an excellent approach. Each illustration helped drive home Musashi's points, often in multiple ways.

I found a single proofing error in the book, and like I said, sometimes that parallels are a little exaggerated, otherwise I would instantly give this book five stars. However, I unreservedly recommend this book for those interested in strategy and combat.

This was a book that had some amazing wisdom and insight within. The concepts of strategy and our interactions with others was delivered clearly and cleverly.

The 4 star rating shouldn't be seen as a slight on the quality of the book. There is a lot of material on swordsmanship and the accompanying strategy. This isn't a problem but is something readers who are looking for material on strategy need to be aware of. It simply means you will need to do a little wading to get to the stuff you were likely looking for.

In any case it's a book I am pleased to have read. It's a quick and poignant read so would recommend it to anyone who likes books that cover the theme of strategy.

Book of Five Rings has some interest in study of katana, kendo, taichi sword, or taji jian. Alternate English translations by William Scott Wilson and Thomas Cleary desparately need a glossary for common definition of terms. I have supplied a starter glossary for “Life Giving Sword”. As a common ground between east and west, a Romanji equilvalent text on shujishuriken (paraphrased) terms would be useful. I hope others can make contribution to meaning of shujishuriken and other terms in Life Giving Sword. If we can not build the whole bridge, we can add a few blocks.

Glossary of Ryu terms and words in Bookk of Five Rings and Life Giving Sword (c. 1632 CE) . Terms below are from 17th century text, not necessarily same as Modern Japanese usage.
Takuan Soho, Yagyu Munenori, and Miyamoto Musashi used homonyms, puns, or specialized terms, which are not found in conventional Romanji dictionaries.
Romanji dictionaries contain homonyms, which are words that sound the same but have different meanings. Special combined terms in martial arts (Buddhist traditions) are noted by capitals, hyphens, or quotes.
bo: wooden staff
bocuto: wooden sword
bokken: wooden sword, usually heavy wood for exercise.
chi: vital energy, or broadly energy from earth and sky. Sometimes in Japanese texts by extension, chi or ki refers to manifested chi or force. The manifested chi in Chinese texts is called jing (muscular power), jinli (martial power), or jin ( combination of emitted chi and muscular power applied to a specific target spot).
daiki taiyu: divine transformation. Usually, transformation from potential or resting energy to active motion and force.
human, or heaven in Chinese philosophy.
chudan: sword held in middle position
gedan: sword held tilted down
ha: attack
hachimaki: headband
hakarigoto: "strategy"
hakama: pleatted skirt or culottes, usually worn for exercise.
hara: navel or belly
heihou : “strategy”, literal “dark hidden deception”
hiro: color
ho:martial art
hyori: deception
inka: martial arts diploma
isshin, “One Mind”
isshin itto, “One Heart, One Sword”
kan: listening with mind and contemplative insight.
ken: sword or used as homonym for “plain sight or ordinary sight” as opposed to contemplative insight (kan).
kendo:way of the sword
kenjutsu : swordsmanship.
kannen:mind should see through one’s emotions or mind should be clear of emotions.
kizen:”take initiative”
jo: preliminary attack
jodan:sword held above forehead
kage-ryu: shadow sword style, sometimes refers to following, reacting, and basing actions on opponent’s shadow. Especially, staying outside opponent’s cast shadow until closing for attack.
kami: shinto diety or dieties
kanshin: seeing with mind or insight.
katana: long sword.
katsu: refers to attainment of essential nature or “Life-Giving”
katsujinken: “Life-Giving-Sword”, sometimes refers to resolution of problems without force.
ken: sword
kenshogodo: seeing into essential nature.
ki: vital energy
kiai: focused shouts, loud scream used to disturb opponent.
koku: empty space
kyusho: vital point
kuji: 9 hand signs or mudras used in kendo training.
kyu: counter strike
majutsu, techniques of invisibility
mondo: question and answer in Zen dialogue.
mu: “Non-existence”, sometimes refers to Yin side (left) of opponent or hidden side (shadow) of object.
mu-kyu: “Non-existence counterstrike”, sometimes refers to circling counterclockwise (in Yin direction) around opponent for one or more paces and attacking the “Non-Existence” (left,Yin) side of the opponent. Here, “Existence” may refer to sword held by right handed swordsman and “Non-Existence” may either refer to empty hand on left side or the palm of the right sword hand viewed from the left (by the opponent).
munen muso: (literal) No-Desires, No-Thought
muto: “No-Sword”, sometimes refers to resolution of problems without force. Also techniques of unarmed combat.
munen: “No-Thought” or refers to actions under suspension of consciousness.
mushin, "No-Mind", suspension of consciousness, usually during meditation.
mushinjo: suspension of consciousness, usually during meditation.
myo (na) : strange, odd, without reason
naginata, long spear with heavy blade.
nakazumi: “mysterious-sword” is holding sword around navel or hara.
nitto ryu: “two-swords-style”
ryu: sword style or school
satori: "enlightenment"
setsuninken: “death-dealing-sword”, sometimes refers to solving problems by force only as opposed to solving problems without force.
satsuninto: “death-dealing-sword”, sometimes refers to solving problems by force only as opposed to solving problems without force.
seiza:kneeling position for meditation practice
sensei:teacher
shin: mind
shinken: “Real-Sword”.
shinken sho-bu: contests with “Real-Sword”.
shinku: emptiness of mind
shinmyo: “Mysterious”, refers to the combination of mind (shin) and strange outside action (myo). Usually found in combination as “Mysterious-Sword” or implied sword.
shinmyoken: “Mysterious-Sword” , refers to the combination of mind (shin) and strange outside action (myo) holding the sword (ken) around navel, just as hara is considered center of being/energy.
suigetsu, literally moon on water, refers to keeping 3 pace distance from opponent or out of opponent’s cast shadow. Note: sun and moon both cast shadows.
shuji: crosspattern sword block (literal from Sino. characters, hand ji (noun suffix)). Sometimes refers to crosscounterpoint target on body of opponent.
shujishuriken: (literal from Sino. characters, hand ji (noun suffix) hand inside see) perception of abilities and intentions. By extension, see inside technique of opponent. Sometimes refers to the 9 healing sounds and ideographs (mudras) used to increase alertness, warmup shoulders, and loosen hands prior to combat.
tachi: great sword
tsumeru: deflection or block leading to counterstrike. not a hard block.
yang: positive energy or active principle
. heavenly energy. clockwise movement.
yin: negative energy or inactive principle. earthly energy, counterclockwise movement.
tai: substance or fundamental property of all things
tao: way of philosophy
wakizashi: sidearm sword or short sword
yari: spear
zazen: meditation practice
zen: meditation practice towards Self-Realization
Katsujinken, “life-giving-sword by Yagyu Munori,C. 1632 CE”.Heiho Kadensho of Yagyu Munenori.Also known as Yagyu Family Memorial text in paraphrased Romanji terms,
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Musashi, like every great warrior, knew that strategy was as important as tactics and techniques in combat. This book will teach you things that were learned in combat and will enhance your survival potential on the battlefield, street and life.

It is not the easiest book to interpret and understand, but that hardly matters, as for the information in this book is worth your time and effort. One good book is worth a hundred crummy ones, and this book is one outstanding book. This book is divided into various distinct sections, and the serious and professional warrior should extract as much information as possible from each section. Every time I pick this book up I learn something new. This is the warrior's bible.

I highly recommend this book to all readers.

I have read this book at least 20 times and every time I read I get something new from it. I'm a business man and I read it primarily for the business value that it gives through the deep insights that Musashi accumulated through his life. Even the initial pages about how a carpenter should treat different kinds of wood for construction is simply mind blowing and outlook enhancing. I strongly recommend that you buy this translation (not Cleary's as his translation misses the nuances and tries to present the book in simple english - that can't be done) and read it and then reread it to enhance your understanding of the world and the strategy you should employ to stay ahead in business, career and life.

The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.

The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".

Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."

The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".

Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet. A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."

Miyamoto Musashi lived in the medium age Japan, among wars and social crises. The kind of life he had led him to develop a special philosophy (and very practical) towards work, discipline, fears and the trascending questions. His life can't be an practical example for us NOW. We don't live in societies where war is the main way of living (fortunately), but, and this is an important BUT, his insights about living in the middle of a noncooperative relations (dangerous ones, i would say), the moral and psichological resources everyone has to survive, and the basic practices to develop the capabilities to it, are valuables for every modern person, for the new environment we have ahead (job place, market, personal competition for excellence), what is as competitive as the Japan he lived (but less bloody). Indeed, being capable to compete supposes a Samurai style planning and training capabilites. Read what one of them advices to us.

From this book, I can deeply perceive the rule of the survival of the fittest in the life of a samurai. As a samurai, you have to be cruel and just kill your opponent with no mercy and sympathy. Simply put, it is between the choices of life and death and given this fact, the samurai can only strive to win in every contest or battle. Musashi was known for numerous victorious single or small combats, but unfortunately lacked the actual experiences of leading or strategizing large scale battles, as compared to the infamous Sun Tzu.

Musashi seems to define the art of sword-fencing as the way of strategy. He pinpointed the approach of single combat can be applicable to large scale battles as well. This book starts by introducing the history of Japan in the 16-17th century, the time frame of Musashi's existence. Even though Musashi belonged to the elite samurai class, a major change had erupted during his lifetime. The great provincial armies were gradually disbanded under Hideyoshi and Ieyasu, which consequently resulted in many out-of-work samurais roaming the country in an era of peace. Musashi was one such samurai, a "ronin". Many ronins put up their swords and became artisans, but others, like Musashi, pursued the ideal of the warrior searching for enlightenment through the perilous paths of Kendo. Musashi was well-known for his fame in winning over more than 60 contests, starting from the young age of thirteen. He finally retired to a life of seclusion in a cave when he was about 60 years old. He lived alone for the last 2 years and this was when he wrote this book.

This book is called the book of 5 rings as it is broken into 5 subsections; the ground, water, fire and wind book, concluding with the book of the void.

The ground book explains the way of strategy from the viewpoint of Musashi's Ichi school. It is difficult to realize the true way just through sword-fencing. Rather it is more important to know the smallest things, the biggest things, the shallowest things to the deepest things. Musashi emphasized on timing in strategy. One example given is that to win battles, there is a need to know the enemies' timing and then using a timing in which the enemy does not expect. He listed a list of items to the way to learn his strategy. They are (i) do not think dishonestly (ii) the way is in training (iii) become acquainted with every art (iv) know the ways of all professions (v) distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters (vi) develop intuitive judgment and understanding for everything (vii) perceive those things which cannot be seen (viii) pay attention even to trifles (vix) do nothing which is of no use.

The water book is based on the concept of water where the spirit becomes like the water, dynamically adopting the shape of any receptacle. Musashi reiterated that when you have mastered the principles of sword-fencing, when you can freely beat one man, you can beat any man in the world. Therefore the spirit of defeating a man is the same for 10 million men. The concept of the Ichi school is written in this book. The long sword should be wielded broadly and the companion sword closely. According to the Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon and yet you can also win with a short weapon. Briefly, the way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, in spite of the weapon and its size. Musashi classified masters of the long sword as strategists. His reasoning was in order to master the virtue of the long sword, one has to govern the world and oneself. Henceforth the principle is "to strategy by means of the long sword". Stance, gaze, grip, footwork, the 5 approaches and various methods to kill an opponent are elaborated. Musashi encouraged strongly to study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior. He was arrogant in his belief that "even if you kill an enemy if it is not based on what you learned it is not the true Way".

The book of fire is about fighting. The spirit of fire is fierce regardless of the size of the fire, and so it is with battles. This is to say the way of battles is the same for man-to-man fights and for 10 thousand a side battles. Contrary to the fact that it is difficult for large numbers of men to change positions and thus the easy prediction for their movement, it is more difficult to predict an individual. This book focuses on the primary essence of training day and night in order to make quick decisions, and the concept of combat in battles. In this section, it relates how the concept of single combat can be applicable in large-scale battles. It concludes by saying the true Way of sword fencing is the craft of defeating the enemy in a fight, and nothing other than this.

The wind book focuses on other schools of sword-fencing. Musashi used the terminology of wind to mean the old, present-day and family traditions of sword-fencing strategies.
Here Musashi emphasized the superiority of his Ichi school of sword fencing.

In the book of the void, Musashi explained the concept that the way of strategy is the way of the nature. When you appreciate the power of the nature, knowing the rhythm of any situation, you will be able to hit the enemy naturally and strike naturally. It seems to share some Buddhist teachings such as "taking the void as the Way, you will see the Way as void". Musashi had a few advices to attain the way of strategy as a warrior. First advice is to study fully other martial arts and not deviate even a little from the way of the warrior. Second advice is that with your spirit settled; accumulate practice day by day and hour by hour. Third is to polish the twofold spirit, heart and mind and sharpen the twofold gaze, perception and sight. Finally, when your spirit is not in the least clouded, and the clouds of bewilderment clear away, there is the true void.

Samurai in today's boardrooms? So the cover of this book would seem to suggest... Despite the somewhat tacky artwork, this book, being a translation of a classic on strategy, is worth the read.

This particular translation of Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings was found on a recent trip to a local used book seller. It would seem that the target audience of this book is businessmen intent on advancing their careers. The date of publication (1982) would seem to support this in that the 1980′s were a time of Japanese economic growth, a time when people were looking to Japan, much as individuals are looking to China today for understanding and insight into the country's development. Below is an excerpt, which demonstrates some of the commentary, provided by the editors throughout the book:

"The kind of patience demonstrated by the samurai trained in Bushido can still be found in modern Japan... (At the start of business negotiations) after tea is served, the Japanese will simply sit, wait, and say nothing. They are waiting for the opponent to make the first move... (enabling them to see their adversaries intentions, without giving away their own) The experienced foreign negotiator who knows his Miyamoto Musashi Bushido or Heiho will just silently sip his tea and wait, no matter how long, for the Japanese hosts to open the talk."

While this book was written for businessmen, the initial writings by Musashi were meant to impart a greater understanding of swordsmanship and its associated way of life - the way of the warrior. But, just as military and business leaders often borrow from each other, so too can this book be applied to those interested in politics, martial arts and life in general; not to mention that it offers greater insight into Japanese culture.

The introduction of the book covers the concepts of Zen (a philosophy of willpower), Bushido (the way of the warrior), and Heiho (the path to enlightenment). Together these concepts provide a foundation from which to better understand Musashi's worldview.

Miyamoto Musashi was born in 1584. He was a ronin (a master-less samurai) who roamed the country looking to engage in contests of martial skill. His first such encounter occurred at the age of 13 in which he slew his opponent. From that time until the age of 30, Musashi engaged in 60 plus battles, never losing a single encounter. However, it was not until his final years that Musashi set about writing this work, which he completed just prior to his death in 1645.

Each chapter in this book opens with a brief commentary by the translators, providing background to Musashi's work. The book is comprised of the following five chapters:

CHI NO MAKI: The Earth Book
MIZO NO MAKI: The Book of Water
HI NO MAKI: The Fire Book
KAZE NO MAKI: The Wind Book
KU NO MAKI: The Book of Emptiness

The Earth Book provides the reader the context from which to understand the rest of the chapters. The Book of Water explains Musashi's technique. The Fire Book provides strategy for combatants. The Wind Book describes the techniques of other competing schools at the time (from which Musashi says there is no competition). The Book of Emptiness provides a Zen inspired conclusion to the book, bringing all of the chapters together.

In sum, this reviewer found the book to have a number of gems tucked away in its pages and would recommend the book to those interested in gaining a deeper understanding of strategy and / or Japanese culture. It should also be noted that Musashi's work is one which deserves several readings in order to fully grasp the concepts which he attempts to impart. Furthermore, it is recommended that readers take the time to digest what is being read by reflecting upon ones own experiences as they relate to Musashi's teachings.

See this and other reviews on books concerning Asia at ObservAsia.com

IF YOU READ THIS ONLY AS A SWORD FIGHTING BOOK YOU HAVE MISSED THE POINT. THIS COULD AND SHOULD BE A WAY OF LIFE. YOU ARE TOLD TO LOOK BEYOND WHAT YOU SEE. IT IS MORE THAN A MILITARY instructional, It is a way of life. SHORT BOOK MUST BE READ MANY TIMES TO FIND THE WAY.

I have studied this book for years, and have read five different translations. The William Scott Wilson translation is by far the best. I always get the feeling that other translators are putting too much of themselves or their ideas about what Musashi is saying into the translations. Wilson's translation is clear and concise and yet does not feel filtered.

Here is a passage from the Thomas Cleary translation "Upset happens in all sorts of things. One way it happens is through a feeling of being under acute pressure. Another is through a feeling of unreasonable strain. A third is through a feeling of surprise at the unexpected."

Here is the same passage translated by Wilson "There are many kinds of agitation. One is a feeling of danger, a second is a feeling that something is beyond your capability and a third is a feeling of the unexpected. This should be investigated thoroughly."

They say the same thing, but Wilson is clearer.

As for the book itself, it is a classic masterpiece that describes not only a style of swordsmanship, but a way of living.

The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.

The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".

Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."

The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".

Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet. A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."

This edition includes a very interesting tidbit that many translations lack, that being an explanation by Musashi about why he felt justified in writing the book. That actually indicates a certain level of humility that stands apart from many, and may conflict with interpretations you might get from reading the rest of the book.

The primary text focuses on looking at a foe and understanding their strengths and weaknesses, as well as empathizing with them. It also covers looking at surroundings for assets and liabilities available.

All in all, it's a book discussing adaptability in very practical ways. As such, it's valuable to far more than merely those interested in the martial arts. I cannot think of a single point made that wasn't beneficial to consider, regardless of whether or not you agree.

My only real criticism of the translation is that I'd prefer if there were more information about the translation itself peripherally displayed. (footnotes or sidebars.) All in all, though, this was quite a readable text.

This book is only a translation of the original. You may not find the extensive commentary you seek. While written centuries ago, Miyamoto Musashi, in my judgment, didn't write a book just about how to fight.

Reading this book with an open mind will surprise the reader. Deep thought and reflection will be needed. The areas to which the principles in this book may be applied (such as lessons in leadership and politics) and the success in said application are only limited to the amount of imagination and study put forth by the reader.

It offers a great deal of knowledge for every day life, and even if you never pick up a sword, or raise your fists, you will find his philosophy extends well beyond the realm of martial arts and battle strategy.

To some readers you will not be able to fully grasp all of the concepts and ideas presented after one reading. This book is invaluable and definitely invites repeated readings as new insight is to be found as your understanding deepens. I'm not sure if a single review could do this book justice because each time you re-read this book your thoughts are guaranteed to be provoked and you will definitely walk away each time with a new form of enlightenment and that is my reason for giving it Five stars *****.

Read this as well as Sun Tzu for a good over view of staragy. Sun Tzu offers more practical advice while this offers more insight in to the proper state of mind ( and as such is probably more generally applicable to different situations, war, bussiness, personal relationships, etc.) I have only recently begun my study of these two great works but if I were to lay out an easy ( and maybe erroneouse ) distinctino then it seems to me that this is more for the individual in combat ( negotiations, love, whatever) while Sun Tzu is more organizational ( But they are both still stratagy and tactics not one or the other ). As someone else here pointed out, Musashi does not tell you how to fight ( run a bussiness, argue, etc ) instead he descibes what your state of mind should be. ( there are specific references to different type of sword cuts but this is not the bulk of the advice). Mushashi presupposes that you know the the mechanics of your art, he is teaching you how and most importantly when to apply them. He probably dwells on timeing more than anything ( other than practice and reflection.) There is a short list of things to always do, remember the importance of training, percive that which can not be seen, pay attention even to the trifle, etc. Probably most importantly ( other than the chapter on the void but I expect most will skip that, pity ) is putting yourself in the others place wich he illustrates with a simple but effective analogy.
As a trial attorney this book is invaluable and invites repeated readings as new insight is to be found as your understanding deepens. I recall a case I won once, with a great witness but bad physical evidence, when it came time to look at the physical evidence the judge stated that it did not look like what it was purported to be to him. He was right and had I argued, pointed out that he was not an expert in that necessary feild etc, I would have lost all credibility with him. Instead I humbly agreed and mentioned that I probably would not have brought the case if the creadibility of the witness was not so compelling and persuasive. We won. As Mushashi points out, put yourself in the place of your enemy and remember timeing is everything.

I bought this book in the early 2000s and I've been reading it every since. Martial Arts is my life, I've always been attracted to Asian culture and philosophy, but you don't have to be to enjoy this book. If you're looking for success, knowledge, wisdom, discipline or your "inner warrior" you need look no further. I have the pocketbook version which is easy to carry when I travel. The book is simple and direct with a mature taste. Some parts may not go down as smooth as others, but this gives it longevity. Musashi's principals are as relevant today as they were in his time. If you're looking for the meaning of truth, honor, and self-respect or inspiration during the dark times in life, this book will fill your cup. Enjoy.

MoPop

I had first heard about this book in a course dealing with terrorism. The instructor was making a presentation about 4th generation warfare, which in layman's terms is an insurgency. This book was cited as a resource for that course. Being a Marine infantry officer, I am intimately familiar with other military philosophy works and was interested in comparing this work with Sun Tzu's "Art of War." My first impression is that you can not read it one time and grasp all of the concepts and ideas presented here. It is meant to be read many times and studied under the direction of a "master" or someone familiar in the martial arts to explain and demonstrate the concepts presented. It focuses on how to become a better swordsman, but unless you are already familiar with how to be a swordsman, a great deal of the text may seem useless. It is not a true military tacticians bible the way Sun Tzu is, but more generally serves as a means of "enlightening" one's own inner self. Many of the concepts that were presented here can be used to make one a better warrior, which in my opinion was the original design for the text. However, many of the concepts force you to think, which was also a design of the text.

I agree with many of the other reviews presented here that on the surface, if you are looking for concepts to make you a better business person, this book may fall short. However, if you are looking for something that will make you a better warrior (which Marines are) or a leader, or perhaps a more enlightened person, this book will help you along that path. Additionally, There are a number of different translations available for the original work of which this is but one. It may be wise to read a selection of different translations to see if they all come across in the same way to you.

I've read several books on sword techniques, methods, philosophies, etc... This book takes all that knowledge and adds an edge to it I haven't found anywhere else. It makes you think about your movements, and style of fighting... and answers the questions on things like why the samurai used a long and short sword instead of two long blades.
Musashi fought back when it meant living or dying, and never lost. He wrote the book years after he retired from fighting and tried to capture the very essense of how to win in any situation. This book does not have any pictures of techniques, but it makes you evaluate every technique.
It offers a great deal of knowledge for every day life and even if you never pick up a sword or raise your fists, this book can teach you how to win in life's battles by way of your mind. A great book, and I feel lucky to have it on my shelf... available when I need it.

"Writer Sean Michael Wilson and artist Chie Kutsuwada deliver a stately and respectful adaptation of this classic work that is a truly a tribute to the original... complex themes to be conveyed in fascinating ways...Kutsuwada's style is wonderfully resonant of Japanese art and design, and is often tremendously creative. That's particularly true in the end section that discusses the theme of nothingness in a cleverly symbolic and oblique way that made me smile hard at its matter-of-fact cleverness... Interesting, almost playful scenes like those show that this book isn't dry."
- Jason Sacks, Comics Bulletin

This is a graphic novel approach to the perennial classic of strategy. Illustrations are used to show the parallel between Mushashi's ancient words and modern day sports, business, and combat. While some of the analogies can be a little strained, overall this was an excellent approach. Each illustration helped drive home Musashi's points, often in multiple ways.

I found a single proofing error in the book, and like I said, sometimes that parallels are a little exaggerated, otherwise I would instantly give this book five stars. However, I unreservedly recommend this book for those interested in strategy and combat.

This was a book that had some amazing wisdom and insight within. The concepts of strategy and our interactions with others was delivered clearly and cleverly.

The 4 star rating shouldn't be seen as a slight on the quality of the book. There is a lot of material on swordsmanship and the accompanying strategy. This isn't a problem but is something readers who are looking for material on strategy need to be aware of. It simply means you will need to do a little wading to get to the stuff you were likely looking for.

In any case it's a book I am pleased to have read. It's a quick and poignant read so would recommend it to anyone who likes books that cover the theme of strategy.

Book of Five Rings has some interest in study of katana, kendo, taichi sword, or taji jian. Alternate English translations by William Scott Wilson and Thomas Cleary desparately need a glossary for common definition of terms. I have supplied a starter glossary for “Life Giving Sword”. As a common ground between east and west, a Romanji equilvalent text on shujishuriken (paraphrased) terms would be useful. I hope others can make contribution to meaning of shujishuriken and other terms in Life Giving Sword. If we can not build the whole bridge, we can add a few blocks.

Glossary of Ryu terms and words in Bookk of Five Rings and Life Giving Sword (c. 1632 CE) . Terms below are from 17th century text, not necessarily same as Modern Japanese usage.
Takuan Soho, Yagyu Munenori, and Miyamoto Musashi used homonyms, puns, or specialized terms, which are not found in conventional Romanji dictionaries.
Romanji dictionaries contain homonyms, which are words that sound the same but have different meanings. Special combined terms in martial arts (Buddhist traditions) are noted by capitals, hyphens, or quotes.
bo: wooden staff
bocuto: wooden sword
bokken: wooden sword, usually heavy wood for exercise.
chi: vital energy, or broadly energy from earth and sky. Sometimes in Japanese texts by extension, chi or ki refers to manifested chi or force. The manifested chi in Chinese texts is called jing (muscular power), jinli (martial power), or jin ( combination of emitted chi and muscular power applied to a specific target spot).
daiki taiyu: divine transformation. Usually, transformation from potential or resting energy to active motion and force.
human, or heaven in Chinese philosophy.
chudan: sword held in middle position
gedan: sword held tilted down
ha: attack
hachimaki: headband
hakarigoto: "strategy"
hakama: pleatted skirt or culottes, usually worn for exercise.
hara: navel or belly
heihou : “strategy”, literal “dark hidden deception”
hiro: color
ho:martial art
hyori: deception
inka: martial arts diploma
isshin, “One Mind”
isshin itto, “One Heart, One Sword”
kan: listening with mind and contemplative insight.
ken: sword or used as homonym for “plain sight or ordinary sight” as opposed to contemplative insight (kan).
kendo:way of the sword
kenjutsu : swordsmanship.
kannen:mind should see through one’s emotions or mind should be clear of emotions.
kizen:”take initiative”
jo: preliminary attack
jodan:sword held above forehead
kage-ryu: shadow sword style, sometimes refers to following, reacting, and basing actions on opponent’s shadow. Especially, staying outside opponent’s cast shadow until closing for attack.
kami: shinto diety or dieties
kanshin: seeing with mind or insight.
katana: long sword.
katsu: refers to attainment of essential nature or “Life-Giving”
katsujinken: “Life-Giving-Sword”, sometimes refers to resolution of problems without force.
ken: sword
kenshogodo: seeing into essential nature.
ki: vital energy
kiai: focused shouts, loud scream used to disturb opponent.
koku: empty space
kyusho: vital point
kuji: 9 hand signs or mudras used in kendo training.
kyu: counter strike
majutsu, techniques of invisibility
mondo: question and answer in Zen dialogue.
mu: “Non-existence”, sometimes refers to Yin side (left) of opponent or hidden side (shadow) of object.
mu-kyu: “Non-existence counterstrike”, sometimes refers to circling counterclockwise (in Yin direction) around opponent for one or more paces and attacking the “Non-Existence” (left,Yin) side of the opponent. Here, “Existence” may refer to sword held by right handed swordsman and “Non-Existence” may either refer to empty hand on left side or the palm of the right sword hand viewed from the left (by the opponent).
munen muso: (literal) No-Desires, No-Thought
muto: “No-Sword”, sometimes refers to resolution of problems without force. Also techniques of unarmed combat.
munen: “No-Thought” or refers to actions under suspension of consciousness.
mushin, "No-Mind", suspension of consciousness, usually during meditation.
mushinjo: suspension of consciousness, usually during meditation.
myo (na) : strange, odd, without reason
naginata, long spear with heavy blade.
nakazumi: “mysterious-sword” is holding sword around navel or hara.
nitto ryu: “two-swords-style”
ryu: sword style or school
satori: "enlightenment"
setsuninken: “death-dealing-sword”, sometimes refers to solving problems by force only as opposed to solving problems without force.
satsuninto: “death-dealing-sword”, sometimes refers to solving problems by force only as opposed to solving problems without force.
seiza:kneeling position for meditation practice
sensei:teacher
shin: mind
shinken: “Real-Sword”.
shinken sho-bu: contests with “Real-Sword”.
shinku: emptiness of mind
shinmyo: “Mysterious”, refers to the combination of mind (shin) and strange outside action (myo). Usually found in combination as “Mysterious-Sword” or implied sword.
shinmyoken: “Mysterious-Sword” , refers to the combination of mind (shin) and strange outside action (myo) holding the sword (ken) around navel, just as hara is considered center of being/energy.
suigetsu, literally moon on water, refers to keeping 3 pace distance from opponent or out of opponent’s cast shadow. Note: sun and moon both cast shadows.
shuji: crosspattern sword block (literal from Sino. characters, hand ji (noun suffix)). Sometimes refers to crosscounterpoint target on body of opponent.
shujishuriken: (literal from Sino. characters, hand ji (noun suffix) hand inside see) perception of abilities and intentions. By extension, see inside technique of opponent. Sometimes refers to the 9 healing sounds and ideographs (mudras) used to increase alertness, warmup shoulders, and loosen hands prior to combat.
tachi: great sword
tsumeru: deflection or block leading to counterstrike. not a hard block.
yang: positive energy or active principle
. heavenly energy. clockwise movement.
yin: negative energy or inactive principle. earthly energy, counterclockwise movement.
tai: substance or fundamental property of all things
tao: way of philosophy
wakizashi: sidearm sword or short sword
yari: spear
zazen: meditation practice
zen: meditation practice towards Self-Realization
Katsujinken, “life-giving-sword by Yagyu Munori,C. 1632 CE”.Heiho Kadensho of Yagyu Munenori.Also known as Yagyu Family Memorial text in paraphrased Romanji terms,
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Musashi, like every great warrior, knew that strategy was as important as tactics and techniques in combat. This book will teach you things that were learned in combat and will enhance your survival potential on the battlefield, street and life.

It is not the easiest book to interpret and understand, but that hardly matters, as for the information in this book is worth your time and effort. One good book is worth a hundred crummy ones, and this book is one outstanding book. This book is divided into various distinct sections, and the serious and professional warrior should extract as much information as possible from each section. Every time I pick this book up I learn something new. This is the warrior's bible.

I highly recommend this book to all readers.

I have read this book at least 20 times and every time I read I get something new from it. I'm a business man and I read it primarily for the business value that it gives through the deep insights that Musashi accumulated through his life. Even the initial pages about how a carpenter should treat different kinds of wood for construction is simply mind blowing and outlook enhancing. I strongly recommend that you buy this translation (not Cleary's as his translation misses the nuances and tries to present the book in simple english - that can't be done) and read it and then reread it to enhance your understanding of the world and the strategy you should employ to stay ahead in business, career and life.

The book written by the samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645 is considered a classic treatise on military strategy, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work.

The term "Ichi School", which is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho, when referring to such books, refers to "Niten No Ichi Ryu", or "Ni Ten Ichi Ryu", which literally translated, means "Two Swords, one heaven".

Throughout the book it is clear: what is primary for Musashi is The Goal, while the means of achieving the goal are secondary. He wrote "According to this Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon, and yet you can also win with a short weapon. In short, the Way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, whatever the weapon and whatever its size."

The same is in business: the leaders who are attracted by the goal rather than by embellishments are the true leaders. For example, the dot-com bubble of 2000 was caused by the managers who forgot about the primary goal of the business: net income. Those who were obsessed by their stock prices regarding of massive losses and the lack of revenue became bankrupt. They put attention to the fancy office buildings and furniture rather than to the assets that generate earning. Musashi wrote about it: "Just as a horse must have endurance and no defects, so it is with weapons. Horses should walk strongly, and swords and companion swords should cut strongly. Spears and halberds must stand up to heavy use: bows and guns must be sturdy. Weapons should be hardy rather than decorative".

Musashi also encourages to maintain a balance of your skills throughout your life. This balance could be thought of as Yin and Yang. The balance is to be neither over-familiar with something nor under-familiar. The over-familiarity or over-use of one weapon is not recommended by Musashi, as it would be seen to reveal your spirituality to your enemy, and thus your boisterousness, or over-calm. The over-familiarity makes you stick to a conviction. This is a very important for the business. Take, for example, mr. Warren Buffet. A quality standing out about Mr. Buffett is his ability to morph. If you read his materials from the 1960s, he said very different things than in the 1970s and early-1980s. Early on he was buying dirt-cheap stocks by simple statistical standards and typically smaller stocks (smallcap), later he bought "franchises", then he entered a period of buying great managements of big companies and being a long-term holder, then, amazingly, he was buying smaller things dirt cheap again just as value came back into play as the twenty-first century began. He tactically morphed steadily over the decades. Trying to freeze his tactics from any decade and replicate them in the next few would never have led you to his actual actions. Musashi wrote about that this way: "You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troops to have likes and dislikes."

Miyamoto Musashi lived in the medium age Japan, among wars and social crises. The kind of life he had led him to develop a special philosophy (and very practical) towards work, discipline, fears and the trascending questions. His life can't be an practical example for us NOW. We don't live in societies where war is the main way of living (fortunately), but, and this is an important BUT, his insights about living in the middle of a noncooperative relations (dangerous ones, i would say), the moral and psichological resources everyone has to survive, and the basic practices to develop the capabilities to it, are valuables for every modern person, for the new environment we have ahead (job place, market, personal competition for excellence), what is as competitive as the Japan he lived (but less bloody). Indeed, being capable to compete supposes a Samurai style planning and training capabilites. Read what one of them advices to us.

From this book, I can deeply perceive the rule of the survival of the fittest in the life of a samurai. As a samurai, you have to be cruel and just kill your opponent with no mercy and sympathy. Simply put, it is between the choices of life and death and given this fact, the samurai can only strive to win in every contest or battle. Musashi was known for numerous victorious single or small combats, but unfortunately lacked the actual experiences of leading or strategizing large scale battles, as compared to the infamous Sun Tzu.

Musashi seems to define the art of sword-fencing as the way of strategy. He pinpointed the approach of single combat can be applicable to large scale battles as well. This book starts by introducing the history of Japan in the 16-17th century, the time frame of Musashi's existence. Even though Musashi belonged to the elite samurai class, a major change had erupted during his lifetime. The great provincial armies were gradually disbanded under Hideyoshi and Ieyasu, which consequently resulted in many out-of-work samurais roaming the country in an era of peace. Musashi was one such samurai, a "ronin". Many ronins put up their swords and became artisans, but others, like Musashi, pursued the ideal of the warrior searching for enlightenment through the perilous paths of Kendo. Musashi was well-known for his fame in winning over more than 60 contests, starting from the young age of thirteen. He finally retired to a life of seclusion in a cave when he was about 60 years old. He lived alone for the last 2 years and this was when he wrote this book.

This book is called the book of 5 rings as it is broken into 5 subsections; the ground, water, fire and wind book, concluding with the book of the void.

The ground book explains the way of strategy from the viewpoint of Musashi's Ichi school. It is difficult to realize the true way just through sword-fencing. Rather it is more important to know the smallest things, the biggest things, the shallowest things to the deepest things. Musashi emphasized on timing in strategy. One example given is that to win battles, there is a need to know the enemies' timing and then using a timing in which the enemy does not expect. He listed a list of items to the way to learn his strategy. They are (i) do not think dishonestly (ii) the way is in training (iii) become acquainted with every art (iv) know the ways of all professions (v) distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters (vi) develop intuitive judgment and understanding for everything (vii) perceive those things which cannot be seen (viii) pay attention even to trifles (vix) do nothing which is of no use.

The water book is based on the concept of water where the spirit becomes like the water, dynamically adopting the shape of any receptacle. Musashi reiterated that when you have mastered the principles of sword-fencing, when you can freely beat one man, you can beat any man in the world. Therefore the spirit of defeating a man is the same for 10 million men. The concept of the Ichi school is written in this book. The long sword should be wielded broadly and the companion sword closely. According to the Ichi school, you can win with a long weapon and yet you can also win with a short weapon. Briefly, the way of the Ichi school is the spirit of winning, in spite of the weapon and its size. Musashi classified masters of the long sword as strategists. His reasoning was in order to master the virtue of the long sword, one has to govern the world and oneself. Henceforth the principle is "to strategy by means of the long sword". Stance, gaze, grip, footwork, the 5 approaches and various methods to kill an opponent are elaborated. Musashi encouraged strongly to study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior. He was arrogant in his belief that "even if you kill an enemy if it is not based on what you learned it is not the true Way".

The book of fire is about fighting. The spirit of fire is fierce regardless of the size of the fire, and so it is with battles. This is to say the way of battles is the same for man-to-man fights and for 10 thousand a side battles. Contrary to the fact that it is difficult for large numbers of men to change positions and thus the easy prediction for their movement, it is more difficult to predict an individual. This book focuses on the primary essence of training day and night in order to make quick decisions, and the concept of combat in battles. In this section, it relates how the concept of single combat can be applicable in large-scale battles. It concludes by saying the true Way of sword fencing is the craft of defeating the enemy in a fight, and nothing other than this.

The wind book focuses on other schools of sword-fencing. Musashi used the terminology of wind to mean the old, present-day and family traditions of sword-fencing strategies.
Here Musashi emphasized the superiority of his Ichi school of sword fencing.

In the book of the void, Musashi explained the concept that the way of strategy is the way of the nature. When you appreciate the power of the nature, knowing the rhythm of any situation, you will be able to hit the enemy naturally and strike naturally. It seems to share some Buddhist teachings such as "taking the void as the Way, you will see the Way as void". Musashi had a few advices to attain the way of strategy as a warrior. First advice is to study fully other martial arts and not deviate even a little from the way of the warrior. Second advice is that with your spirit settled; accumulate practice day by day and hour by hour. Third is to polish the twofold spirit, heart and mind and sharpen the twofold gaze, perception and sight. Finally, when your spirit is not in the least clouded, and the clouds of bewilderment clear away, there is the true void.

One of the most illuminating books I have ever read and one of the best works on strategy ever written. Musashi takes the reader into the world of helical learning. The novice sets off understanding the book at face value and as his understanding of strategy gets more advanced through study, he comes to the realization that the advanced techniques are actually the basics, the same but taken to a higher level. He has gone full circle and arrived at the beginning but at a higher level than whence he started.
But it doesn't stop there, making the circuit again and again and each time rising ever higher in understanding he progresses through the purely physical applications into the mental and spiritual applications of Musashi's ideas thus honing mind, body and spirit and fusing it to will, showing him how to succeed in adversity.
A timeless classic and life-changing book.

This book supposedly originated in 1603, as a guide for would-be Japanese warriors. It is today a popular management source of quotes and inspiration. Some of my favorite quotes:

--You must train day and night in order to make quick decisions. In strategy it is necessary to treat training as a part of normal life with your spirit unchanging.

--It is difficult to know yourself if you do not know other. If you study a Way daily, and your spirit diverges, you many think you are obeying a good Way but objectively it is not ht true Way. If you are following the true Way and diverge a little, this will alter become a large divergence. You must realize this. Other strategies have come to be thought of as mere sword-fencing, and it is not unreasonable that this should be so.

--when you appreciate the power of nature, knowing the rhythm of any situation, you will be able to hit ht enemy naturally and strike naturally.

--Strategy, fixing the eyes mean gazing at the man's heart. In the large-scale strategy the area to watch is the enemy's strength. `Perception' and `sight' are the two methods of seeing. Perceptions consists of concentrating strongly on the enemy's spirit, observing the condition of the battlefield, fixing the gaze only, seeing the progress of the fight and the changes of advantage. This is the sure way to win. In single cob at you must not fix the eyes on details. As I said before, if you fix your eyes on details and neglect important things, your spirit will become bewildered, and victory will escape you.

--There are few men who can quickly reply to the question "What is the Way of the Warrior?' This is because they do not know in their hearts. From this we can see they do not follow the Way of the warrior. By the Way of the warrior is meat death. The Way of the warrior is death. It means choosing death whenever there is a choice between life and death.

95 pages, many of them illustrations. The sword fighting technique was interesting but not usable. The other chapters were a treat and an interesting look at life and philosophy. You have to read the preface first to understand the man and his times.

As a martial artist (sort of), this was especially interesting to me. I've learned a few pointers myself that I will definitely keep in mind. Anyway, as a comic book, the pictures were crisp and beautiful. The writing was concise and very clear.

What wasn't as great was the attempted application to everyday life. Some of them work but there were a few that could've had a better example or didn't make sense. One of the examples was a student yawning which "passes on" to the teacher making her yawn. And the students look really happy about this...? Eh, I don't really get it.

Anyway, I would recommend this book to everyone, especially martial artists. As a teaching book, it doesn't have a story though it does have an overarching message. I personally would like something with a bit more writing in it but others may like it this way. This book is short and informational and everyone can learn from reading this book.

Won in a GoodReads First Reads giveaway in return for an honest review

I love this book for reading, or collecting. Good, even for those that read the original English text version, too, as the pictures provide context. Great for those new to the story, or for people that already know and appreciate it. Black and white comic book form.

What I prefer about Victor Harris's translation of Musashi Miyamoto's book is the fact that Harris has gone through exacting lengths not just to present an accurate translation in the context of a 17th-century samurai, but to present Musashi in his proper historical context. As opposed to every other English translation I have read, this one includes a chapter which gives a biography of Musashi, and shows many of his creations, such as paintings (including a self-portrait), tsuba (swordguards), etc. We can see where Musashi stayed, and what his grave looks like, etc. For clarity in understanding, this volume, along with the translation by Thomas Cleary, are the best. I should justify that by explaining that I practice martial arts--for those of you looking for a business oriented edition, there are several translations and interpretations out there which are geared towards your needs. For those of you involved in the practice of martial arts, sports, or with an interest in historical strategy texts, I heartily recommend this translation!
Whay does this book discuss? Musashi's masterpiece eschews practice, and decries vanity, ego, and "secrets". Musashi was a practitioner of Zen Buddhism, and the influence of Zen philosophy can be seen everywhere in his writing. This is however, definately a book on the strategy of swordsmanship, and not a treatis on religion. Musashi Miyamoto fought in a number of duels--back in the era of true challenge matches--when usually the victor was the man left living! The realities of his times, the fact that life was so cheap and had to be guarded fiercly, and that Musashi succeeded in doing this is what makes his writing even more precious. This was the book Musashi passed on to the students of his school, the unusual two-bladed Ni-to Ryu (two-sword school). For more on the historical Musashi Miyamoto, read Makoto Sugawara's excellent (non-fiction) "Lives of Master Swordsmen".

This book revolves around sword fighting tactics. It provides a useful way of reflecting on the expectations we set for our tools. Challenging those assumptions we find that familiar old tools have advantages uses not normally pursued. This reflection can lead us towards a broader questioning of mindsets that create unnecessary boundaries to advancement or success.

The problem that I have with this book: The expedient is only advantageous if it aligns itself with what is moral. This book may have you make assumptions about what is advantageous that are contrary to what is moral. If so, the expedient in accomplishing what is immoral will not be advantageous.

Insightfully written and translated with great care, the Book of five Rings offers a guide on how one should live one's life, lessons on seeing the whole without becoming obsessed with the whole whilst seeing the finer details of the situation but not getting too engrossed in those either, written in a simple style from a time when things were simpler. Whilst readable in one go it should be read in small bits giving time to mull over each hidden secret concealed within the words. The lessons reaching through the ages to teach are not lost. Not only for those wishing to study martial arts but a text on the level-headed approach to life, with explanations and philosophies applicable to all aspects teaching the reader how one might learn their craft to such a level of skill they are no longer conscious of the task at hand, such that all who truly take the text to heart might succeed. The translated title has multiple meanings like all languages and can also be understood as spheres, the sense of perfection there in which there is no beginning and no end is held throughout the book giving it the level of legendary timelessness it holds.

This is a great pre-requisite for anyone studying the Ways of Martial Arts or simply willing to apply Musashi's life wisdom to their own life and careers. As he says countless times per chapter in the book, "you should Investigate this thoroughly", and he's right.
It may cost a little more than the other translations for William S Wilson's, but with the Japanese language, you don't want cheap unprofessional translations, especially for the legendary Musashi's words before his death.

On the surface this book appears to be about the martial arts, warfare, swordplay. However, a careful reading with an open mind will surprise the reader not particularly focused on those aspects. Readers who've trained themselves to read complexity and symbolism as an overlay for everyday life experiences will find a strategy for the human life experience hidden here barely beneath the surface. It's only one strategy, and not necessarily the one you'll choose to lead your own life, but it's still worth studying and comprehending. In fact, readers completely unfamiliar with martial arts will find many 'lessons in life' worth digesting.
I believe it's worth the time and effort for study in the same sense as classic Chinese and European works of similar ilk.

Don't know whether my Taiwanese/Chinese background gives me bias. However, I'm quite used to read abstract/doctrine books like this one.
When reading books like this (or Confucius, Sun-Tse), my philosophy is - you need to pay attention to every word, and every word is a starting point, instead of an end. Thus, the book just provokes you to think more, to think through the "Way", instead of teaching you everything. You are your own teacher.
I think - from this book, the more important teaching is on the spiritual vs. technical. Thus "the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death" makes me think a lot.
Do you know why Musashi called it - book of the Ground, the Water, etc.? That'll be an interesting teaching as well.
Overall, I like the book a lot, though I have difficulty to understand all the English words. I might find a Chinese version or I need to learn Japanese. I recommend this book to everyone who wants to think through "the Way of warrior" by themselves.

Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645, legend has it that he was defeated as a swordsman. Basic philosophy win, style was simplistic and direct. Bruce Lee taught much the same philosophy.

This is an excellent book. Have two hard back and this Kindle version now. The Five Books contained in his writings are a summation of the teachings of the Master Miyamoto Musashi.
**********************************************************************
From Wikipedia
[...]

* The Book of Earth chapter serves as an introduction, and metaphorically discusses martial arts, leadership, and training as building a house.
* The Book of Water chapter describes Musashi's style, Ni-ten ichi-ryu, or "Two Heavens, One Style". It describes some basic technique and fundamental principles.
* The Book of Fire chapter refers to the heat of battle, and discusses matters such as different types of timing.
* The Book of Wind chapter is something of a pun, since the Japanese character can mean both "wind" and "style" (e.g., of martial arts). It discusses what Musashi considers to be the failings of various contemporary schools of swordfighting.
* The Book of No-thing chapter is a short epilogue, describing, in more esoteric terms, Musashi's probably Zen-influenced thoughts on consciousness and the correct mindset.
************************************************************************

An old martial treatise that is more philosophical than one might expect. There are very few how-to sections of the work, but the very ambiguity of many passages allow deep inspection. The author of the second work translated here, Munenori, in fact reminds the reader - constantly - that everything written herein required careful consideration, practice, and reflection. As a glimpse into the warrior ethos of martial culture from 17th-century Japan, both are valuable books. The reader would most likely find this book even more rewarding after reading similarly-themed books from the near geographical area, such as Sun-tzu's "Art of War," or even the "Tao Te Ching."

Musashi, like every great warrior, knew that strategy was as important as tactics and techniques in combat. This book will teach you things that were learned in combat and will enhance your survival potential on the battlefield, street and life.

It is not the easiest book to interpret and understand, but that hardly matters, as for the information in this book is worth your time and effort. One good book is worth a hundred crummy ones, and this book is one outstanding book. This book is divided into various distinct sections, and the serious and professional warrior should extract as much information as possible from each section. Every time I pick this book up I learn something new. This is the warrior's bible.

I highly recommend this book to all readers.

Musashi, like every great warrior, knew that strategy was as important as tactics and techniques in combat. This book will teach you things that were learned in combat and will enhance your survival potential on the battlefield, street and life.

It is not the easiest book to interpret and understand, but that hardly matters, as for the information in this book is worth your time and effort. One good book is worth a hundred crummy ones, and this book is one outstanding book. This book is divided into various distinct sections, and the serious and professional warrior should extract as much information as possible from each section. Every time I pick this book up I learn something new. This is the warrior's bible.

I highly recommend this book to all readers.

I have been reading this book for twenty years in various editions and translations and this Victor Harris translation is my favourite. This book can be read in less than an hour but you will be able to pick up new understandings each time you read it whether the first time or the two hundredth time.
I can tell that some of the reviewers who have given this book neutral or worse reviews just don't get it. There is a very good reason that this book along with Sun Tzu's "Art of War" are considered the two classic Eastern treatises on strategy. The principles are clearly applicable both to combat and to the daily battles of business, marketing and sales. This is a profound book. Study it and it will yield many lessons.

I just "finished" reading the book...

Before reading it I thought that it was supposed to be based on the philosophy of life, and the Samurai in general, not on the Way of the sword... Which is actually the Way of the Samurai. Confused?

That was my misunderstanding when I ordered the book. I had expected something more along the lines of "Hagakure."

However, so as to help anyone else avoid that possible area of confusion, this book is based on The Way of the Sword. There is very little philosophy involved that does not in some way relate to it.

Now that the issue of confusion is out of the way, let me get onto the review!

In my experience, the Way laid out in this book is true. Everything that I have experienced thus far in my life points to it.

The book itself is very good, and was written by someone who knew what he was doing when it came to battle. This book has solidified my beliefs on how to engage a combatant. For me I often have to learn from my mistakes, through experience, because I can be quite dense at times... So when he said that "To fight one man, is to fight one-thousand, and to fight one thousand, is to fight one man" really struck a cord with me. It was like he had just knocked down a wall that was blocking my grasp on battle. (*I was paraphrasing what he wrote*)

I honestly believe that Miyamoto Musashi's understanding is the only true Way. As long as you are not biased toward a martial art style, after reading the book I think you will agree.

I am very glad that I bought this book, because not only has it helped me to better grasp my own understanding (which is also his) of the Way, it will also help to remind me in times to come.

ETA: If you seek to follow The Way, I would also suggest that you read "The Naked Ape," which will further help you to understand the Human mind and body - Which is what you will be fighting, and teaching.

I enjoyed reading this translation of The Book of Five Rings, it was more descriptive than a previous translation I had read some years ago and I loved the story, but figured a lot was lost in the translation. This version is well crafted, more keeping in line with the story itself, rather than an individual's point of view of how the story should be focused. The images included add a rich level of detail, it really brings you into this classic tale.

Today's business people will find Thomas Cleary's new translation of THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS -- Miyamoto Musashi's 350-year-old martial arts classic -- compelling and tantalizingly relevant. Perserverance, insight, self-understanding, inward calm even in the midst of chaos, the importance of swift but unhurried action: Musashi's teachings read like lessons from the latest business management gurus. Who couldn't succeed in business by applying Musashi's insights on conflict and strategy.

Honestly the book is complete garbage. I read it twice to make sure I didn't miss anything. The book is about how to hold and fight with a sword. Together with other random pieces. How they got this is for strategists or business people is beyond me. Don't waste your time honestly.

This will either be one of the most enlightening books you've ever read or a complete waste of time. For me it was enlightening.

Here's the key: Apply Musashi's strategies in your life as he applied it to his. He applied his strategies to swordsmanship because he was a swordsman. If you are a painter, apply it to the brush and paint. If you are a manager, apply it to business and scheduling. If you are a carpenter, apply it to your woodworking. It is a formula for success in whatever walk of life you have chosen.

Don't try to read this book too fast. It's a short book, but if you read through it as though it were a novel, you probably won't take much from it. It took me a long time to finish this book because I thought about every paragraph, wrote notes in the margins, and underlined key points. My book is thrashed with pages coming out because I've been through the book over and over, and as my friend put it, "More scribbling than a New York City subway". But I sure learned a lot.

All those who have even minimum interest with martial culture should read this book, from militaries to karateka's. Simple and profound it gives enlightning basic notions on "how to defeat your enemy" in the "fastest way". It is incredible how this centuries old script applies to the modern society, as it is possible to considerate it a "fundamental manual in combat strategies". Where for combat you can intend all possible situations that implicate struggle: war, fight, work, love.

This is a wonderful book on swordsmanship. It's not about strategy. Strategy is very high level (there are three levels of warfare: strategic, operational, and tactical). This book is about tactics. Strategy is how to win a potential war from a national level; operational refers to how an area commander (e.g. General Schwartzkoff) fights a theater; tactics is how you take a hill or defend your ship. I've got tons of experience in program management, have published articles on management, have scientific degrees and an MBA, and I fail to see how this is a management book. It seems like a HUGE stretch to me. The rating, unfortunately, seems to depend on what one expects from the book. I expected something that would be strategically useful (or at least operationally) from a management perspective. Sun Tzu's "Art of War" (one of my favorite books and far better, I think, than von Clauswitz) certainly qualifies. This book does not. However, I just read John Suler's "Contemporary Psychoanalysis & Eastern Thought" in which he explains how the martial arts (referencing this book & others) relates to psychology & spiritual development. Thus, I must positively revise my view of this book.

I base this review not on my own understanding, but on that of one of my seniors in Shotokan Karate of America. This senior has an old, much-highlighted hardcover copy, from which he reads regularly. I suppose that this kind of endorsement is valid only to the extent to which you trust my being impressed by the senior and are willing to take my word that this man knows his art and is worth emulating in his practices.
For myself, I have practiced karate for a little over ten years, so I am only starting to appreciate how much I don't understand. I have owned a copy of this translation of the _Book of Five Rings_ for about the last eight years, and have read it several times. I have been told that this is a good translation. Each time I read the book I understood (or thought I understood) something more than before. But that's the way with this kind of thing, I guess; reading this book will not make someone without any training like Musashi, but if you already understand some part of what he is saying, you'll understand his words when you read them. Interestingly, in a practical way, if you are on the verge of understanding something, hearing it from someone who's been there (like Musashi) may just help push you over the edge. Is the kind of mind described in this book useful for random people? well, yeh, but it's not a quick fix. Find a good dojo, get the book, train diligently for a few decades, re-reading the book every few years, and it will likely not be a life spent badly.

Can it really be just ten years since the Great Rising Sun Hysteria?
... There was that decade-long spasm when the media and the Left
convinced themselves that the Japanese had it all figured out. So
there was this ridiculous craze in Japanese management techniques and
faux profound philosophical teachings. Riding in on the crest of this
wave came A Book of Five Rings by one of the most revered warriors in
Japan's history, Miyamoto Musashi. Shinmen Musashi No Kami Fujiwara No
Genshin, aka Miyamoto Musashi, was orphaned by the age of seven and,
in order to earn his way in the world, became a swordsman, killing his
first man at the age of 13. Eventually he fought some 60 duels
without ever being defeated. By the end of his career, he had become
so expert and dominant that he would fight his opponents with nothing
but a stick. Then in 1643, he retired to a contemplative seclusion in
a cave, where, just before his death. he wrote Go Rin No Sho (A Book
of Five Rings), a book of strategy addressed to his disciple Teruo
Nobuyuki.
The book is essentially a treatise on the Way of the
warrior, the strategy that should be employed in combat:
It is said
the warrior's is the twofold Way of pen and sword, and he should have
a taste for both Ways. Even if a man has no natural ability he can be
a warrior by sticking assiduously to both divisions of the
Way. Generally speaking, the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance
of death. Although not only warriors but priests, women, peasants and
lowlier folk have been known to die readily in the cause of duty or
out of shame, this is a different thing. The warrior is different in
that studying the Way of strategy is based on overcoming men. By
victory gained in crossing swords with individuals, or enjoining
battle with large numbers, we can attain power and fame for ourselves
or for our lord. This is the virtue of strategy.
-----------
This
is the Way for men who want to learn my strategy:
Do not think
dishonestly. The Way is in training. Become acquainted with every
art. Know the Ways of all professions. Distinguish between gain and
loss in worldly matters. Develop intuitive judgment and understanding
for everything. Perceive those things which cannot be seen. Pay
attention even to trifles. Do nothing which is of no
use.
-----------
To attain the Way of strategy as a warrior you
must study fully other martial arts and not deviate even a little from
the Way of the warrior. With your spirit settled, accumulate practice
day by day, and hour by hour. Polish the twofold spirit heart and
mind, and sharpen the twofold gaze perception and sight. When your
spirit is not in the least clouded, when the clouds of bewilderment
clear away, there is the true void.
Until you realise the true Way,
whether in Buddhism or in common sense, you may think that things are
correct and in order. However, if we look at things objectively, from
the viewpoint of laws of the world, we see various doctrines departing
from the true Way. Know well this spirit, and with forthrightness as
the foundation and the true spirit as the Way. Enact strategy broadly,
correctly and openly.
Then you will come to think of things in a
wide sense and, taking the void as the Way, you will see the Way as
void.
In the void is virtue, and no evil. Wisdom has existence,
principle has existence, the Way has existence, spirit is
nothingness.
Essentially, he has two extremely simple messages: be
humble and study what other people do. This is a thoroughly Japanese
philosophy and the recipe for both their success in the 80's and their
demise in the 90's. It is really tactical thinking more than it is
strategic. The Japanese system calls for precisely duplicating what
already exists, for learning what is already known. The American
system demands innovation, the end run around the status quo. If you
want a metaphor for the two systems, two images come inescapably to
mind: David vs. Goliath and the scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where
Indiana Jones shoots the enormous scimitar wielding Arab. You can
just picture Musashi studying Goliath's moves or the Arab's
techniques, being reactive and imitative, while the American picks up
a gun or a sling and uses technological innovation to triumph.
Now
imagine if you will thousands of American businessmen riding the train
to work in the morning with this book clutched in their hands, eagerly
seeking clues to the Japanese economic miracle in the pages of a 17th
century sword fighting manual. Pretty amusing, eh? It's quite a
lovely little book and it is helpful for understanding the strengths
and limitations of the Japanese psyche. But if you approach it
seeking profound and vital truths to apply in your own life, you are
more than likely going to be disappointed.
GRADE: C+

As I read the first twenty pages, I couldn't help but to say,"Whooah?"

And because martial arts principles are valuable to me, I expected something new about life principles.

What I found is that this book requires a deep and unique level of thinking how ways of the sword can apply to all aspects of ones life.

While this isn't a book that I'd advise someone to rush to buy, to enchance their life, it is a resource to guide the reader to slowly evolve in ways that become truly part of their subconscious being.

"The Book of Five Rings" is a must-read for anyone who looking to get ahead in this world. By applying ancient old philosophies, this book will give you tools you can use in today's world to become successful. I enjoy how the book puts an emphasis on the "bigger plan" and leads the reader to understand that when you apply the ideas to your every day being, you become successful in all areas of life.

The concepts famous 17th century Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi's well-known "Book of Five Rings" have been simplified and easily accessible to anyone - yet equally relevant- in this comic book version by SmarterComics. The illustrations are excellent, mixing old and new imagery. The lessons and principles conveyed are applicable to anyone regarding how to be successful in work, business, personal endeavors - life in general. Great read.

The Book of Five Rings is an amazing insight into the mind of one of the greatest warriors in human history. Miyamoto, or "sword saint" as the Japanese call him, was both a powerful warrior and a deep thinking philosopher. He produced numerous works of art, including self-portraits, paintings of buddhas, and sword tsubas. The depth of his thought can be seen clearly in this philosophical treatise, a must read for anyone who is serious about combat and the philosophy behind combat. However, the reader be warned that this is not a martial arts "how to book." Miyamoto fails to divulge any specific sword techniques, only describing strikes, stances, and sword positioning at a most basic level. Having said this, the work is centered around the philosophy behind combat and killing. The most powerful weapon is the human mind which Miyamoto attempts to begin training with this fantastic work. It is a book that can and should be read again and again by both beginners and experts: it never fails to yield some bit of philosophy that helps strengthen the mind. While what Miyamoto says on numerous occasions is mind bending, such as his section on fighting and defeating fifty to sixty men, and difficult to fully grasp this is a work that I think everyone should read sometime in their life and should be required reading in every dojo.

This is a pretty fantastic interpretation of the infamous Book of Five Rings, wherein the artist has adapted much of the context to modern life without losing the spirit of Musashi's teachings. It truly deserves a top-notch rating for art and conceptualization.

The Shambala Dragon Edition of Musashi's Book of Five Rings was passed on to me several years ago by a close friend and fellow martial artist after the death of our teacher, who had given it to him. I have kept it and read it numerous times as a reference that is applicable to my own martial arts studies. Throughout, Musashi gives insight into his theories and strategies regarding what he describes as "his" martial art, namely the art of Kenjustu (Japanese Swordsmanship), specifically his own "two-sword" or "Two Heavens" school. Although it is an interesting and insightful look into Musashi's strategies for individual and collective combat, the Book of Five Rings is short on technical details, and therefore difficult to apply to one's own martial arts studies in any specific and systematic manner. This being said, Musashi's writings are still very applicable to any martial art in a generalized way. With its lack of specifics, it is easy to see how publishers and readers alike could make the stretch that the Book of Five Rings is an excellent book on personal or business strategy-- rather than trying to sell it as an outstanding treatise on martial arts. After all, there are a lot more business people and self-help readers to sell books to than there are serious students of martial arts. However, these claims are more wishful thinking and skillful marketing than actual truth. If one wants to apply Musashi's strategies to business or the non-martial life, they will have a tough time trying to translate techniques such as those "on footwork" or "stabbing the face" into effective business management or personal growth strategies. One could certainly apply Musashi's techniques metaphorially, but to do so would be to take the author's instructional commentary entirely out of context. It must be understood that Musashi's Book of Five Rings was not written for business people, or those interested in self-help techniques. It was written about martial arts, for martial artists, by an undisputed master of martial arts, and must be read with this fact in mind to be truly appreciated and understood. Every serious martial artist should own it, and study it and apply its general lessons throughout his or her martial arts career. The Shambala Dragon Edition, includes Yagyu Munenori's masterful "Book of Family Traditions and the Art of War" which is an added bonus for serious students of Japanese martial arts.

SmarterComics' version of the famous "Book of Five Rings" is both easy to read and understand. More importantly, it has allowed Miyamoto Musashi's work about swordfighting to remain relevant and useful in today's modern world. The illustrations combine both old and new images to allow readers to connect to the text. I think this is a great read for both young adults as well as veterans of the corporate world.

When I first started the martial arts my sensei reccomended this book for me to read. He told me it would give me basic understanding of strategy, (for now that is) and some balance when it comes to understanding combat. I learned a lot in the manuel by Mushashi, more than I can learn on my own. The wise words, and absolute ways are something that we should all understand as people.
I reccomend this to any one training in ANY martial art!

This is not a book that you try to sit down and read in a single sitting-- each of the strategies deserves its own session and a great deal of thought. It is worth the time to go through it several times, and to go back and review parts that you had read earlier before going further.

I can think of all kinds of ways that this book could be valuable for someone-- business, art, interpersonal relationships. But aside from potentially valuable, it is also quite lovely. To be read, enjoyed, savoured.

This book is also a must-read for anyone training in the martial arts, regardless of style. The principles and ideas laid down here are priceless to the aspiring martial artist. While the prose is easy to read, the content isn't something you can blast through in a few hours. I've barely made it through this book twice, and each time I have to sit and ponder different passages that Musashi had written on the importance of certain techniques or ways of thinking. I highly recommend this book to anyone either already training in the martial arts or considering entering into the martial arts.