The Book of Five Rings was written by none other than Miyamoto Musashi who is and was the greatest swordsman and warrior that ever lived. In the Book of five Rings, Musashi goes in depth into sword fighting strategy and the philosophy of Zen. This is more than just a fighting manual however; it is a manual on how to prosper in life.

More than just a book, this is a passageway, a bridge of sorts, connecting you the reader to the great mind of this amazing warrior. You gain, as you read, knowledge that is unparalleled. Musashi simply does not tell you “how to fight”. He does delve into the philosophy behind combat art. You will learn also, that the most powerful weapon you hold is not one that fits in your hand, but rather your mind. With that, you will learn how to strengthen your mind, and improve your body as a whole.

Although with that said, this is certainty not an easy read. It is a book however that should be mediated on, studied almost. Secondly the principles taught in this book take years upon years to master. There is no such thing as the “overnight warrior”. Practice is absolutely essential for any warrior, and musashi was no exception.

The Book of Five Rings also serves as a source of life metaphors, and although it may seem difficult to connect your life to that of something in Medieval Japan, it is possible. Just make sure that you read with an open mind, and be ready to engage yourself in deep thought and refection. This book is so powerful in fact, that it requires a second, third, and fourth read. That s to say, one must revisit Musashi’s soul in order to fully gasp the concepts of his work.

The book itself is composed of five parts, and refers to he fact that there are different elements of battle just as there are different elements of life. The five different chapters are the Ground, water, fire, wind, and void chapters respectively. There are also, according to Musashi, five attitudes of swordsmanship, which refer to the five classifications of areas for attack on the human body. They are upper, middle, lower, left side, and right side, respectively. Musashi was a great warrior, and it is clearly evident in this work.

Quotes:

“In battle, if you make your opponent flinch, you have already won.”

“Do nothing which is of no use.”

“Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters”

“Develop intuitive judgment and understanding for everything”

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Bushido: The Soul of Japan

This is a wonderful book that does not fail to impress. If you are a all interested in marital arts, Japanese culture, and especially samurai, read this book. This book tells the reader all about the Samurai, and the ways of the warrior. That is, this book covers all of details of the life of the Samurai. It goes in depth from warrior ethics, to Seppuku, a samurai ritual suicide.

As you read you will realize that these warriors really did follow their pact to “Live by the sword and die by the sword”. In fact, you may begin to see that Japanese warriors shared many of the same qualities as the Medieval European knights! And that my friends, is truly amazing! “Bushido: the Soul of Japan”, covers all of the codes and values of the military way of life. These are explained through a plethora of examples and fables which further help the audience feel “in tune” so to speak with the Bushido way of life.

Through this book, you will see that there clearly is value to the warrior way of life; it is not just shear bloodshed. There is honor and pride, a love for your people that most certainly masks “brute power”. You will find interesting also, the style of the book, for this is not a fake, not a modern “Take on Bushido” This is the “real” deal. Bushido: The Soul of Japan was written in 1900, and perfectly captures the true feeling and meaning of Bushido.

If nothing else, do yourself a favor and read this book as a means of acquiring knowledge about a past culture. Because, the fact is, there were and are cultures out there that, to us, seem “taboo”. However, one must fully walk in another’s moccasins before one may be given the right t truly judge that culture. So please, just for once, step out of your westernized box. Experiment with something new for once.

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