The Martial Artist's Book of Five Rings: The Definitive Interpretation of Miyamoto Musashi's Classic Book of StrategyMiyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings is well known as a book of strategy and has been used by many as a means to understand contemporary Japanese business. However, Musashi himself was not a business person but a martial artist - the greatest warrior Japan has ever known - and the Five Rings was his definitive treatise on mortal combat. The Martial Artist's Book of Five Rings interprets this classic book specifically for the martial artist as it was originally intended. It explains the truths necessary for a full understanding of Musashi's message in depth and undiluted by a businessman's bias. The result is an enthralling treatise on martial strategy that combines a warrior's instincts with the philosophies of Buddhism, Shintoism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Like the original, this new interpretation is divided into five sections. The Book of Earth lays the groundwork for the study; Water explains attitudes of warriorness through an understanding of strategy; Fire teaches fighting based on the Earth and Water principles; Wind describes the differences in Musashi's own style and the styles of other schools; and the Book of No-thing describes the "way" of nature as being understood through "unthinking" conceptions. |
Common terms and phrases
ability able advantage appear armor attack attain perfection attitude of destroying aware battle beat the enemy become body and spirit Book of Fire BOOK OF NO-THING Book of Water Book of Wind chosen art constant practice constantly control the situation conviction counter-strike courage craft cut the enemy defeat the enemy destroy the enemy develop enemy's body enemy's face enemy's sword essential everything extra long sword fight Five Rings foolish go straight hands heart hesitation hold the sword Ichi school idea important to understand kill the enemy koans left side lose maintain martial arts martialist master means methods mind move nature never no-thing-ness path physical possibility punch quickness realize reason regardless regather rely rhythm Samurai short sword shout skills soul speed straight and true strategy strike teachings technique thing tion truth unarmed understand the need understand the true understood utter resolve warrior attitude Yin-Yang