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The Book of Five Rings (Shambhala Classics) [Paperback]

Musashi Miyamoto , Miyamoto Musashi , Thomas Cleary
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
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Book Description

1 Dec 2000 Shambhala Classics
Here is one of the most insightful texts on the subtle arts of confrontation and victory to emerge from Asian culture. Written not only for martial artists but for leaders in all professions, the book analyzes the process of struggle and mastery over conflict that underlies every level of human interaction.

The Book of Five Rings —which has become a well-known classic among American business people, studied for its insights into the Japanese approach to business strategy—was composed in 1643 by the famed duelist and undefeated samurai Miyamoto Musashi. Unlike previous editions of The Book of Five Rings, Thomas Cleary's is an accessible translation, free of jargon, with an introduction that presents the spiritual background of the warrior tradition. Along with Musashi's text, Cleary translates another important Japanese classic on leadership and strategy: The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yagyu Munenori, which highlights the ethical and spiritual insights of Taoism and Zen as they apply to the way of the warrior.

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Product details

  • Paperback: 133 pages
  • Publisher: Shambhala Publications Inc; New edition edition (1 Dec 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1570627487
  • ISBN-13: 978-1570627484
  • Product Dimensions: 15.3 x 1.2 x 22.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 273,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Amazon Review

To learn a Japanese martial art is to learn Zen, and although you can't do so simply by reading a book, it sure does help--especially if that book is the Book of Five Rings. One of Japan's great samurai sword masters put down in decisive, unfaltering terms the certain path to victory, and like Sun Tzu's Art of War, it is applicable not only on the battlefield but in all forms of competition. Always observant, creating confusion, striking at vulnerabilities--these are some of the basic principles. Going deeper, we find suki, the interval of vulnerability, of indecisiveness, of rest, the briefest but most vital moment to strike. In succinct detail, Miyamoto records ideal postures, blows and psychological tactics to put the enemy off guard and open the way for attack. Most important of all is Miyamoto's concept of rhythm, how all things are in harmony, and by working with the rhythm of a situation, we can turn it to our advantage with little effort. But like Zen, this requires one thing above all else, putting the book down and going out to practice. --Brian Bruya --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Martial arts are the warrior's way of life. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Unlike the dozens of other translations of The Book of Five Rings, this one also contains The Life-Giving Sword: Secret Teachings from the House of Shogun by Yagyu Munenori (A contemporary of Musashi). How's that for value for money?!

The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin No Sho) is a GREAT book! If you take time to properly absorb and understand ALL of its teachings. It's not a very long book and so would be easy to read a few times over so that you get a proper flavour of the important message being presented. Thomas Cleary is a prolific writer and well qualified to produce such a translation.

A better and easier to digest version (IMHO) of this small book is Samurai Strategies: 42 Martial Secrets from Musashi's Book of Five Rings by Boye De Lafayette Mente, who very cleverly summarises this book into 42 easy to digest and understand and apply chapters.

The ideas in this book are NOT dangerous to anyone in the least, IF you balance and apply ALL of the lessons within it - that's the idea that the great undefeated warrior Musashi was trying to put across. The life saving principles he expounds here are designed to help us all have a better, easier and more fulfilled life, Martial Artist or not. His strategies can be applied and used by anyone.

"A knife is dangerous for anyone - you just have to learn how to use is safely & intelligently"

We are all so lucky & truly blessed that, nearly 400 years ago, someone called Lord Hosokawa had the foresight to ask the ageing Musashi to write down his secrets of success. Musashi himself was not only extremely talented but must have been a very intelligent man for his time to write such a treatise.

The comment (else ware) about this book not being for beginners is misleading I think, it isn't that hard to understand and extrapolate the true meaning and intentions that Musashi was trying to put across.

Don't be put off by ANY of the negative criticisms (in other reviews), it's only because they've missed the point or just quickly scanned & glossed over the book.

Although we are not entirely certain of Musashi's religious bent, Musashi bases his book [loosely] on the Zen Buddhist philosophies of the Five Elements - Earth, Water, Fire, Wind & Emptiness. One of his close associates was Takuan Soho, author of The Unfettered Mind: Writings of the Zen Master to the Sword Master.
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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Well, this is one of the greatest books ever written on strategy. But a great deal of it is highly technical and not easily understood by people without extensive background in the Japanese martial arts - I lived in Japan for 3 years, have studied over 10 year and make no claims to understand it. I used to ask my Sensei about it and he would just laugh - it was deliberately written to be obscure. I think you ought read it, enjoy it, know that most business managers (Japan or America) do not understand it and all the hype about it as a business text is BS.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars review and non-review 11 Oct 2007
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book actually has two translations by Thomas Cleary of two books from Japanese martial artists. My thoughts on both and a short comparison are below.

The Book of Five Rings is a pretty good insight into a disciplined mind and professional samurai from 17th century Japan. A lot of it is practical advice and there is some spiritual Zen leaning in there too but I would not go as far to say it is required leadership reading material in the same way as The Art of War by Sun Tzu but no martial artist should be without this book.

The second translation in the book is The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yahyu Munenori is far more flowery and makes more sense if you have an understanding of buddhism otherwise the section on existance and non-existance may (or may not be ;-)) be tricky to grasp.

In comparision the first book is plainly superior to the second in the manner in which it is written and executed. It's plain talkng and easy to grasp with none of the flowery language prevalent in the second.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Would Highly recommend
The book, I found, can be applied to all facets of life. I would highly recommend this book because of its applicability to general life.
Published 27 days ago by Muzzy
5.0 out of 5 stars Book of Five Rings
Great book worthy of being in ones library
The information then is still valid today for the individual
Fantastic buy!!
Published 1 month ago by A
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read for martial artists
An interesting book for those who follow the source material/martial arts. Not really a book you can sit and read through in one or two goes.
Published 1 month ago by John
5.0 out of 5 stars Son delighted
all I know is my son thoroughly enjoyed this as an insight into his marshal arts.....looking for more books to feed his hobby now
Published 1 month ago by Rubytuesday
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
If you are into the martial arts, this book will interest you.
Contains Musashi's philosophy on the martial way. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Geoff
5.0 out of 5 stars 5 rings
A great book. Also a self help book it helps you understand yourself better and to change your life and karma and be a better person. I am now thinking more of others
Published 4 months ago by Simon
5.0 out of 5 stars yeah
Great book and covering
need more book in the world of harry poltergeist.
I'm the king of the new world
Published 5 months ago by Virak PECH
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!
The photo was of the product that arrived and the price was exceptionally reasonable. I've been looking for this edition of A Book of Five Rings for a long while and I couldn't be... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr. Keith G. Fyans
5.0 out of 5 stars The Book Of 5 Rings
Had this a few years ago and lost it, so was great to find it again. An absolute classic, was so pleased when it dropped through my letterbox! Read more
Published 14 months ago by danielle
5.0 out of 5 stars This seller is Superman! and the book is simply great!!!!
This book is simply great. In a world (both past and present) where environments are created to suit the masses, here is a book that challenges common knowledge. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Dias Joseph Kurian
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