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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
One Word: Disappointing, 13 Nov 2002
The original of this book was written by Miyamoto Musashi, the greatest swordsman ever to walk the earth, right up there with Tsukahara Bokuden and Yagyu Munenori. Miyamoto Musashi was not only a master at the noble art of Ken-jutsu (Art of the Sword and predecessor of Kendo) but also an artist, philosopher and calligraphist. The embodiment of the perfect Samurai.Unfortunately, his most famous book Gorin-no-sho (Book of the Five Rings) can be interpreted in a variety of ways and it takes a swordsman (not a Karateka like the author, whatever the grade he holds) to understand it as it was meant to be. The author has, in this book interpreted it from the point of view of martial arts in general while it was intended solely for Ken-jutsuka (practitioners of Ken-jutsu). It is because of the similarities between swordsmanship and daily life that even non martial artists (mostly managers) consult it but this can sometimes lead them to misunderstand the advice contained. I do not claim to be an expert on Miyamoto Musashi but, prior to reading this book, I had read several translations of it, written by authors well versed in the sword arts of Japan and the meaning, to me as a Kendoka, was clearer by far than the interpretation given in this book. All in all, I felt it was a big let-down.
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5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Musashi's Go Rin No Sho: for warriors only, 3 April 1998
By A Customer
Miyamoto Musashi was perhaps the greatest swordsman of all time. He was unequaled in the art of kendo (The Way of the Sword) during a time when kendo was a way of life in Japan. He was challenged to over 60 duels (many to the death), never to be defeated. At the age of 28 (in 1612), Musashi stopped ever using real swords in duels and defeated the samurai challengers with a wooden stick. He was invincible. To martial artists, he is known as "Kinsei" (The Sword Saint). Instead of settling down and starting a school once his fame was replete, Musashi redoubled his study of "The Way" throughout the rest of his life. He continued to live his life learning from all things. He was a master artist, craftsman, teacher and as a captain on several battle fields. He scorned a life of comfort and possessions and spent the last two years of his life alone in a mountain cave in contemplation. It was here, right before he died at the age of 61, he wrote "Go Rin No Sho" (The Book of Five Rings). Go Rin No Sho is a guide for the warrior to develop strategy. Musashi described the precepts of "the Way" in Kendo concepts. Kaufman is able to give the reader insight into times and culture that Musashi lived in and some understanding of kendo itself. But Go Rin No Sho is more than instruction of techniques, it is a guide to show a warrior how to master himself, his art and all things. Instead of being a philosophical treatise on war, Go Rin No Sho is (in Musashi's words) "is a spiritual guide for the man who wishes to learn the Way". Musashi wrote "When you have attained the Way of strategy there will be not one thing that you cannot understand" and "You will see the Way in everything". The more one reads the book, the more one finds in its pages. It is Musashi's last will and testament, the key to the path he trod. "What is big is easy to perceive: what is small is difficult to perceive." - Musashi
"Step by step walk the thousand-mile road." - Musashi
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Old Wisdom with New Lessons, 1 Jul 2007
True - there are many and varied translations of this famous account and in my humble opinion the best of them are by:- "Thomas Cleary, Victor Harris, Boye Lafayette De Mente & William Scott Wilson".
If you are really serious about learning, studying, absorbing and applying the all important lessons in life that this treatise can offer you, then you ought to just buy all of these different versions and compare them.
I believe this translation by Stephen Kaufman is up there with the best. It doesn't differ much from the other accounts but I think that this version is easier to read and therefore understand than the others making it more interesting.
May I point the negative reviewer below to the top of page 17 quote ".....consider the unarmed warrior as being even closer to the ideal because no weapon other than "empty hands" [karate] is used"
I believe Stephen is more than qualified to interpret the book the way he does with such passion because he not only translated it but has been practicing "the way" for over 40 years.
This translation has to be seriously considered as one of the best!!
It's not just for Swordsmen!!
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.
A better and easier to digest version (IMHO) of this small book is "Samurai Strategies: 42 Martial Secrets" by 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".
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