a book of five rings the classic guide to strategy

Working on the principle of five scrolls (Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Emptiness) Miyamoto Musashi shares strategies for achieving success in various fields. The Book of Five Rings provides lessons not only for martial artists and businessmen, but for educators and society in general. Still, for those interested in Samurai, feudal Japan, and Japanese martial arts, The Book of Five Rings is a must read. He goes to great length to describe his recommendations for proper sword technique and mental states while dueling. Although The Book of Five Rings is an accessible for a case study on the life and thoughts of an actual samurai warrior, educators using it for instructional purposes may want to be selective and look for specific sections for focus Musashi goes into substantial detail on martial arts and rival martial arts schools at times. Given that The Book of Five Rings is a valuable primary text by a historical figure, it certainly deserves a five star rating. Musashi is famous, in addition to his success as a samurai duelist, for his unconventional style and willingness to break rules and customs to win, which he explains further in this book. Although Musashi incorporates poetry, Buddhism, and philosophical thoughts on 'the way of strategy,' The Book of Five Rings is largely a martial arts treatise. The book is divided into five subsections: the book of earth, the book of water, the book of fire, the book of wind, and the book of emptiness. Written around 1645, this book is his account of his mental and physical strategies for fighting that made him one of the most famous and cunning Japanese warriors. The Book of Five Rings is a primary text from the Japanese duelist Miyamoto Musashi. Thomas Cleary’s uncluttered translation brings Musashi’s work into sharp, accessible focus, as does the inclusion in the same volume of another important Japanese classic, The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War, highlighting Taoist and Zen aspects of the warrior tradition. Whether you are looking to gain the advantage in the practice of martial arts or on the corporate battlefield, this book counsels wisely in the ways of confrontation, stressing important subtleties such as rhythm, state of mind, physical bearing, and eye contact, as well as perseverance, self-knowledge, and inner calm. Devoted to the practical art of war, his strategic classic The Book of Five Rings focuses attention on the psychology and physics of assault.

Born into strife, Miyamoto Musashi ultimately lived to see his country achieve peace but he never forgot two essential elements of the ancient samurai tradition: keep calm in the midst of chaos, and remember the possibility of disorder in times of order.

A book of five rings the classic guide to strategy