See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

10 used & new from £3.84

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
A Book of Five Rings
 
 

A Book of Five Rings (Hardcover)

by Musashi Miyamoto (Author), Victor Harris (Author) "I have named my own Way of the Martial Arts the "Two Heavens, One Style," and after many years of discipline have thought to describe..." (more)
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


9 used from £3.84 1 collectible from £16.00

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai

Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai

by Yamamoto Tsunetomo
4.5 out of 5 stars (22)  £5.49
The Unfettered Mind: Writings of the Zen Master to the Sword Master

The Unfettered Mind: Writings of the Zen Master to the Sword Master

by Takuan Soho
4.1 out of 5 stars (7)  £5.49
The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi

The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi

by William Scott Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars (3)  £11.99
Bushido: The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)

Bushido: The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)

by Tsunetomo Yamamoto
4.5 out of 5 stars (2)  £6.99
The Art of War

The Art of War

by Sun Tzu
4.5 out of 5 stars (14)  £9.99
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Hardcover: 96 pages
  • Publisher: Random House Value Publications (1 Nov 2000)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0517415283
  • ISBN-13: 978-0517415283
  • Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 17.5 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 726,988 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk 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 the Paperback edition.

Product Description
Setting down his thoughts on swordplay, on winning, and on spirituality, legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi intended this modest work as a guide for his immediate disciples and future generations of samurai. He had little idea he was penning a masterpiece that would be eagerly devoured by people in all walks of life centuries after his death. Along with The Art of War by Sun Tzu, The Book of Five Rings has long been regarded as an invaluable treatise on the strategy of winning. Musashi's timeless advice on defeating an adversary, throwing an opponent off-guard, creating confusion, and other techniques for overpowering an assailant was addressed to the readers of earlier times on the battlefield, and now serves the modern reader in the battle of life. In this new rendering by the translator of Hagakure and The Unfettered Mind, William Scott Wilson adheres rigorously to the seventeenth-century Japanese text and clarifies points of ambiguity in earlier translations. In addition, he offers an extensive introduction and a translation of Musashi's rarely published The Way of Walking Alone. This gift-book edition also features original art by Musashi himself as well as new calligraphy by Japanese artist Shiro Tsujimura. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Product Description

Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
I have named my own Way of the Martial Arts the "Two Heavens, One Style," and after many years of discipline have thought to describe it in a book for the first time. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below

Your tags: Add your first tag
 


 

Customer Reviews

28 Reviews
5 star:
 (20)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (28 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars stunning book not easily understood by non technical readers, 12 Jan 1998
By A Customer
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.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An Awseome Insight, 16 Sep 2003
This review is from: The Book of Five Rings (Hardcover)
This is a fantastic book. You are recieving a lesson in "the way" from a man who has spent his entire life trying to follow and discover the way. He is not just talking about these things in an abstract mannor he has lived through countless battles and proven his beliefs time and time again. Read this book, then read it again and carry on reading it and taking something new from it each time. The lessons which can be learned are endless.
Listen to the words of a truly great swordsman offering his final lessons to his students for after he is gone.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Tantalising, 24 Jul 2004
By Martin Turner "Martin Turner" (Birmingham, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)      
This tantalisingly brief book gives half of the teaching of an almost legendary Samurai duellist. Where is the other half? Lost. As the author reminds us again and again, the five scrolls are there to support the oral, technical teaching which he gave his students.

This is at once admirable and frustrating. As a fencing coach, I know that only a part of my work is to explain attitudes, tactics and techniques. The greater part is to teach, train and coach the individual student, building on what they find comes naturally and developing what they find difficult. At the same time, the original School of Two Swords, as he styles it, is long in the past and although we can capture the modern tradition, we cannot learn from the master.

The Book of Five Rings is about much more than swordplay, though. We are led again and again from a principle derived in individual combat to large scale military strategy. Likewise, each of the five spheres is aimed at developing the correct attitude, with technique merely being secondary.

The underlying theme of this book is 'winning by all means possible'. This, and the other principles of the Way of Two Swords, have many applications to other ways of engaging an opponent in today's environment.

Nonetheless, I finished this book with one regret - 'if only I could have met him'.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT 17th CENTURAY SAMURAI SWORDSMAN'S ADVICE ON STRATEGY
Based on my readings, Musashi's motive in writing his Book of Five Rings had been to correct misrepresentations of his views on swordsmanship by his contemporaries. Read more
Published 8 months ago by F. Sweet

5.0 out of 5 stars Old Wisdom with New Lessons
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. Read more
Published on 1 Jul 2007 by Terry Tozer

5.0 out of 5 stars Old Wisdom with New Lessons
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. Read more
Published on 1 Jul 2007 by Terry Tozer

5.0 out of 5 stars Old Wisdom with New Lessons
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. Read more
Published on 1 Jul 2007 by Terry Tozer

5.0 out of 5 stars Old Wisdom with New Lessons
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. Read more
Published on 1 Jul 2007 by Terry Tozer

3.0 out of 5 stars cryptic
this book is only helpful if you are trying to supplement an already extensive knowledge of martial arts, if your intensions are combat related. Read more
Published on 26 Jul 2005 by john

4.0 out of 5 stars Investigate Before Buying
This book is interesting and insightful, even enlightening perhaps.
But it is important to know what you are getting before paying for it. Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2004 by Robert Paul

5.0 out of 5 stars dont listen to the guy who gave it a low score
this book is not about technique, it is his opinions on how the go beond the technique,, its about THE WAY in martial arts (but not just martial arts), its about how to gain the... Read more
Published on 30 Jul 2004 by MR BIG

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic of Martial Strategy
Having won over sixty duels, many with only a wooden practice sword, Musashi's credibilty and authority on the subject of mortal combat cannot be questioned. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars Why did he bother to write this ?
Useless, completely impractical book that serves absolutely no purpose. A waste of your time to read. Of no interest to those in martial arts, as it shows no techniques. Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2003 by Mr. G. H. Khan

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


The Body Shop

The Body Shop - Vitamin C Skin Boost
Protect and boost your glow with The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost.

Shop The Body Shop

 

Let Olay Amaze You

Olay Total Effects Day Moisturiser SPF15 50ml
Amazon.co.uk sells all your favourite ranges from Olay, including Regenerist and Total Effects.

Discover Olay at Amazon.co.uk

 

Train Hard...Play Hard

Nike, Gola, Converse, and more
Gear up with up to 60% off athletic and outdoor shoes.

Shop now

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates