Yojokun: Life Lessons from a Samurai (The Way of the Warrior Series) [Hardcover]

Japanese is an extraordinarily challenging language for foreigners to speak, let alone read, yet William Scott Wilson has demonstrated an amazing gift for translating classical Japanese works into English in a way that holds true to the original work while finding modern relevance and meaning for the readers of today. The acclaimed translator of Hagakure, The Unfettered Mind, The Book of Five Rings, The Demon's Sermon on Martial Arts, Taiko, The Life-Giving Sword, and many other immortal volumes, Wilson has once again lived up to his stellar reputation with this latest book. Written by samurai physician Kaibara Ekiken (1630 - 1714), Yojokun means "Lessons on Nurturing Life." It is a very unique tome in feudal Japanese literature; rather then a martial compendium or Zen treatise, it is a compilation of precepts for living life to its fullest.

Ekiken, a prolific author, lived during the Takugawa Shogunate, an extraordinary era of peace in Japanese history where feudal samurai had to adjust to a world without constant warfare. Best known as a scholar of Confucianism, his diverse interests included agriculture, astrology, astronomy, biology, botany, linguistics, martial arts, mathematics, medicine, military strategy, topology, zoology, and more. He traveled extensively, meeting not only with some of the finest scholars of his day, but also with artisans and farmers in his search for wisdom. Unlike most of his peers, he wrote for the common man as well as for the elite classes, using unpretentious language that nearly anyone could understand. His book on the plants of Japan classified more then 1,500 species, while his book on the topography of Chikuzen Province (now part of Fukuoka Prefecture) is still studied today.

Warning against the dangers of excess, Ekiken preached balance in all things, eating, drinking, work, rest, and even sexual relations. His approach was preventative, believing that herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxa (heat) treatments, and hot springs, all common remedies of the day, should be considered treatments of last resort. In a society where his compatriots were focused on honor in death, Ekiken boldly declared the body a "treasured gift from Heaven and Earth," stating that "to damage or destroy it thoughtlessly is the highest ingratitude." By balancing one's mental, physical and spiritual health Ekiken believed that most people could live happily and healthily for a hundred years.

Practicing what he preached, Ekiken lived to be 84 at a time when the average person rarely lasted more then 62 years. The book holistically covers everything from healthy eating and drinking to sleeping, bathing, preparing tea, choosing a good doctor, using medicine, sustaining old age, and raising children. Much of Ekiken's advice is as relevant today as it was when first written nearly 300 years ago. Good advice is timeless.

This particular translation omits certain details of the original work that cover treatments best left to professionals such as recipes for medicinal herbal remedies. The only odd thing about the books is the translator's use of the Chinese word ch'i rather then the Japanese ki when referring to the flow of life energy. Perhaps this is because Ekiken's work frequently referred to The Yellow Emperor's Classic on Medicine, the definitive medical text of the ancient world that came to Japan via China. Nevertheless, Yojokun is a fascinating and surprisingly relevant read.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Blinded by the Night, among other titles

Note: Originally reviewed for the March/April issue of ForeWord Magazine

Yojokun is basically one of the oldest nutritional guides. This book by Kaibara Ekiken, a 17th century samurai, covers the importance of nutrition, exercise, and moderation in your activities. This book is basically a collection of Kaibara Ekiken's personal notes on various topics which concern one's health. The majority of his writings have to do with nutritional foods and tips on eating, drinking, food combination, when to eat, and how to eat.

He also covers topics on sexual activity, filial duty, the elderly, energy (chi), and drinking alcohol. I found it very interesting how many of his admonitions follow today's nutritional findings. Being a naturopath and having a background in natural health, I found this book very interesting. The one drawback about this book is the fact that Kaibara Ekiken repeats himself over and over, so many of his teachings on nutrition and health are repeated numerous times throughout this book. Even so, this is an interesting read for anyone who is interested in the ways of the samurai or in nutritional practices and health.

I found the translation very readable and straightforward, and much of the teachings useful for people today. It is a quick and easy read and one in which you can definitely acquire some gems of wisdom which will apply to both your health and your character. I recommend it to all readers who are interested in the subjects of the samurai, health, or ancient wisdom. There is something in this book to satisfy your search for information in all of these areas.

Bohdi Sanders author of Warrior Wisdom: Ageless Wisdom for the Modern Warrior

The other reviewers have touched on the content of this book, written by a sage and knowledgeable doctor in an age gone by. Today, medicine is all about technology and about breaking things down into ever-finer pieces so as to understand them better, but the old Japanese view, based on Traditional Chinese Medicine, emphasizes systems thinking instead of deconstruction. In other words, it looks at the whole person rather than a toe, a liver, a pustule, a headache.

This book is, therefore, not a medical text in the modern sense of the word, but a guide to keeping the entire body healthy and fit. It is filled with longevity tips that run the gamut from how much to sleep and when to eat to how to handle life's stressors and how to handle your booze. William Scott Wilson hit a homerun in selecting this text for translation, and does such a brilliant job of it that you can almost hear the old doctor whispering kind advice in your ear. I recommend this and all of Wilson's books most heartily. He is far more than a translator, he's a gifted writer himself who chooses to bring forth gems of the past like this one. The text flows beautifully, the wording is spare and precise, the organization is simple and straightforward, and the footnotes alone are a course in history and wisdom. Bravo.